Re: My Grandfather was Henry Watkins Willis

During the 1930's and up to the end of operations, coaches 284, 306 and 320 were assigned to the Chili Line, although other coaches would occasionally make their way onto the line. Conductor Willis would have spent a considerable amount of his working life aboard one of these cars. For service on the Chili Line, they were each equipped with a pair of bay windows so that the conductor and brakeman, at least in theory, could keep an eye on the freight cars, if any, which were always placed between the engine and the passenger cars. All three coaches are still in existence and in good condition. Coach 284 is at Colorado Railroad Museum and can be ridden on days that they operate trains. Coaches 306 and 320 are in service on the Huckleberry Railroad, which is located on the northeastern outskirts of Flint Michigan.

284 at the Colorado Railroad Museum


306 at Alamosa in 1940


320 on No. 426 about to depart Santa Fe on 3-22-41


Note the bay window inserts.