Domes To The Cape Here is the evening Cape Cod Central dinner train run seen passing the small cove and over the causeway rebuilt last summer at Monk's Park near MP 2.9 on Mass Coastal Railroad's ex New Haven Falmouth Branch. While no evidence exists that these original NYNH&H FL9s ran here during their early years when the NH was still alive, they are nonetheless on "home" rails. The dinner train pauses and turns back only about a quarter mile to the south (the right side of these images) of here. Mass Coastal's ex CDOT FL9 #2026 (built Sept. 1957 as NH 2007) was leading south while here on this end of the train is sister FL9 #2011 (built Sept. 1960 as NH #2038). And just like me both of those domes spent time in Alaska. The dome at left was built by Budd and delivered to the Santa Fe in 1954. It never ended up in Amtrak service instead going to the private Auto Train and then the NYSW before being bought by Westours in 1985. After an extensive rebuild it came to Alaska in 1987. It would travel south for more upgrades in 1997 but would last under Westours successor Holland America Lines until 2009. That year it was acquired by Iowa Pacific and saw use on the Saratoga and North Creek before ending up here on the Cape. Now owned by a bank as part of the IP bankruptcy proceedings it is brokered for sale but until then continues to see use in the summers. It still wears its scheme from its time in Alaska and its name Matanuska. The dome to the right was also built by Budd and delivered to the Great Northern in 1955 for use on the famed Empire Builder. It passed to BN in 1970 and then Amtrak in 1971 before being sidelined in 1979. After that it had a pretty fascinating history before being saved by Westours and restored to the tune of $1 million! It came to Alaska in 1997 and stayed for 22 years leaving in 2009 when Iowa Pacific bought it. They subsequently removed the rooftop a/c units from Holland America days and restored it to its rightful GN paint and name, Prairie View. What the long term future holds for the car is uncertain but it's nice (if a bit weird) to see this gorgeous car here on Cape Cod. Bourne, Massachusetts |
