The Silver Chalet, once part of the Western Pacific’s California Zephyr, rests outside Quad/Graphics’ Sussex, Wis., printing plant Nov. 24, 2004.
Cody Grivno
Q I saw a private car named “Silver Chalet” at Union Station in Washington, D.C. It had an odd-looking observation platform. Can you tell me its history and who owns it now?
— Brooks Wilson, Clovis, Calif.
— Brooks Wilson, Clovis, Calif.
A The Silver Chalet is a former California Zephyr car of the same name. It is part of the Quad/Graphics railcar fleet that includes three other cars. The Silver Chalet was Harry Quadracci’s first railcar, and was converted from a mid-train dome, dormitory car. In its original form, the “Cable Car Room” was below the dome, and the long end was dormitory space for the dining car crew on the CZ. Northern Railcar Corp. in Cudahy, Wis., did the initial conversion work during 1987, and QuadRail, in the old Milwaukee Railcar shop, completed it. QuadRail’s work included fabrication of the unusual round-ended observation platform.
— Brad Black, general manager, Silver Peak Railroad Resources
