The museum is attempting to raise $50,000 through Go Fund Me and grants to move the car by truck and rail to St. Paul, where it would join other former Great Northern streamlined passenger cars that are part of the museum’s Empire Builder project. The goal is to assemble a 1950s vintage edition of the train. The museum already owns three coaches from the 1951 edition of the Empire Builder.
Great Northern and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy owned six Ranch cars used on the 1951 version of the Chicago-Seattle/Portland Empire Builder. To celebrate the Montana ranchlands the train passed through, American Car & Foundry built the six cars in 1950 with a Western theme. The cars were named and numbered: No. 1240 Crossley Lake, No. 1241 Running Crane Lake, No. 1242 Hidden Lake, No. 1243 Iceberg Lake (CB&Q), No. 1244 White Pines Lake, and No. 1245 Whitefish Lake. The cars served as rolling coffee shops/restaurants, and were decorated with rustic wooden timbers, murals of ranch scenes, and brown and white leather seats. Toward the ceiling was the “G Bar N” brand, registered by Great Northern with the State of Montana in Helena on June 8, 1951. Four of the Ranch cars survive.
The museum’s goal is to have the funding in place by Dec. 31, 2018. All funds donated on the campaign go directly to the nonprofit Minnesota Transportation Museum and are tax deductible.
To make a contribution, go to www.gofundme.com/GN1244.
I remember riding in a couple of early Amtrak consists with a ranch car between Chicago and Milwaukee. The decor certainly was interesting’ so it is good to see these cars saved.
Completely unrelated thought. Do wish Trains would give some love; such as a ride report to my favorite rail ” vehicle” the also 1950’s carferry the SS Badger.
Granted she does not serve Milwaukee anymore nor does she carry railcars : BUT the essence of travel on her is much the same as her railroad days; and on hot summer days if you stand on the coal smoke side of the aft railing it is possible to catch that steam era perfume of burnt coal and hot oil coming from the car deck engine room grates.
Also after thousands of vehicles have run over her asphalted car deck ; the rail heads are again showing her heritage.
While the rebirth of Big Boy 4014 is amazing; the thought of bringing a 4l0′ coal fired steamer is almost beyond comprehension.
How’z about a report on a round trip soon; she still runs 24 7 between Manitowoc wis and Ludington mich during the height of summer.
Of the 6 ranch cars built, 5 still survive. Below are car owners and locations:
GN #1241 “Running Crane Lake” Leased to the Willamette & Pacific/Portland & Western Railroad.
GN #1242 “Hidden Lake” Matt Munson, stored at Asti, CA
GN #1243 “Iceberg Lake” Robert Moen, on display at Charles City, IA.
GN #1244 “White Pines Lake” Depot Conference Center, Columbus, OH.
GN #1245 “Whitefish Lake” Roots of Motive Power, Willits, CA
The lone car that was scrapped was GN #1240 “Crossley Lake” which was apparently scrapped after a wreck.