By Eric Berger
A classic open-end Pullman observation car built for Great Northern and later carried Monon Railroad executives is joining the growing collection at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Ind., thanks to its donation by the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society. The donation also includes a wide-vision Monon caboose.
Officials with the railroad said they hope to use the business car in excursion service to offer an upscale experience. Portions of those ticket sales would go to the Monon group.
“The museum is excited to see these historic cars come to North Judson since they have such a solid tie to Indiana’s railroad history,” said Todd Flanigan, President of the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum. “We’re grateful that we have been given this opportunity and are ready to take our excursion operations to the next level.”
“Donating the business car and caboose 81532 to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum ensures that they will be maintained and used on an active railroad,” said Jim Craig, President of the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society. “You will be able to, once again, actually ride in the caboose or the business car!”
The Pullman observation car is one of eight built in 1924 for Great Northern’s new Oriental Limited trains between Chicago and Seattle. In the 1930s, the cars were returned to Pullman and placed in pool service on various railroads. Rendered obsolete as streamliners gained dominance, it was sidelined at Pullman’s Calumet Shops by 1949.
In 1953, the Monon acquired the car and had it refurbished with a kitchen, dining room, drawing room, two compartments and large observation room. The car was named Lynne in honor of President Warren W. Brown’s granddaughter. The car later became simply No. 2. It was purchased from Monon by Leonard Brown just prior to its merger with Louisville & Nashville. The Brown family donated the car to the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society in 2011. It has since been displayed and used on occasional runs at French Lick Scenic Railway.
The wide-vision caboose is one of eight that were constructed by Monon at its Lafayette shops in 1956. It subsequently went to Louisville & Nashville, later the Seaboard System, which donated the caboose to the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society in 1985.
Other Monon equipment brought to North Judson by museum benefactor Ken Davenport includes the first Monon diesel, EMD SW1 DS-50, boxcar 1220 and transfer caboose 81551. The cab of the previously restored SW1 was heavily damaged in a 2018 collision with an underpass when it was being trucked away from the ill-fated Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville. Repair work and the installation of a vintage replacement cab are underway at the HVRM shop.
The equipment will be moving from French Lick in the next few weeks. Donations are needed to cover the cost of the move and can be made at hoosiervalley.org/monon.
