Rolling Stock

assenger and dining cars for a railroad are very unique. They’re not like the cars we drive, where a trade-in every few years is many times the norm. Rather, these cars are often decades old, and even a half century or more in service is not unusual. Yet, maybe that’s the draw to trains. If the cars were new, then they would have to be equipped with all the modern gadgets: e-mail, computers, cell phones, televisions, instant replay and all that. The folks at the Potomac Eagle would like to introduce you to two of their dining cars and let you in on a little history of them along the way.

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

Built in 1950 by Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Ill., Pullman Car Works and ordered in 1946 by the Pere Marquette Railroad of Michigan, this lunch counter, buffet-bar lounge car was modeled after floor plan #7596. By the time of delivery in 1950, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway had gained control of the Pere Marquette Railroad and sold three of the four cars in this series to the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad of Colorado: the Castle Gate #1290, Eagle Cañon #1292 and the Royal Gorge #1291.

This series was unusual from the start as two cars were of PM design (the Eagle Cañon and the Royal Gorge) and two of C&O design, the Chessie Club and the Castle Gate. The only car kept by the C&O was the #1903 Chessie Club, which became a one-of-a-kind on the rail line. The cars, although from the same order, had many differences based on the standards of the two railroads – Pere Marquette and C&O. The Pere Marquette style had smaller windows, 32-volt direct current and push doors. The C&O style had bigger windows, a 64-volt system and sliding doors. The three cars that went to D&RG Western Railroad of Colorado ran on the Royal Gorge Train until 1967 when the service was discontinued.

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

On most of the Potomac Eagle’s trips, you’ll find an open-air car or two just behind the locomotive on the south end of the train. One is an open-top gondola car that had been used to carry freight like pipes or railroad ties. That car has been outfitted with benches, so passengers can step outside to partake in the view of the Trough.

The second open-air car is covered, but has large wide-open windows where you can lean out a little bit to get a better look. This car is one of several where restrooms are located.

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad

Regular passenger coaches are coupled to the north of the open-air cars. Most of these cars came from commuter rail service on the Canadian National. Typical seating in these cars are cushioned, reversible seats where passengers can move the seat-back in order to face in either direction. We have three cars that feature table-style seating, which is convenient for those bringing picnic lunches or passengers enjoying a bit from our on-board snack car. These cars are also mainly used by bus groups.

Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad