Cedar Rapids is coming to Cedar Rapids this summer, and local residents can go along for the rides. “It was named for this town,” said Bart Jennings, chairman of the National Railway Historical Society’s 2012 national convention. “And we’ll be the first ones to bring it to this town.” http://thegazette.com/2012/04/13/cedar-rapids-plays-host-to-namesake-1940s-rail-car-this-summer/ The local media works the local angle.
Cedar Rapids is coming to Cedar Rapids this summer, and local residents can go along for the rides.
“It was named for this town,” said Bart Jennings, chairman of the National Railway Historical Society’s 2012 national convention. “And we’ll be the first ones to bring it to this town.”
http://thegazette.com/2012/04/13/cedar-rapids-plays-host-to-namesake-1940s-rail-car-this-summer/
The local media works the local angle.
I purchased tickets for my wife and I on that Wednesday's trip to Newton and back, but I doubt that my mid-range-priced seats are located in "Cedar Rapids". Didn't feel that rich...
However, I also am taking the whole week off, so I'll have plenty of opportunities to get pictures of the excursions going to all of the other destinations.
Brian (IA) http://blhanel.rrpicturearchives.net.
blhanel I purchased tickets for my wife and I on that Wednesday's trip to Newton and back, but I doubt that my mid-range-priced seats are located in "Cedar Rapids". Didn't feel that rich... However, I also am taking the whole week off, so I'll have plenty of opportunities to get pictures of the excursions going to all of the other destinations.
Brian & Others:
We've had some pretty interesting discussions about the brooks Stevens designed and Pulman Co. as well as some of the Milwaukee Road's own shop built observation cars in the past:
The following is from this Thread linked:
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/176901.aspx?PageIndex=1
Dakguy201: samfp1943: FTA:"...The Pullman Company, with noted Industrial Designer Brooks Stevens, came up with a stunning variation of their standard boat tail observation car. ." FTL: "...According to a plaque in the Cedar Rapids, which is the Skytop owned by the Friends of 261, Brooks Stevens was the designer, but it was built in the Milwaukee Road's own shop..."
samfp1943: FTA:"...The Pullman Company, with noted Industrial Designer Brooks Stevens, came up with a stunning variation of their standard boat tail observation car. ."
FTA:"...The Pullman Company, with noted Industrial Designer Brooks Stevens, came up with a stunning variation of their standard boat tail observation car. ."
FTL: "...According to a plaque in the Cedar Rapids, which is the Skytop owned by the Friends of 261, Brooks Stevens was the designer, but it was built in the Milwaukee Road's own shop..."
From the 'HISTORY' section of the original article, I'd say their info is correct.:
http://www.coffeecreek.info/history.html
FTA: "...There were six identical cars ordered in 1946 and delivered in late 1948 and early 1949 for the Olympian Hiawatha Route between Chicago and Tacoma, Washington. These cars were Eight Bedroom - SkyTop Observation Cars. The six cars were named "Adler Creek," "Arrow Creek," "Coffee Creek," "Gold Creek," "Marble Creek" and "Spanish Creek." Four more Milwaukee-built cars (with a shorter Skytop bubble end and a Parlor configuration) were made for use on other trains. These were the only ten cars built to this unique Brooks Stevens design and are believed to be the only cars to be completely designed by an industrial designer..."
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