Thank You
Here is a list of donors who have contributed to this project in so many ways.
West Coast Railway Association Squamish BC, Eric Stathers Seattle WA, Doug Kibble Vancouver BC, Patrick Hind Victoria BC, Robert D. Turner Victoria BC, David Walmsley Vancouver BC, Ron Anstey Vancouver BC, Baytown Railway Society Ottawa ON, Weebly.com, Great Northern Railway Historical Society, John Riley at InterCoast Building Solutions Surrey BC, Craig McDowall Vancouver BC.
Here is a list of donors who have contributed to this project in so many ways.
West Coast Railway Association Squamish BC, Eric Stathers Seattle WA, Doug Kibble Vancouver BC, Patrick Hind Victoria BC, Robert D. Turner Victoria BC, David Walmsley Vancouver BC, Ron Anstey Vancouver BC, Baytown Railway Society Ottawa ON, Weebly.com, Great Northern Railway Historical Society, John Riley at InterCoast Building Solutions Surrey BC, Craig McDowall Vancouver BC.
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Great Northern 1090 was built to bring up the markers on the best trains the railway offered when built in 1910. The Oriental Limited, Oregonian, Glacier Park Limited and the International to name a few. The 42' lounge was one of the longest that any railway offered at the time and to have afternoon tea on this car while speeding through the mountains of the west coast was a real treat.
Drawing courtesy of the Great Northern Railway Historical Society. |
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History of car 1090
Parlour Observation car 1090 was delivered to the Great Northern Railway by the car manufacturer Barney and Smith in 1910 with the number 7582. The floor plan included a 42' lounge at one end and a 30' smoking parlour divided by two small washrooms. It was used on the Oriental Limited and other popular trains of the day. By 1925 wood cars were not in fashion any more and 7582 was taken into the shop for a major overhaul. It received a steel frame and steel side sheathing. The vestibule end of the car was completely rebuilt in steel for added strength. In 1927 car 7582 was renumbered 1090. In 1940 at the beginning of World War 2 the car was taken out of passenger service and assigned to be a maintenance of way car with the number 03296. The floor plan at this time was changed to make the lounge into a dining room and the parlour became a small kitchen. With the formation of Burlington Northern in 1970 the car remained in work service and was renumbered 968129. It was finally retired in 1982 and donated to the West Coast Railway Association. The WCRA used the car as a workshop for the rebuilding of its wood cars while they were parked at New Westminster. The WCRA renumbered the car 1090 and it came to Squamish with the rest of the collection where it remained a storage car for supplies just outside the PGE Carhop at the museum. In more recent years the car roof was not maintained very well and the decision was made that it was a car that was not on the priority list to have any work completed in the near future. It was offered for sale and Trevor offered to take the car to work on the restoration as a personal project.
One of the key features of this car is that it was ordered with the platform door to one side on the end wall which left room for an enormous viewing window to look out from the lounge. It also has its original wood framed trucks with steel plates for added strength. The interior was panelled in mahogany with maple and ebony inlays.
One of the key features of this car is that it was ordered with the platform door to one side on the end wall which left room for an enormous viewing window to look out from the lounge. It also has its original wood framed trucks with steel plates for added strength. The interior was panelled in mahogany with maple and ebony inlays.
For updates on the progress of the restoration please click on the updates tab under GN 1090 in the header.