Pullmans for "Union & Central Pacific RR"

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I bought a 50ft business car that is lettered for UP & CP RR “Golden Gate Special”(Roundhouse #5066). I am looking for more of the same cars and information on the “Golden Gate Special” consist that Union & Central Pacific RR. Thanks in advance for any information.

2

Sounds suspiciously fictitious.

3

I don’t think the Pullman company even existed in the days when the Central Pacific did. Sounds like a fictitious road name. Not unusual for a Roundhouse model to not be accurate.

During construction of the Transcontinental railroad by the Central Pacific and Union Pacific, they were bitter enemies, so it’s very unlikely they would have ever cooperated and ran a train as a joint venture with both road names on any of the rolling stock.

4

Thank guys for the information, that what I suspected.

5

well, actually the Pullman Co was very much in business in the days of the old Central Pacific. The CP was founded in the early 1860s, the UP/CP golden spike was in 1869; and Pullman built No 9, their first wheels up sleeping car in 1864 and began building “Hotel” cars in 1867. However the fly in the ointment is that the CP built their own “Silver Palace” sleepers and would not allow the Pullman Co cars on CP rails.

while the set described by the OP is ficticious, it wouldn’t be a bad start for a pre 1890s decorate your own project

6

It’s too bad Athearn doesn’t make the undec kits for all the old Roundhouse stuff. They were the backbone of many freelance steam era layouts.

7

Actually, the “Golden Gate Special” was a train that ran on the UP/CP between Council Bluffs and San Francisco beginning on December 5, 1888 to May 12, 1889. It ran on a parallel schedule with the “Overland Limited”. It was all deluxe, extra-fare, outfitted by Pullman.

So yes, there was a train on the UP/CP route with that name, if only for about six months. After that, the “Overland” became the ‘name’ train on the Council Bluffs/San Francisco route (even though the CP/SP didn’t recognize the name for another 12 years, LOL!

Tom

8

Also, I should mention that the Pullman cars were lettered “UP/CP GOLDEN GATE SPECIAL” on the sides. The main difference between these and the Roundhouse cars would be that the original Pullman cars were of the enclosed narrow-vestibule type.

There’s an entire chapter devoted to “The Golden Gate Special” in Lucius Beebe’s fine book “The Overland Limited.” along with some equipment photos.

Tom

9

Thanks Tom, for the information on Golden Gate Special. I just purchased an express car with same lettering style.