NBRRM DINING CAR HISTORY

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New Braunfels Railroad Museum

Dining Car History

The romance of dining on the rails can be experienced at the New Braunfels Railroad Museum in the restored and upgraded Doyle P. Bond Dining Car. This Pullman passenger car was originally built for the Illinois Central Railroad in 1922 as a coach. It was reconditioned in the late 1940's (as were many vintage passenger cars that saw exceptional usage during the World War II era), and served in passenger service until May 1971, when Amtrak became the primary passenger carrier in the United States. At some point after that, it was turned into a 'table car'; for the Dodge City, Ford and Bucklin Railroad. The Guthrie, Oklahoma Arts Council acquired all of the DCF&BR assets in the late 1990's with the idea of providing a dinner train in central Oklahoma, but this never happened and the cars became available to the general public.

The New Braunfels Railroad Museum acquired RPCX138 in May 2009, and after mechanical work to meet FRA movement standards, BNSF and UP Railroads moved the car in freight trains to the Museum site in late May 2010. Four months and 1,000+ volunteer manhours later, the Doyle P. Bond Dining Car is ready for use.

With seating for 48 persons, the car is available for rent to the public for holiday parties, birthdays, annivesaries, showers, wedding receptions, business or organization meetings, or other special events.

The unique atmosphere of railroad dining can be recaptured for your special event. For more details, contact our dining car manager, at 830-237-1916.

Dining Car Restoration

The pictures below show the arrival and restoration of the dining car, at the New Braunfels Railroad Museum