PRESERVED EQUIPMENT

OBSERVATION CAR 5998

After somehow surviving an uncertain future, GM&O's ACF aluminum lightweight observation car has been magnificently restored by Jim Butler and other volunteers at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis.  This car, originally built in 1935 by the B&O to operate on it's Royal Blue train, spent most of it's operational life on the GM&O (and predecessor C&A) running between Chicago and St. Louis.   All of these photos were taken in late September, 1999 during my recent visit to the museum.  It is difficult to get a good exterior photo of the car due to the close proximity of other equipment.  On the positive side, the car is well protected under cover in one of the museum's new train sheds.  Click here to find more material on the GM&O lightweight equipment.

GM&O PARLOR CAR "ALTON"

A streamlined, riveted steel construction parlor car built in 1947 by American Car & Foundry for use between Chicago and St. Louis on the name trains Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge.  It survived in service into the early AMTRAK era.  The car was acquired 1993 by the Gulf Coast Chapter NRHS Inc.