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 "Robert E. Lee" (formerly the "Mt. Darwin") (ex-Railroad Town, USA, exx-Bear Creek Scenic Railway, exxx-Private Railway Cars, Inc.) sleeping/lounge car. This 86-ton steel car was built in 1924 by Pullman, one of 90 such cars. All 10 cars built using this floor plan (Plan 3521, Lot 4816) were built for general service. In the 1930's the car was equipped with a mechanical air conditioner for the comfort of its passengers. It is known to have operated on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy's Exposition Flyer between Chicago and San Francisco in the 1940s. It was dropped from service by 1961 and sold by Pullman in 1965. The car was named "Robert E. Lee" for use in a film; it never ran on the Southern Railway which did have a car named the "Robert E. Lee" but which had an entirely different interior configuration. Enter the car from the observation deck. Before mounting the steps, note the brackets on the roof. These held the rearward facing marker lights. Also note the hand brake lever at the rear of the deck. Entering the door, you come into the lounge. It is equipped with comfortable seats and a special seat ticket was needed to use this area. Forward of the lounge is a passageway to the left. A mens' smoking room opens off the passageway to the right. The passageway leads to a center aisle with pairs of seats in "sections" on either side. There are 5 such sections on either side. Each pair of seats can be made into a lower sleeping berth and the upper berth can be pulled down into position. Each berth has a privacy curtain. Forward of the center aisle is a passageway to the right, and opening off the left of the passageway is a ladies' room provided with a privacy curtain where the ladies could primp in the morning. A hand brake lever is against the car vestibule wall at the A end. The "Robert E. Lee" was purchased from the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway in 1978. It is painted green and has yellow trim and lettering, a color scheme adopted by the Museum staff when the car was being readied for display. The original color was either gray or dark Pullman green. |
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