CB&Q "Bird-Cage" car

[Texas Zepher]

Does anyone know anything about the 188x's CB&Q rail car refered to in as the "bird-cage"? All I know about it is that it was too tall to fit through the Southern Pacific's tunnels into California.

[daveklepper]

iS THIS A CLEARANCE CHECKER CAR?

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by daveklepper

iS THIS A CLEARANCE CHECKER CAR?

I got the impression it was more like a scenery viewing car. The known reference to it is in a memo from President Perkins to Forbs appologizing because it could not be used on a trip to California.

[Anonymous]

TexasZephyr, I was hoping some one else would answer this for you. I recall fairly clearly seeing drawings of the car, basically an 1880's attempt at an observation-lounge. It had a bow-fronted lounge in the center of the car and a dome-like top over it. The center of the car indeed looked like it had a birdcage built into it. The hard part is remembrering where I saw it. I will take a look and try to report back.

[dharmon]

So it's not a car carrying around a troup of transvestite performers?

[Anonymous]

No, no, dharmon. You are confusing it with wht Follies Trolley. Common error.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lfish


No, no, dharmon. You are confusing it with wht Follies Trolley. Common error.

My mistake. Thanks. I should have remembered that the pole has to be pulled down and secured before performing in these cases.

[M636C]

I just checked the most extensive US passenger car reference I have, John H White's "The American Railroad Passenger Car" with no success. I felt I should , however comment favourably on Dan's unexpected (to me) familiarity with French Cinema!

Peter

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by lfish

I recall fairly clearly seeing drawings of the car, basically an 1880's attempt at an observation-lounge. It had a bow-fronted lounge in the center of the car and a dome-like top over it. The center of the car indeed looked like it had a birdcage built into it. The hard part is remembrering where I saw it.

After seeing your post I suddenly remembered seeing something in Popular Science or Popular Mechanics in the 70's. Any chance that is the one you remember?