Re: General Palmer's private car "Nomad"

I have to go with Earl on this one. Alexis McKinney, who was intimately associated with both the car and the NG during the 1960's working for the Rio Grande in redeveloping the Silverton, has written a history in Colorado Rail Annual #14. McKinney had access to the D&RGW records as well.

According to Alex, the car now known as Nomad, was built by Billmeyer and Small, of York, Pa in 1878 as Horton Chair Car #16 and named Fairplay. In 1885, it was renumbered to #402 and the name was dropped. In 1886, it was rebuilt as Business Car N, as the tail car of the three car business train, P (the provision and kitchen car), B (the diner-sleeper) and N which was the sleeper-observation car. It did carry President Taft to the opening of the Gunnison Tunnel in 1909 and was the only survivor of the Shalona Lake derailment in 1917. Rebuilt after this escapade, it was given number B-3 and the interior was rebuilt to the interior that exists in it today. The car was rebuilt in August, 1921, and extension side bearings installed and rebuilt and lowered again in 1930, when 26" wheels replaced 30" wheels. It was displayed at the Century of Progress exhibition in Chicago in 1933, and again at the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1949. In 1950, the car was written off and passed through a variety of owners before becoming the property of Cinco Animas Corp and finally the D&S.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/10/2018 06:04PM by Everett Lueck.