our Pullman
The Southwest Chapter owns the heavyweight Pullman, the James Watt,
built in 1926 as a 14-section pullman for the Santa Fe Railroad. The
James Watt was often used on deluxe trains Nos. 3 & 4, the
California Limited. There were six other similar cars built to Plan
3958 and assigned to the A.T. & S.F. By the late forties, the James
Watt was relegated to secondary trains and it has been reported it served
as backup to the Isaac Newton, another 14-section car, on the El
Paso-Albuquerque run until that train was converted to lightweight equipment
and daylight running in 1953. James Watt was converted to
maintenance of way service in 1956 and served as a foreman's shower car.
Eleven of the original 14 sections remain, two having been removed on one
end to add a shower and one removed on the other end for office space. Otherwise
the car is in remarkably original condition. It is unrestored and not serviceable
on mainlines due to friction bearings and old brakes. It is located with
our other equipment at the Phelps-Dodge plant in El Paso and can be seen
by appointment with a chapter member.
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