Napa Valley Wine Train

[tdmidget]

Can anyone tell me what equipment is in this train? Would like to know car types and builders if possible. Also is it still pulled with Alco FAs?

[RockIsland52]

Alco FA's in 01/99.  Have not been back since.  Jack.

[daveklepper]

Have not ridden the train, but at one point, possibly currently, the equipment was wood and steel composite closed-vstibule coaches about 85-90 years old originally built for the Northern Pacific and then sold to the D&RGW and used on their ski train until the purchase of more modern "Tempo" light-weight post WWII coaches from CN or VIA.   I understand some were rebuilt considerably as regards to interiors.

[passengerfan]

Actually the diesels are former Via originally MLW FPA4's.

The cars are former NP via the D&RGW Ski train as mentioned earlier and the dome is a former GN full length great dome.

To say the former NP cars were remodeled is an understatement the cars would be right at home on the former American Orient Express. I don't know who rebuilt those beautiful heavyweights but they did a truly magnificent job. I have taken the Napa Valley Wine train on several occasions now and they truly are one of the best anywhere. 

 

[RockIsland52]

How's This? www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=150655

[tdmidget]

Dave, do you know who built these cars and their original configuration?

[daveklepper]

I am pretty sure they were built by Pullman, since the details match Pullman-built wood-on-steel-frame cars of the period.  But I might be mistaken.   As far as I know, the D&RGW did not do any substantial modification when they were bought from the NP some sixty years ago.   So there original configuration was that of typical medium-distance plain Jane day coaches, with high-back non-reclining reversable plush seats, with arms but without leg rests, and typical small restrooms, ladies at one end and men at the other.  Estimated seating capacity between 60 and 72.  They probably had steam heat as built, without any stove or smokestack, but they may have had oil lamps originally, replaced with axle generator, battery, and electric lighting.   Quite a transformation in the recent rebuilding!

[nanaimo73]

The 8 cars at the start from NP were built by Pullman-Standard in 1915. NP 1210-1227 became 1011-1018, not in order. They were rebuilt by the Napa Valley, and the upper window sections, with the Nomads, are original. A 1990 roster shows cars 1052-1090, ex Southern, 1100 and 1101 ex Penn Central, 2919 ex SP and 3586 ex Southern.

[amsr]

Wow, that ALCO looks like a forrest fire!