Diner 741

- History

- Photos

- Restoration

- Car Diagram

Diner 470

City of Lima

American
Way II

Coach 1318

Erie Lackawanna Diner 741 was constructed by the Pullman Car Company at Pullman, Illinois in 1925 to Lot #4916, floor plan 3952. Lot 4916 consisted of an order for fourteen, 83 foot, heavyweight Diners. Five of the cars were assigned to the Illinois Central, and the remaining 9 cars were assigned by Pullman to the Atlantic Coast Line. On the ACL, future EL 741 carried the number 7, which was painted on the lower stretch of the car over the truck centers. "Atlantic Coast Line" was painted on the letterboard, with "Dining Car" painted in the lower stretch in the center.

In August of 1927, the Erie acquired the first four of the ACL assigned Diners from Pullman. They were assigned Erie numbers, 944, 945, 946 and 947. Two of the new cars were assigned to trains 1 and 2 between Jersey City and Buffalo, and two in trains 3 and 4 between Jersey City and Chicago. The other 5 cars, including 741 (Erie 941), were acquired by 1930, and placed in general service by the Erie. Seating capacity was 36 persons.

All nine cars saw service throughout the Erie system until early 1940 when the Erie began the first modification and refurbishment of the cars. At this time, the cars were modified into Lounge Diners. The interior of the cars were updated and modernized from their original appearance. Most noteworthy was the change to the clerestory ceiling, which was now hidden behind a dropped ceiling. The originals Pullman-ceiling lights were utilized. Attractive murals and new carpeting were installed.

By the mid-1940's, the Erie employed 150 cooks and waiters to staff the cars, as well as employees manning the Commissary's in Chicago and Jersey City. Headquarters for the Department was located about 1 mile from the Erie's station in Jersey City. About 6 to 11 men were assigned to each car. About 10 % of the glassware was broken every trip, and about the same for crockery. Tablecloths survived about 20 trips to the laundry, and the same for the napkins.

In early 1947, the Erie began the last major rebuilding of their Diners in series 939-947. The cars received work at Susquehanna shop which included a "streamlined" turtle back roof, new wide windows in both the Dining/Lounge areas, as well as the kitchen and hallway. Cast steel, top equalized 6 wheel trucks were purchased surplus from the C&O, equipped with roller bearings, and installed. The kitchens were redone in stainless steel, and the air conditioning was updated as well. New carpeting from Mohawk was installed, as well as new chairs in the Lounge area. Erie also introduced new silverware in the "Grecian" pattern from International Silver, as well as all new linens and waiters uniforms. Diner 940 was the first one out of the shop, and the other cars would soon follow. Exterior color was Pullman Green, with all lettering in Dulux gold. With the delivery of the E-8's in the new two-tone green paint scheme, most Erie through line passenger equipment soon received this look as well.

Throughout the years, Erie and EL won many awards from the U.S. Health, Education, and Welfare Department for a near perfect rating for sanitation on its Dining cars. The average rating was 98%.

With the Erie moving to Hoboken in October of 1956, it was decided to consolidate the Erie and the DL&W's dining car departments. Russ Lloyd who headed the department for Lackawanna, was appointed Superintendent and John Collins, the Erie dining car department Superintendent, was appointed manager for the combined operation. The Commissary in Jersey City was closed, and all dining car crews reported for work at the Hoboken station. For the time being, the laundry located in Jersey City remained in service.

Shortly after the merger with the DL&W in October of 1960, the Erie diners were repainted in EL colors of gray, maroon, and yellow. The EL renumbered all by dropping the "9", and replacing it with a "7". The first car retired was 739, which was stricken from the roster in the early EL years due to damage. The other 8 cars continued to soldier on through the EL years, with 741, 746, and 747 the three surviving Erie cars in service until the end of operations in 1970.

Photo by JR Quinn (Collection of John C. La Rue, Jr.) Erie Lackawanna MoW 473511 (EL 741) Binghamton, NY - 8/21/73

Diner 741 was "white lined" in January 1970, and in early Spring was sent to Port Jervis along with other cars from EL's through service for disposition. Diner 746 was sold to an individual in South Carolina where it still exists, many miles away from the nearest live track. Car 747 was also sold, and may still exist today. Diner 741 was still in Port Jervis in September 1972, along with Spirit of Youngstown. EL eventually decided to use 741 on the wreck train in Binghamton. The car was renumbered 473511, modified to its current appearance, and placed in service there - where it remained well into the Conrail years (CR 45914). With the demise of the railroad wreck trains, Conrail then placed 741 in camp car service, until it was considered surplus and sold to the Everett Railroad in the mid-1990's.

The Everett purchased the car with the intention of turning it into a lounge for their excursion service, or failing that, using the trucks on one of their other cars. When the Everett determined that they would not fulfil their plans for the car, it was sold to the newly-formed Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society in 2001, who began restoring the car.

History complied by John Boehner, Michael Steinberg, Timothy Stuy, Paul Tupaczewski, and ELDCPS

Sources: Erie Magazines: October 1927, May 1940, September 1945, June 1947, September 1956, October 1956, November 1956. Detail sheets and specification drawings, the Pullman Company, courtesy Illinois Railroad Museum Pullman Archive; Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment, by Larry De Young and MIke Del Vecchio, Morning Sun Books, 2001, page 11.