That makes sense. I find it particularly interesting that he was going to return her to regular service paint for the donation, but the museum talked him out of it!
In addition to her remaining a coach for her entire career, unlike her recently demolished ex-South Park sister, she retains her original roof profile. I really like that; kudos to the California NG roads for leaving the original roof profiles on their cars (unlike the C&S).
Michael
Brian Norden Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Most likely they will continue to be Grizzly
> Flats. After all they have now been that as long
> or longer than they were on the railroad.
>
> Emma was on the NC from 1881 to 1938; that is 57
> years. Then announced gift to OERM in 1990 and
> moved in 1992; that is 54 years and up to now it
> is 71 years as GF. The coach was also built in
> 1881 and bought by the Kimballs in 1938 -- it
> carried lettering for the C&C, SP's Nevada &
> California and then Southern Pacific during those
> years.
>
> Also keeping them as Grizzly Flats reflects the
> early preservation work of Ward and Betty Kimball.
> Ward proposed to repaint the coach to C&C or SP
> for the donation; but our VP of Collections at
> that time talked him out of it stressing the
> desire to acknowledge their own efforts at
> preservation.
>
> The coach is unique as it has only served as a
> coach. It has had different seating arrangements
> over the years -- but it was always a coach. Most
> other passenger cars existing from the early 1880s
> have spent time as work cars or on the ground.
> But not coach #5!
>
> Brian Norden