The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society has acquired a rare Pullman heavyweight passenger car that once ran on the Nickel Plate Road. The car, named Kitchi Gammi Club, was recently acquired for Fort Wayne’s popular Indiana Rail Experience excursion program. 

Kitchi Gammi Club was built in 1923 and used on some of NKP’s finest trains. The railroad converted it into an official company business car in 1953. Later the car was deemed surplus after serving in wreck train service. Between 1988 and 2019, the car was meticulously overhauled and restored under private ownership and operated by Virginia Rail Investment Corporation and its owners Chuck Akers and Chuck Jensen. It has seen continuous service ever since. In 2024, the car was used in excursion service behind Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 765. 

The interior of Kitchi Gammi Club. Photo Courtesy of FWRHS.

“We’re honored to inherit not only this special historic gem but also to celebrate the work and passion that the car’s owners, Chuck Jensen and Chuck Akers, invested in preserving this unique piece of passenger rail history,” said Kelly Lynch, Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society. “The Kitchi Gammi Club is right at home traveling behind the kinds of locomotives that once carried it throughout the railroad’s system. We’re especially thankful for our gracious donors and members who were able to quickly support this acquisition.”

Fort Wayne officials said the car will be used on the Indiana Rail Experience this year and a schedule will be released in the coming months. The car will also maintain its Amtrak certification meaning it will still be able to travel the country. 

Plans call for the organization to begin fundraising to return the car to its original Pullman appearance and to outfit the interior with authentic Pullman decor and furnishings. Donations for the Kitchi Gammi Club can be made at fortwaynerailroad.org/donate. —Justin Franz