American
Freedom Train Originally Reading car #592, the Pie Car was likely built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding (Wilmington, DE) in 1927. The combine was streamlined with "skirting" for service on their (non-stainless steel) Crusader. After service on the Crusader, the skirting was removed with only small remnants of it remaining by the time it appeared on the Permacel Express as car P1 "Innovator", debuting in September, 1966. Image:
Parke-Bernet Galleries auction catalog, November 21, 1968 |
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The colorful Permacel Express was used for employee education and public relations. For economy, it traveled attached to regularly scheduled passenger trains. (The locomotive in the publicity picture is likely today's Black River & Western #60.) The three-car train was sold at auction to the Lancaster & Chester Railway, the "Springmaid Line", where it became the Springmaid Special. Image: Parke-Bernet Galleries auction catalog, November 21, 1968 |
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Springmaid Special car #11 "Innovator", as seen in a brochure put out by the Lancaster & Chester Railway. Image: Keith Muldowney collection |
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Coming from the L&C, the car of the Springmaid Special were measured for the AFT Foundation. The measurements appear on a drawing that shows the skirting the car used to wear on the Reading's (non-streamlined) Crusader. Image: John Finnin collection
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Preamble Express Car #1 became AFT combo car #202, the "Pie Car". Shown at Lebanon, NJ. July 1974. Image: Keith Muldowney
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The head end of the car held a VA-Power steam generator by Vapor Corp. and an International Harvester DC generator, 62.5 volts. It also held a Continental Engine 4-cylinder engine for powering a smaller generator. All of this provided power to the passenger cars of the AFT. Photographed at Minneapolis. Image: John Hill collection |
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The rear 2/3 of the car held a small crew room and a galley for preparing and serving meals at the long lunch counter. AFT combo car #202 shown at Pittsburgh, PA July 1976. Image: William Brandon, photographer. George Elwood scan. |
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At the end of the line -- back at Cameron Station, VA, winter 1977. Image: Tom Nosera |
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After the AFT, the car was sold to BC Rail for use in their Royal Hudson steam program and named "Endeavour" as part of the British Columbia Provincial Museum Train. Former AFT car #202 as BC Rail "Endeavour" at Vancouver, BC. Jerry LaBoda alerted us to this picture on the web and did the leg work getting us permission to post it here. Our thanks to both Jerry and Claude Prutton, the photographer. Click on the images to see larger versions. Image: Claude Prutton, March 30, 1978.
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The reason for the Rock Island lettering is unknown. Film/television production? Image: Claude Prutton, September 1985. |
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Former AFT car #202 as BC Rail "Endeavour" at the Prince George Railway& Forestry Museum in BC Canada. (Farther north than parts of Alaska!). Click on the images to see larger versions. Image: Todd Schannuth August 2006. |
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Roof detail. Image: Todd Schannuth August 2006. |
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Where the yellow spot on the side is (by the baggage door) is about where the large Lancaster & Chester Springmaid Line plaque was affixed from the 1960's through its Preamble Express run in 1974. Also where a giant Captain Cook Bicentennial sticker was affixed while on the British Columbia Provincial Museum Train Image: Todd Schannuth August 2006. |
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Inside the 'Pie Car'. Meals are occasionally still served here (mostly birthday parties at the museum - note the streamers on the floor). A lot of history in this car. Image: Todd Schannuth August 2006. |
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