See more about the Club's ownership of this car

In January 2000 the Central Coast Chapter, NRHS, made a generous donation of $2,000 to support the restoration of Southern Pacific observation car #2901, once owned by the club.

Kyle Williams Wyatt, Curator of Technology at the California State Railroad Museum, recently sent the club several photos of the former Central Coast Railway Club's excursion car. Among major improvements is the fabrication of reproductions for the original side lamps that once adorned the car. These lamps had been removed years ago by Southern Pacific. 

Kyle is deservedly proud of the effort and craftsmanship placed into the restoration of this historic car. The car is once again in excursion service at Railtown 1897 in Jamestown. 

So come with us for a brief virtual tour of Central Coast's former Ferroequinologist! 

Work on the 2901 has been a time-consuming and expensive process, but as these photos attest, the results will be worth it.

The restore team is seeking appropriate chairs for the observation room, and will likely reupholster them in like fashion.

Kyle wrote Jon Porter about this photo: "We anticipate doing the same (work) for the additional nine chairs in the smoking room.  We are fortunate to have located original SP chairs of appropriate style that we could restore to their original natural wood finish.  In later years these chairs were repainted by the railroad with black enamel and upholstered with a red leatherette.  We are backdating them to their original appearance.

"In so far as possible, we are doing all work in the style of the original car as built in 1910."

Kyle reports that most of the work on the 2901 has been completed. As of May 2002, the crew was working on the many finishing details, such as the furniture.

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- Ken Rattenne Photo