| AT&SF Business Car 407 at La Junta, Colorado on August 17, 1965, photo by Chuck Zeiler. The Santa Fe had 18 short (approximately 60 foot exterior length) four-wheel truck business cars built by Pullman between 1924-1929 in the 400-409 and 422-229 number series. All were assigned to Division Superintendents. This particular car was built in December 1926, Pullman Lot 4977, and was assigned for some time to the Rio Grande Division. All were originally painted standard green with black roofs but in later years their roofs were painted aluminum to reflect the heat. At the rear of the car was an observation platform 3'6" in depth, inside was the observation room which was 10' long with two large windows on each side and two windows plus a door to the observation platform. Behind the observation room was Stateroom B, a 6'4" cubical to sleep two. Behind it was a toilet and shower in 3'6", followed by State Room A, which was a spacious 7'2". In normal inspection use, Stateroom A would be for the Division Superintendent while Stateroom B was for his secretary. For obvious reason, male secretaries were the norm for Division Superintendents. The next room was the Dining room, 12' in length, with seating at the table for six. A sideboard of Mexican Mahogany kept the silverware and china. A desk in the corner served the secretary, and a sofa on one wall could fold to reveal an upper birth. Finally, a 4'4" bedroom served the porter who was also the cook in the 8' kitchen next to the vestibule. As built they had two vestibule doors. Very early in their lives the door on the kitchen side was closed up and a storage closet created on that side of the vestibule. As cars were modernized electric generation was added where the vestibule storage was located and a large flare vent was added to the roof. The other vestibule door was also closed in on some cars to create a new storage room and and a new side door created over the center of the rear truck resulting in the loss of one vestibule side window. During 1968 the Superintendents' business cars were discontinued and were replaced by high-rail automobiles. One record indicates that car 407 was at the Midland Railroad, Baldwin City, Kansas, but donated to the Railroad Heritage Inc., for display at the Great Overland Station in Topeka, Kansas. |