Open Platform Observation Cars

[passengerfan]

For my 12th birthday my dad asked me what I wanted, I surprised him by saying I wanted to ride the Cascadian from Seattle to Spokane and return on overnight sleeper from Spokane to Seattle on the Empire Builder.

I was lucky they substituded a heavyweight cafe observation for the trains regulsr car that saturday and it had an open platform. It was April but I didn't care I was dressed warmly and the crew figured if some kid wants to freeze riding outside OK with them. The only time they made me come in was when the train went through the Cascade tunnel. I arrived in Spokane only 1/2 frozen and was meant by a GN station agent who baby sat me for dinner and put me on the waiting sleeper at 9;00 PM. I don't even remember the sleeper being coupled to the EB or anything else as I was fast asleep until the porter woke me saying Seattle 15 minutes. I dressed and left the train at King St. looking half asleep and dad was waiting. I could never convince him it was the best birthday present I ever had.

Al - in - Stockton  

[garr]

 Being born in 1962, I never had a chance to ride the heavyweight passenger trains of the past(unless you count the heavyweight coach on the Georgia RR Macon mixed) or the railroad owned streamliners for that matter(ditto the Georgia RR super mixed).

However I did ride a large number of the Southern Railway steam trips with Lookout Mountain, the excursion version of the open platform observation car, bringing up the rear. With all the side windows removed, I don't know how accurate a representation of the glory days' experience of riding an open platform it was, but there were cinder issues. More an annoyance than a total distraction, sort of like ants at a picnic.

 

Jay

[rji2]

 I've never rode on an open platform observation car, but I have many times ridden the rear vestibule of a coach or sleeper, and no one mentioned one of the less aesthetic features of such travel.  A speeding train creates a vacuum behind it, which is filled by the dust and condensed steam (which someone did mention) and when someone flushed the toilet back in the days when waste was dumped directly onto the roadbed, you'd know when that happened if you were riding on the open vestibule.

[M636C]

In September 1977, I rode Amtrak's "Empire Builder" from Seattle to Chicago. I had a roomette in a standard 10+6 sleeper, and the train had the then usual full length dome as the lounge car.

Clearly this isn't going to come close to Dave's experience, but the trailing car was a dome sleeper. It was ex GN or NP and had a buffet compartment under the dome, replacing some sleeping compartments in the original design. However, this was Amtrak, so the buffet was shut. However, the vestibule on this car was trailing and with the upper dutch doors open and only a chain across the diaphragm opening, much of the atmosphere of an open platform was present.

Those who can might recall that in 1977, Amtrak was returning their SDP40Fs to EMD for rebuild into F40PH units which were more suitable for passenger service. Anyway, my "Empire Builder" had four SDP40Fs, two being returned to Chicago for rebuild.

They were all operating, and this was quite a fast trip. I timed a number of mile posts standing on the rear vestibule and we were generally making 80 MPH as far as I could tell, I guess this was really 79 MPH since there was no in cab signalling.

The train was steam heated (all that the SDP40F could provide) so as well as the expected road dust, there was mist of condensed water that helped the dust to stick to you.

Still, it was exciting watching Montana disappear away from you at 80 MPH and I was probably there for an hour or so, since it was a fine, warm day.

However, the view from the air conditioned dome beckoned, and since this was a sleeping car, only four or five first class passengers were there and the atmosphere was more appealing than the crowded main lounge car, where people were smoking.

One passenger had a radio tuned to a local country music station, and I could sit there watching the procession of grain elevators and their small towns pass by. Often you could see a grain elevator ahead before the one behind dropped from view.

It was the end of the post war streamliner era and the cars were showing their age. But they were clean and the bright upholstery looked modern, and the food in the diner was good if simple and not too expensive.

I'd ride that train again tomorrow if I could. I should try the current Superliner version...

But I'd expect that heavyweight end platforms would share the problems of dust and condensing steam heat (that Dave wouldn't have had on his Amtrak era private cars). On a fine, warm day, I'd do it but I'd spend more time in the observation room ahead of the actual platform.

M636C

[Redwards]

Thanks for that Dave.  Sounds like you had some wonderful experiences on private cars in addition to all of your travels on the great trains.  I'm quite envious!

--Reed

[daveklepper]

Most of my open-platform observation car riding was as a guest (paying my share of the expenses) of Richard Horstmann in car 353 (genrally I was in a lower birth in a companion heavyweight Privately owned sleeper, but sometimes I shared a room in the 353.)   These included a one-way Grand Central to Boston trip, Penn Station to Hyannis and back, Seattle to New York Penn via Salt Lake City and Chicago, NY Penn to Bay Head Junction and back, Penn Station to Pittsburgh and back (my first trip on 353), Grand Central to Montreal and back on the back of Amtrak's Adorondak, NYPenn to Williamsburgh and back (twice I think) and to the Greenbriar Hotel and back.   All were terrific trips.   None were behind steam, so there was no problem of soot on the back platform, and yes drinks were served, until the unfortunate Penn Station event of an inebriate couple on top of another owner's private car under catenary, and after that Dick ordered that only soft drinks could be had on the open back platform.  This car is now owned by the Park Service and is well maintained at Steamtown and is available for charter, and it is Amtrak compatible.   One interurban regularly ran open platform cars after WWII, and that was the Waterloo Ceder Falls and NOrthern.   I spent a day with Bill Watson and Ray DeGroot in the summer on 1952 riding Waterloo-Ceder Rapids and back and Waterloo-Waverly and back.  No drinks were served but it was wonderful day.  Steam experiences were with the Chcicago Railroad Club and Maurie KLeibolt's Chief Illini, mostly behind Burlington 4-8-4 O-5 5632.  Drinks were served.  Pure pleasure and one could use the shower in the car to remove the soot before going to sleep.   MY first trip with Maurie to Colorado and back, Russ Jackson was with me, were both assigned roomettes in a leased New Haven sleeper, but we were able to use the Chief's facilities.  And on the last trip with Maurie, in 1962, I was in the Nomad from Durango to Silverton and back and in the Wiliiam Jackson Palmer to Farmington and back, with Rudy Morgefrau cooking a terrific steak dinner on the galley stove and youngsters flying kites off the back platform on the entrance to Durango.   All the narrow gauge riding was beind steam and we loved it.   The then Branford Trolley Museum, now the Shore Line Trolley Museum, chartered Levine's PRR 120 to and from an ARM Chicago Convention,  I think we used the Broadway both ways.   On many of these trips, I thought the pleasure was over too soon, even thought the climax was often racing up the Northeast Corridor at 100mph, as shown on 353's lounge speedometer, while riding the back platform.   There is truly nothing better other than riding in the engineer's cab itself, and that is also a wonderful experience. Which is better is debatable.

Richard Horstmann always provided his guests with the ultimate in service.  His Maitre de was a retired Pullman man, who had many years of experience as barman, porter, porter in charge, and chef.   For both serving their guests was a labor of love.   I am very pleased that 353 is be well-taken care-of.

I was also a part owner of Mountain View, and had some fine trips even without an open back platform.  Some railroads used "Solarium Lounge" cars on the rear of their trains without open platforms but with large windows at the ends and at the rear portion of both sides. 

[Redwards]

When I was growing up I loved poring over Lucius Beebe's books with their pictures of the heavyweight observation cars complete with a few chairs and an awning to keep platform occupants in shade.  I yearned to ride the heavyweight Century up the Hudson while sipping a coke on the rear platform and watching the rails recede.  Today, I suspect the reality of riding the platform in the steam era might not have been quite so glamorous with the inevitable shower of cinders and ballast dust.

Anybody here have a chance to ride the platform?  Enjoyable or no?     

--Reed