, a 1954 stainless steel sleeper rail
car, has a new home at Santa Fe Station, Fullerton, California, USA
FULLERTON, California, USA--Local
residents and those who frequent the station have noticed the addition
of private rail cars to the storage sidings at the Santa Fe Station, in
Fullerton, California. One, the
Salisbury Beach, owned
by Thomas C Pearson of Southern
California, is a stainless steel clad sleeper car with six-roomettes,
four bedrooms that can be configured to be 2 bedroom suites by
unfolding a partition, and six sections.
"Sections" have seats during the day and upper and lower berths
at
night. They had curtains and ladders for 12 people in this
section
of the car. It arrived in Fullerton at 1 a.m. January 19, 2004.
This
car was originally put into service with three sister "beach sleepers"
like
it, with the
Boston & Maine Railroad in December, 1954.
After touring this car at Fullerton Station, it is hard to
believe she is 51 years old. Tom says the credit goes to the
non-corrosive stainless steel
fluting over stainless steel sheets, and I say, credit goes to his
excellent
care and restoration.
The Salisbury Beach's six roomettes feature cut-away beds
and permanent sinks. The six bedrooms included private annexes
and
an en-suite capability. Owner and restorer, Tom Pearson, has
owned
eleven other cars before the Salisbury Beach including a diner-lounge
car
and several baggage cars. He bought the car in 1989, and brought
it
to California from St. Louis off the Sunset Limited, in February, 1990.
In
restoring rail cars, as with restoring classic automobiles, finding
original
parts is a challenge, but part of the enjoyment of authentic
restoration.
The car has been all refurbished except for upholstery and
carpet,
which will soon be replace with original pullman upholstery.
Original
steam heat has been replaced with electric baseboard heaters. Tom
has
updated the car by converting one restroom to a shower and another to a
dressing room, leaving two
restrooms. After he installs the wiring under the car, it will be
fully Amtrak ready.
Tom says Fullerton is the best place to have a private car stored in
the US. Recently a fence has been erected by the City of
Fullerton around the full set of cars stored at the station. The
car will eventually be available for lease for trips along the rails of
the US as a two-car team
with the
Silver Splendor, formerly
Silver Buckle coach
,
dome diner-lounge car, also being restored in Fullerton. This
will allow for overnight journeys with both sleeping and dining
facilities.
The
Silver Splendor will have 16 settees downstairs and
upstairs
in the dome will be settees for dining. In front of the dome is a
lounge.
While viewing the cars, you will notice the letters RPCX, the official
AAR letters for the Rail Passenger Car Alliance. Another
association of rail car
owners is the American Association of Private Rail Car Owners.
Tom
pointed out electronic tracking devices on his car that are read
trackside
when the cars are on the move. These associations help owners
with
insurance and Amtrak connections for moving the cars.
You can see these cars and selected areas inside them for the first
public tour at the
Fullerton
Railroad
Days held each year the first weekend in May.
, a former California Zephyr Car built for
the Pennsylvania Railroad, now shown)
Learn more about the Boston & Maine Historical Society through our
own Fullerton TrainWeb.com at:
