Passenger cars – Railway Museum of British Columbia https://www.wcra.org The Railway Museum of British Columbia is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of British Columbia railway history Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:43:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.wcra.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/wcra-favicon-150x150.png Passenger cars – Railway Museum of British Columbia https://www.wcra.org 32 32 CPR No. 8 Alberta Business Car https://www.wcra.org/exhibit/cpr-no-8-alberta-business-car/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cpr-no-8-alberta-business-car Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:43:46 +0000 https://www.wcra.org/?post_type=exhibit&p=3128 The CPR No. 8 Alberta Business Car, or ‘Alberta’, was constructed in 1929 as a Business Car for the use of travelling railway executives and their staff, serving as an office, home and entertainment centre. National Steel car built the car body of ‘Alberta’ and CPR completed the interior finishing at Angus Shops in Montreal. The ‘Alberta’ is a group of 10 cars built for divisional superintendents, each named after Canadian provinces.

When built in July of 1929, the ‘Alberta’ had many smaller rooms to accommodate the various needs of the executives. Similar to the ‘British Columbia’, this car has a varnished mahogany interior and many brass fittings. After retirement in 1970, modifications were done to make the car suitable for use as a restaurant. Bedroom partition walls were removed and the galley enlarged. In this current configuration, the car has a lounge with an open observation platform, a large dining area and galley. Fortunately the general ambience of the car’s interior has been preserved.

]]> Pullman Spirit Observation Car https://www.wcra.org/exhibit/pullman-spirit-observation-car/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pullman-spirit-observation-car Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:40:32 +0000 https://www.wcra.org/?post_type=exhibit&p=3126 This beautiful passenger coach is privately owned by David Walmsley. The Pullman Spirit Observation Car has been personally restored and customized inside for style and comfort and is a tribute to the glory days of passenger service on the rails.

]]> Henry Pickering Open Observation Car https://www.wcra.org/exhibit/henry-pickering-open-observation-car/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=henry-pickering-open-observation-car Tue, 30 Mar 2021 04:38:32 +0000 https://www.wcra.org/?post_type=exhibit&p=3124 The Henry Pickering Open Observation Car has been riding the rail for over 100 years! Built in 1914 as part of the first order of all steel coaches for the Canadian Pacific Railway, this car was in continuous service until retired in 1955. It was rebuilt from coach No. 1422 to Open Observation car No. 598 in 1956 and used on the ‘Mountaineer’ train that ran from Vancouver to St. Paul, Minnesota. WCRA acquired the car in 1964. In 1974 the car was leased by the BC Government to be part of the Royal Hudson train. It was named Mt. Garibaldi and operated until the mid 1980’s, and again in 2000 – 2001. Extensive restoration was completed in 2003. Renamed Henry Pickering, it has operated with the Rocky Mountaineer since 2004.

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