| The Following is from a display on the car: Modernized Heavyweight Coach Coach 2804 was originally built in 1926 by the Pullman Car Company of Chicago. As built it had 32 cloth bench seats inside, sliding windows and the typical clerestory ceiling and roof. This car served the Illinois Central railroad for many years in its original configuration. Beginning in the late 1930s, newly designed lightweight streamlined passenger cars were being bought by the hundreds by many railroads to modernize their fleets for operation on their most prestigious trains. The older heavyweight cars that had been purchased in large numbers by the railroads between 1910 and the early 1930s did out suddenly become obsolete. Many continued to operate through the late 1960s and large numbers of them were rebuilt to fit in with the newer equipment. IC coach 2804 was one of many cars rebuilt and represents one form of modernization. The exterior was not greatly altered although sealed windows were installed. The interior, however, was completely rebuilt so that its passenger accommodations were virtually identical to that of new streamlined equipment. Seating was changed to individual high backed reclining seats. New lighting and air condition were installed thus covering the clerestory and making the ceiling flat. Light green and cream colored paints were applied on the seating areas and bathrooms. After rebuilding the Illinois Central used the coach on their Chicago-to-New Orleans train the Panama Limited, operating it with many other modernized heavyweight cars. Today IC 2804 has been restored in many ways, and operates as part of a train on our mainline in cooler weather. We are hoping to repair the air conditioning system in the future to allow use during summer operations. |