 WP 831 "Silver Chalet" dorm-buffet-lounge - 11/48, BN 252(2) - - - Note: BN 252(1) "Silver Roundup" was stored in WP Oakland CA yard after the last run of the CZ on March 21/22 1970. The car was found in flames in April, was a writeoff from being gutted, and was stashed in a corner of the yard while the WP and CB&Q worked out a deal. That "deal" turned out to be WP handing over their example of the same car "Silver Chalet". The car was turned over to the BN, as the "Q" had become BN on 3/03/70. BN assigned number 804, which like almost all other assigned BN numbers, was never applied, and BN actually renumbered the car as 252(2), but retained the "Chalet" name. (The hulk of "Q" "Silver Roundup" was resold and scrapped following the insurance and transfer of titles for the above swap.) - - -, became Amtrak 9812, Al Beckert (1983), Kasten Railcar (1985), David Rushenberg (1985), Northern Railcar (1987), Quad Graphics Inc. (800274) (1987). The (PV) Silver Chalet has been heavily modified with a platform by Quad Graphics (see photos). Car suffered $130,000 damage 4/03 from a fire caused by a smoldering cushion next to a baseboard heater, but will be restored.
(From the son of Dave Rushenberg.)
Seeing the pictures posted brought back a lot of memories from the summer of '86. My dad and another owner and I took all the dome windows out, re-gasketed them, cleaned out all the window channels and put the windows back in. We also replaced a bunch of leaky/broken side windows. In addition we refurbished the interior of the dome with new pedestal seats, cocktail tables, carpet and paint. For a couple of rank amateurs we did a pretty good job. It was not original, nor was it intended to be, but it was a great place to ride! We worked our tails off to get it ready for the AAPRCO convention in Milwaukee. The Chalet was the last car on the Empire Builder when it went in the ditch in Fall River, WI on the way to Milwaukee. Needless to say, the convention wasn't as much fun as it could have been, though the Chalet wasn't damaged too badly (a few chairs broke out of their bases, a stereo that went airborne).
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