Great video but I wonder if those end of train service door stairs are museum created or part of the car deboarding from the small door on rounded end observations as was discussed long ago in another thread. Also explains the ugly turquoise and pink the Hiawatha cars used on the interior (pink for ladies restroom, turquoise for other parts of the car)
Door on the round end of the car would only be used in a catastrophic emergency by paying passengers. It might get used by various railroad employees in the performance of their dutiesl
All B&O Observation cars were equipped with brake & signal valves on the observation end to be used by the Conductor or Flagman when backing trains into Washington Union Station - B&O trains (except Commuters) backed into Union Station. QN Tower was the West End of the Union Station Wye and F Tower was the East End. Westbound trains from Baltimore would pull by QN Tower and back into the station. Eastbound trains from Cumberland would pull by F Tower and back in. All the backing moves would be governed by signal indications, until the bumping block of the destination track came into view.
The B&O Museum used the restoration of the car as an adjunct to Black History Month and the story of Pullman Porters. However, the Washington was operated by B&O personnel, not Pullman personnel. It operated on the Columbian, which was a all coach running partner to the all Pullman Capitol Limited. Starting in the middle 1950’s during periods of low traffic loads the Capitol and Columbian were combined into a single train, the 5 Bdr Pullman Observations Nappanee and Wawasee were used. The Columbian observation cars Washington and Chicago would not be used on the combined train. Eventually the Columbian was removed from the public timetable.
Thanks! I really like the B&O Passenger colors on that car as well as the first class restoration they are doing. I wish they would do the Chicago as well but I realize that takes money and time.
I am no aware if the Chicago is still in existance.
It is at the very end of the video above, in Covington, KY.