A strange passenger car modification- a theater car!

[Scottl]

I found this looking at the latest shots.  Kind of neat.  I like the stunned look on their faces 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=478128

[Dave Schneider]

I think that Model Railroader did a build article on a car like this.....maybe in the 1980s?
Their facial expressions are a bit understandable, after probably watching endless miles of spruce forest going by. Looks a bit crowded....I might prefer the vestibule.

Best wishes, Dave

[Bob Bufkin]

Amtrak just built one and it went west on the Cap a couple days ago.  Build it out of a coach shell from what I heard.

[wcfn100]

Doesn't UP have two of these?

I think I got video of one a couple years ago.

Jason

[DKS]

Theater cars have been around since the late 1800s. Some were built for the purpose, others were modified coaches or whatever was on hand. A few samples:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/up203.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prairiestar/2383164979/in/set-72157606709145414

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:An_Inspection_Car_En_Route.jpg

http://www.dogcaught.com/2006/07/07/track-inspection-and-double-geeps/

http://www.trainsim.com/vbts/showthread.php?314524-Theater-car-Fox-River

http://kdl.kyvl.org/catalog/xt7sf7664q86_6040_1

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/11418/DSC00698.JPG

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m266/shadowcreek/misc/111cn103-05.jpg

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=284383

[Chris333]

What about open trolley cars? That is more like a theater:

http://www.ct-trolley.org/collection/streetcar4.php
http://www.cityprofile.com/maine/photos/5019-kennebunkport-seashore_trolley_museum2.html

[Catt]

BN had one built from a full dome car.I'm guessing that BNSF still has it.

[DKS]

BN had one built from a full dome car.I'm guessing that BNSF still has it.

http://trainweb.org/DOMEmain/picGN1390n.jpg

[Scottl]

These are all very interesting, I had no idea such things existed.

[Hyperion]

BN had one built from a full dome car.I'm guessing that BNSF still has it.

BNSF #30.  It's common on our business trains.

Roadmasters and Division Engineers ride along with executives and get to have their territory picked apart.  It's generally not the most pleasant experience in the world.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=478128

This car is now serving its Fifth owner.  Built by the N&W from the only Wabash 44-seat leg-rest coach and patterned off of the C&O's own car the car carried the name Altavista while in use by both the N&W and NS before being sold to the Nashville & Eastern.  N&E sold the car to the IC and was rebuilt with wider side windows and in turn passed the car onto the CN.


Speaking of Track Inspection cars the PRR is the earliest that I have found as far as pictures on the web goes, with two cars, PRR 492575, a wood sheathed car no less, and PRR 498014.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

The Amtrak car, 10004 American View, is former AMTK Viewliner sleeper 62091 Eastern View, ex-2301, one of the prototype cars...
http://rrpicturearchives.net/rspicture.aspx?id=891252
http://www.railroad.net/forums/download/file.php?id=9453&mode=view

[LV LOU]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=478128

This car is now serving its Fifth owner.  Built by the N&W from the only Wabash 44-seat leg-rest coach and patterned off of the C&O's own car the car carried the name [a href=http://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=77577]Altavista[/url] while in use by both the N&W and NS before being sold to the Nashville & Eastern.  N&E sold the car to the IC and was rebuilt with wider side windows and in turn passed the car onto the CN.


Speaking of Track Inspection cars the PRR is the earliest that I have found as far as pictures on the web goes, with two cars, PRR 492575, a wood sheathed car no less, and PRR 498014.

I saw this car in NS dark red on their first inspection train that came through here when NS first started running here,probably the mid 90's..

[trainforfun]

Just found another one :

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=476276&nseq=51