CPR 598 Open Observation Car

CPR #598 OPEN OBSERVATION CAR

CPR had a long history of using open observation cars on lines through the Rockies. Generally these were old converted passenger cars and due to their wood construction they had to be handled at the tail end . CPR 1422, the car from which No. 598 was constructed was part of the very first batch of steel passenger equipment built at the CPR Angus shops in Montreal. CPR even built the 6 wheel trucks at Angus and they were known as "Burnett" trucks after the designer. Both No. 598 and British Columbia have these distinctive trucks.

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When The Canadian was introduced in 1955 the CPR retired all the wood open observation cars. However it was felt that the Mountaineer which ran between Vancouver and Chicago needed observation cars of some kind. Three steel coaches from the 1400 series were converted to observation cars Nos. 597, 598 and 599. When the Mountaineer was discontinued the cars were used on special excursions. They made several runs though the Coquihalla on the Kettle Valley Line and served on several early WCRA fan trips. The three cars were slated to be scrapped in 1965 but the WCRA arranged for their purchase from the CPR for preservation. No's. 597 and 599 went to excursion operators in the United States. After serving several owners they are both now operating on the Sierra railway at Jamestown CA.

No 598 joined the WCRA collection and was leased to excursion operators in Oregon before returning to British Columbia to become part of the consist of the Royal Hudson train in 1974. The car served on the train until 1989 when the BC Tourism Ministry terminated the lease with the WCRA and the car was returned to the WCRA.