KENAI CAR # : 50
1951 | Ordered by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, more commonly known as the Milwaukee Road, from the Pullman Standard Company for delivery in 1952. This car was the first full length dome ever built. During testing at the Pullman Standard plant in 1952 the car is wrecked and burns. |
1953 | Remanufactured/replacement car is the last one delivered after the 9 identical cars following it on the production line have already entered service. |
Original car had 68 forward facing seats in the dome and a 28 seat cafe on the lower level. Car was built for service on the "Olympian Hiawatha" from Chicago to Seattle/Tacoma and on the "Morning" or "Afternoon Hiawathas" between Chicago and Twin Cities. | |
1958/1961 | The various Hiawathas are combined east of Minneapolis and then the "Olympian Hiawatha" is canceled. The car and five of its mates become surplus to actual needs and serve on various short haul routes in the Midwest. |
1964 | The six surplus cars are sold to Canadian National Railway for service on the "Super Continental and "Panorama" for service between Winnipeg or Edmonton and Vancouver. Car is renumbered 2400 and named "Jasper". |
1974 | Car is transferred to "VIA" (Canada's version of Amtrak), renumbered 2700 and reseated to a 29 seat coach and 27 seat lounge in the dome. |
1982 | Retired from service due to deteriorating condition the cars are sold to a Winnipeg metal recycler. |
1983 | Car is purchased by a startup tour operator for service in Alaska |
1989 | Car is rebuilt for service behind Amtrak's "Coast Starligh" as the privately run "California Sun Express". Car is acquired by Amtrak in 1990 after service folds due to poor ridership. |
1990 | Amtrak introduces the car on its premier "Auto Train" service between Lorton, VA and Sanford, FL. as a dome diner, renumbered as #9310. |
1995 | Amtrak begins to replace its "Auto Train" consists with new equipment. Car is sold at auction to Holland America on November 17, 1995. Car begins trip to West right after Christmas. |
1996 | January, car arrives in Forest Grove, Oregon for storage. In March the decision was made to refurbish car for 1996 due to delay in getting car #1394 from Burlington Northern. Refurbishment cost is $425,000. June 6 car leaves for Alaska. |
June 1996 : first Anchorage-Denali-Fairbanks revenue trip. . |