Napa Valley Wine Train Electric Power Car #480-R

U.S. Dept. Of Defense - 1953
Converted To Power Car - 2013

Napa Valley Wine Train

United States Department
Of Defense

Tamron (Canon) 17-50mm
f2.8 Zoom Lens

f4.5 @ 1/400th sec
ISO 200

Originally built as a Box Car for the United States Department Of Defense in 1953. All electric power for the train while enroute is supplied by two generators located inside this car with the other side of the car set up as an open-windowed walkway. Previously, electric power was supplied by one of the train's locomotives. Having power supplied by this car allows the train to remain continuously powered including during the run-around of the locomotives at Saint Helena (ground-based power was used previously which required the train to temporarily lose power every time they had to connect or disconnect the ground-based power). This car was named after an extremely strong brandy named "Grappa". Walking through this car, you would never know it was housing generators, it's that quiet! Historical information about this car provided by the Napa Valley Wine Train.

U.S. Dept. Of Defense - 1953
Converted To Power Car - 2013

Napa Valley Wine Train

United States Department
Of Defense

Tamron (Canon) 17-50mm
f2.8 Zoom Lens

f10.0 @ 1/80th sec
ISO 320 w/Onboard Flash

This view of the walkway through the car shows how the generators were situated against one of the car's walls allowing for this wide walkway though a car you would have no idea had generators in it! Historical information about this car provided by the Napa Valley Wine Train.


Napa, CA	November 16th, 2014	U.S. Dept. Of Defense - 1953 Converted To Power Car - 2013	Napa Valley Wine Train	United States Department Of Defense

Digital Photo	Canon EOS 60D	Tamron (Canon) 17-50mm f2.8 Zoom Lens	f4.5 @ 1/400th sec ISO 200	712-3116

Originally built as a Box Car for the United States Department Of Defense in 1953. All electric power for the train while enroute is supplied by two generators located inside this car with the other side of the car set up as an open-windowed walkway. Previously, electric power was supplied by one of the train's locomotives. Having power supplied by this car allows the train to remain continuously powered including during the run-around of the locomotives at Saint Helena (ground-based power was used previously which required the train to temporarily lose power every time they had to connect or disconnect the ground-based power). This car was named after an extremely strong brandy named "Grappa". Walking through this car, you would never know it was housing generators, it's that quiet! Historical information about this car provided by the Napa Valley Wine Train.


Napa, CA	November 15th, 2014	U.S. Dept. Of Defense - 1953 Converted To Power Car - 2013	Napa Valley Wine Train	United States Department Of Defense

Digital Photo	Canon EOS 60D	Tamron (Canon) 17-50mm f2.8 Zoom Lens	f10.0 @ 1/80th sec ISO 320 w/Onboard Flash	707-2860

This view of the walkway through the car shows how the generators were situated against one of the car's walls allowing for this wide walkway though a car you would have no idea had generators in it! Historical information about this car provided by the Napa Valley Wine Train.