ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE RAILWAY
Coach No. 580 |
Listen Here |
In the early 20th century, some passenger coaches
were built as smoking cars, or "smokers," for pipe, cigarette, and cigar
smokers. This one was built for the Santa Fe in 1910.
It is one of the last examples
of composite construction, with wood sides on a steel frame. The wood sides were
later covered with steel plating for better protection from the weather and to
give it a more modern look. It still retains its original composite wood and
steel truck frames. In 1938 it was rebuilt as a crew kitchen and diner for use
in work train service, and last served out of Barstow, California.
After retirement it was
acquired by Valley Steel & Supply of Tempe, who donated it to the Arizona
Railway Museum in 1997.
Santa Fe coach No. 580 was built by the Pullman
Company as part of a series of 10 men's smoking cars numbered 580 - 589, with
wood siding on a steel underframe in lot 3777. It is 75 feet 7 inches in length
over end sills.
When it went into maintenance of way service in 1938,
six of its large windows were partially covered, a tin roof was added, and it
was renumbered M.O.W. 198993. It last served in wreck train service out of
Barstow, then was purchased unseen as scrap by Valley Steel and Supply of Tempe,
Arizona.
When Valley Steel discovered the car was mostly wood,
they donated it to the museum. It was delivered on June 28, 1997, still wearing
its maintenance of way number.
The windows and roof have
since been restored. The original car lighting was provided by 32-volt D.C.
battery, and two ceiling-mounted gas lamps. The new circuits are 120-volt A.C.
with period style fixtures. One toilet room has been rebuilt using period
fixtures, and the other is being used as an electric/storage locker.
The car has been repainted
back to its original Pullman green, and was renumbered again as No. 580. It is
currently configured for display of train artifacts including a variety of coach
seats from the late 1800s up to an Amtrak seat from the 1990s.