Built in February 1911 by American Car and Foundry, the deluxe chair SLSF "Enid" was one of several cars rebuilt by the Frisco during June and July 1936. These deluxe chair cars included the "Ft. Smith", "Wichita", "Joplin", "Okmulgee". They featured reclining "bucket" seats and a smoking lounge as the Frisco called them by each lavatory. The Springfield-Greene County Library has a builder's photograph of the chair car SLSF "Enid" fresh from the Springfield West Shops, Springfield Yard, Springfield, MO. During the 1950s this car was assigned to trains No 111 and No 112. http://thelibrary.springfield.missouri.org/lochist/frisco/friscoline/images/photos/p01622.jpg The "Enid" survives, and resides on the Texas State Railroad (TSRR) Museum which operates between Palestine (pronounced PAL es teen) and Rusk, TX. The silver, yellow and Tuscan of the TSRR is a far cry from the Pullman green or Zephyr blue of the Frisco. Here she is at Palestine, TX during July 1982.
The Texas State Railroad is one operation that is not covered well on the web. I appreciate you sharing that photograph of the car. It is good to know that the car survives, even if it is in brighter paint than when it was in revenue service. However, if it is still being used that is a good thing. Compared to the more typical coaches this class of Frisco car is "right nice". It would make a nice kit bashing project! Do any of the other cars in this series exist?
I often saw the deluxe chair cars SLSF "Enid" and SLSF "Wichita" used in trains No 807-808, the Sunnyland, at Cape Girardeau in the early 1960s. Ken McElreath
The chair car, Enid, is the only former Frisco car on the property. She was purchased from the Ashley, Drew and Northern Railroad. The rest of the passenger car roster is comprised of Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, Erie Lackawanna, and Pennsylvania Railroad . The TSRR does have a car of local Texas interest. It is an old International-Great Northern lounge car. Unfortunately, the car was gutted, and it is now an "open-air" car. The windows have been enlarged and are are unglazed. The passengers ride on wooden-slat, bench seats.
Some Arthur B. Johnson photographs of chair car SLSF "Enid" and two of her 42 seat sisters. Chair car SLSF "Enid" - Springfield depot, Springfield, MO. Photograph dated 9/25/1966. Chair car SLSF "Joplin" - Also at the Springfield depot, Springfield, MO. Photograph dated 12/27/1959. Chair car SLSF "Wichita" - Coupled to one of the original Firefly coaches with full-width diaphragms and single vestibule. Springfield depot, Springfield, MO. Photograph dated 6/18/1961. Tom
Tag or anyone: Anyone know if the chair car SLSF "Enid" still survives and if it is still between Palestine and Rusk? The original post was 3 years ago. Whoops, I looked at join date instead of post date. I am going to make a special trip to see it. Thanks for posting this.