(erielack) Erie solarium cars

["Joseph A. Braun" <joebraun_@_optonline.net>]

[Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:32:57 EDT From: "Janet & Randy Brown"
<mailto:jananran_@_mymailstation.com > jananran@mymailstation.com  The Pullman
built and operated restaurant cars for several railroads in the early 1930s,
to supplement or, more often, completly replace railroad-run dining car
services. Railway Mechanical Engineer for February 4, 1933, told of Pullman
operating 64 cars over 29 lines on 19 railroads, most in the
8-section/dining/lounge configuration. They differed from other Pullmans
with lounge or buffet service in that they offered complete meal service, in
many cases the only such service on the railroad and, therefore, available
to all passengers. The Erie carried eleven cars, nine between Jersey City
and Chicago and two between Jersey City and Buffalo. The only "custom"
aspect to the operation was the assignment to the cars of names which held
local interest.]

Thank you, Randy, for the additional facts. According to the text I quoted,
however, it is very clear that there was more customizing than just the
name. The text clearly states that these former all-sleeper cars were
rebuilt in 1933 specifically for service on the ERIE and that the interiors
were done according to ERIE specifications, namely, Navajo carpet pattern
and a Neo-classical wall treatment. It is also clear from the interior Photo
185, p.96, of Spring Brook Club that these were intended to be not just
restaurant cars but rear-end cars as well. As rebuilt for the Erie from
standard heavyweight sleepers, the rear end had large vertically oriented
picture windows in the sides to a height above letterboard level and a car
door with a window from 18" above the floor to the same level as the top of
the picture windows next to it -- making the car a rear-end quasi
observation. There are shown nine or ten really plush living-room kind of
chairs in this rear-end viewing and munching area...actually a pretty classy
interior. The rear interior of Pepper Pike Country Club (Photo 188, p. 97)
as converted for the Erie also shows the same rear window arrangement and
really plush sitting-viewing area with the interior specified by the Erie
including a painted pattern all around the interior of the clerestory that
matched the new Navajo carpet on the floor. Again, a classy looking car that
was not just a cookie-cutter job.

Joe Braun



	The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
	Sponsored by the ELH&TS
	http://www.elhts.org
	To Unsubscribe: http://lists.elhts.org/erielackunsub.html

------------------------------