Re: @ Knotts, 1991

Notice that the roof on the Chama is considerably lower than on the coaches - by maybe 3 inches. The difference seems to be in the curvature of the lower portion of the roof. Chama is much flatter than the coaches and the other two parlor cars in the lower section.

I hate what they did to the Chama at Knotts. It makes sense for their operation and gives more continuity to the train to have the combine up front but I miss the old car.

The first time I rode the train there at Knotts was when I was about 7 years old. My grandparents were out for the Christmas holidays and we took them there. Back then the park was open and each ride had a charge - the train was $.50. Grandpa was a retired railroader and got on the train with his pass, which Ed Randow not only accepted for the ride but he unlocked the Chama and escorted this old railroader and his party into the parlor end of the car where we rode behind the big windows, right behind the "40 - Golden Nugget" as 340 was known back then. Plush, swivel, tiger-stripped lounge chairs. Really neat. I didn't know what I was looking at or experiencing back then but now that I look back and remember it the memory is precious. That would have been in 1952. The car was converted to a combine shortly after that.

I wish I knew what they did with those chairs. I'd love to have one in my den!