Dining Car No. 7137

“PALMDALE” 

The Palmdale is our first class dining car. Passengers riding with a first class dining car ticket may enjoy complimentary snacks, appetizers, and beverages. From time to time, full-meal service may be offered aboard this car, but amenities will vary based on the event. Be sure to review ticketing pages for details.

Originally built as William Penn, this car one of 16 Budd cars ordered by the Pennsylvania Railroad (“PRR”) in 1952 (Budd T42-04064, PRR PP85 – class). While only 16 parlor-lounge cars were built, No. 7137 was actually a part of a much larger, 64-car order. This 64-car order was for the updated, and newly streamlined, Congressional & Senator train sets (traveling between New York City – Philadelphia, PA – Washington, DC). The Congressional & Senator trains afforded passengers, business, and political figures a 3.5 hour trip form the Northeast to the Capitol. Following the glory days of passenger rail travel, the PRR retired the lounge cars from regular, named-train, service in late 1960. In an effort to restructure the passenger operations, many cars, including 7137 were reconfigured to provide the public more appealing accommodations. As such, 7137 became galley-lounge Anthony Wayne. In 1971, Amtrak took ownership of national passenger rail travel where lounge 7137 (Amtrak 3322) operated until being sold into private ownership in 1992.

Today, the car retains its original PRR number (7137) and is named the PALMDALE in honor of the local area that the car currently passes through.

Deluxe Coach No. 1002

“LAKE OKEECHOBEE”

Deluxe Coach No. 1002 is one of our very own passenger cars, restored right here in Clewiston. It is a spacious car with walk-over seats that allow guests to orient their seats in the direction of the train.

1002 one of 38 cars ordered by the Union Pacific (“UP”) in 1953. These cars were luxurious, 44-seat coaches built by American Car and Foundry (“ACF”) as ACF lot 3812 – ordered in May 1951, delivered to the UP in November of 1953. Coach #1002 was used on one of the most famous UP trains, the City of Los Angeles. The City of Los Angeles ran from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California affording passengers fast (40 hour), luxurious service to the West. Following the glory days of passenger rail travel, UP retired the coaches from regular service in October 1968. Early in 1969, the Great Northern (“GN”) purchased eight of the retired cars for service on local train operations and renumbered the cars to the 1000-series. Of those eight GN – purchased cars, five survived to become commuter cars on New Jersey Transit (formerly named the Central Railroad of New Jersey).

Today, the car retains its GN number (1002) and is named the LAKE OKEECHOBEE in honor of the local area that the car currently passes through.

DELUXE COACH No. 664 & 843

These former Southern Railway coaches are on lease to Sugar Express.

Open Air Car No. 3674
“MIAMI LOCKS”

The Miami Locks is our popular Open Air Car. This car features four large gated doorways for guests to enjoy the sights and sounds of steam railroading and watch the countryside. Souvenirs and other items are often available for sale here.

This car was one of 25 baggage / Railway Post Office (“RPO”) cars built by American Car and Foundry (ACF Lot#04-4269). The 3674 was ordered in November 1953 and delivered between January and April 1955 as a part of the streamlined El Capitan, Chief, and Super Chief trains of the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe (“ATSF”).

After a long career on the ATSF, the car was retired to Amtrak service in 1971. The car operated in successful Amtrak service until being stored at the Amtrak Beech Grove shops in 2007. It was acquired by the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society, sold to Nashville Steam Preservation Society, and is leased to Sugar Express.

Today, the car retains its original ATSF number (3674) and is named the MIAMI LOCKS in honor of the local area that the car currently passes through.

Pullman Car No. 7505
“Clewiston”

Pullman Car No. 7505  Clewiston was delivered by the Pullman Company in April 1911 to the Pennsylvania Railroad (“PRR”) (PRR S70 – class, then Z74R). The PRR, like many other large railroads, required their managers to travel to division points, local areas, or major terminals to resolve issues, conduct business, and meet with railroad clients.

PRR’s modus operandi was to provide their current managers with the newest, most opulent cars. Thus when the first steel cars were built, all of the higher managers got the new cars and lesser managers got the wooden hand-me-downs. There were a few other rounds of new cars, and the same procedure ensued. This meant a car’s name changed a few times in its lifetime. As such, the Martin Clement was formally named Maryland in 1929 and assigned to the General Manager – Eastern Region, based in Philadelphia, PA.

From 1929 to 1960 the car migrated from general managers to superintendents to area managers, etc. Eventually, in 1960, the car was retired to Maintenance of Way (MoW) service. Finally, in 1990 the car entered private ownership and was restored by James H. Clement – son of Martin Clement – and donated to the Galveston Railroad Museum.

Today, the car is named Clewiston to honor the town that made U.S. Sugar possible. It is currently undergoing mechanical and interior work and will be placed into service in the future.