Long Island
Rail Road
Heavyweight Parlor Cars
"The Blue Ribbon Fleet"
 |
The Cannonball, with 17 heavyweight cars behind a pair
of Alco Centiury 420 locomotives, bound for Montauk on a
Friday afternoon in the 1960s. The train is approaching Maitland's Curve.
Parlor observation car LIRR 2038 SETAUKET
carries the markers, with 4 happy parlor car passengers enjoying the ride
on the observation platform.
Photo courtesy of Arrt's
Arrchives
"The Route of the Weekend Chief."
A New York tradition. All seats reserved. Premium fare. Premium service. An exclusive club on wheels. The most relaxing and enjoyable way to travel between New York City and the east end of Long Island. The biggest heavyiest rolling bar in the Empire State on any Friday afternoon in the summertime.
The Cannonball, The Advance Cannonball, The East Ender, The Weekender, The Advance Weekender, The Beachcomber, The Ebb Tide, The Sundowner, The Twilighter, The Wall Street Special, and The Shelter Island Express.
In 1957, Walter F. McNamara came to the LIRR to expand the railroad's traditional parlor car service. Between 1958 and 1964, LIRR acquired 37 heavweight cars for this service. As the decade of the 1960s draw to a close, almost all of this heavyweight fleet has come to the end of its economic service life. Almost all of the heavyweight parlor cars are retired after the 1968 summer season. LIRR upgrades this venerable institution (parlor car service) with lightweight equipment - primarily sleeping cars - acquired from other railroads downsizing their fleet of long distance trains.
 |
LIRR Parlor Car East brochure for 1967.
Courtesy of R. F. Makse
ROSTER
| Number | Name | Class | History | Disposition |
| 99 | Built by Pullman Standard in 1916 as business car Nevada Northern (2nd) 100. Retired in 1935 and sold to DL&W; renamed ANTHRACITE. Renamed SCRANTON; later redesignated as car number 3. Redesignated car number 97. Acquired by LIRR from Erie Lackawanna in September 1962. Redesignated LIRR 2038 SETAUKET in May 1963 and operated as parlor lounge observation until September 1968. Renumbered W-99 and reclassified as business car in 1970. In 1971, renumbered as (2nd) 99 and renamed (2nd) JAMAICA. Transferred to Maintenance of Equipment section. Last used approximately 1975. | Retired 11 July 1978. Sold to Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter NRHS on 14 July 1978. Acquired by Porter C. Collins in 1983 and currently stored at Ohi-Rail facility in Minerva, OH. Operational at STEAM Railroad Museum in Minerva, OH. | ||
| 2000 | P73L | Built by American Car & Foundry in 1912 as chair (parlor) car. Converted to a coach (class PP70A) after 1926. LIRR 815. Rebuilt to (open platform) business car LIRR 2000 MONTAUK in December 1925. . Renamed JAMAICA. Used as parlor observation car after 1957. Withdrawn from service in 1968 and stored until 1972. | Donated to Wantagh Preservation Society in 1972. Displayed at Wantagh Museum in Wantagh, NY. | |
| 2001 | Built by Pullman in 1924, lot 4764, plan 3410, as 12 section 1 drawing room sleeper MCEWEN. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1948. PRR 8872 MCEWEN. Withdrawn from lease 5/15/1957. Acquired by LIRR 19?? Operated as private commuter club car. | Wrecked 19??. Presumed scrapped. | ||
| 2002 | Built by Pullman in 1924, lot 4762, plan 3410, as 12 section 1 drawing room sleeper BELFAST. Reclassified to plan 3410A on 5/29/1935. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1948. Withdrawn from lease 5/15/1957. PRR 8736 BELFAST. Acquired by LIRR in 19?? Operated as private commuter club car. | Retired 19??. JAN 2005 report notes it has been sitting along the south side of Austin Road in Norvell Township, Jackson County, Michigan for at least the past 12 years. Now being incorporated into the side of private residence at 13491 Austin Road, approximately 5 miles west of Manchester, Michigan. | ||
| 2003 | Built by Pullman in 1924, lot 4762, plan 3410, as 12 section 1 drawing room sleeper WALTERSBURG. Reclassified plan 3410A on 6/07/1935. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1948. PRR 8968 WALTERSBURG. Renamed J. FINLEY WILSON on 12/10/1952. PRR 8968 J. FINLEY WILSON. Withdrawn from lease 5/15/1957. To LIRR approximately 1957. Operated as private commuter club car. [NOTE: The San Antonio Register of 1/09/1953 includes an article "Pullman car dedicated to late J. Finley Wilson"; he died 2/18/1952.] | Retired 19??. June 2007 - Awaiting restoration as part of permanent collection at Railway Museum of Greater Cincinnati in Covington, KY. | ||
| 2004 | Built by Pullman in 1913 as New York Central coach 2800 ANDRIGO. Acquired by LIRR; redesignatd LIRR 7500. Converted to club car LOCUST VALLEY in 1958. Renamed SYOSSET in 1973 after previous SYOSSET (LIRR 2001) was wrecked. Operated as private commuter club car. | Retired 19??. Stored on New Hope & Ivyland at New Hope PA in 2002. Plans are to refurbish this car for for service at a future date TBD. | ||
| 2011 | P74C | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6032, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car VIRGINIA DARE. Sold to DL&W on 12/31/1945. DL&W VIRGINIA DARE. Acquired by LIRR October 1958. Renamed HAMPTONS; renamed (2nd) MONTAUK May 1960. | Retired September 1969. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2012 | P74C | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6032, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car JULIA WARD HOWE. Reclassified plan 3416D on 12/28/1937. Reclassified plan 3416A on 4/21/1938. Sold to DL&W on 12/31/1945. DL&W JULIA WARD HOWE. Acquired by LIRR October 1958. Renamed THE HAMPTON May 1960. Renamed SHINNECOCK June 1961. | Retired September 1969. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2013 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car AMES. Sold to PRR and leased vack to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7055 AMES. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2014 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car LANE. Sold to PRR and leased vack to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR PRR 7090 LANE. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2015 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car NOEL. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR PRR 7100 NOEL. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2016 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1924, lot 4761, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car BURGNER. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7065 BURGNER. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2017 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car FENNS. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7074 FENNS. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired June 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2018 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car GLADE. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7079 GLADE. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2019 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car ROLFE. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7104 ROLFE. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2020 | PATCHOGUE |
P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car BESCO. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7060 BESCO. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired November 1966 after wrecked in derailment; scrapped. |
| 2021 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car KANTY. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7089 KANTY. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired June 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2022 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car ALPHA. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7054 ALPHA. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2023 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car EATON. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7071 EATON. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2024 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, 7 as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car PECK. Renamed ELIZABETH CADY STANTON on 4/30/1940. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7073 ELIZABETH CADY STANTON. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2025 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car GREER. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7081 GREER. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired September 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2026 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car GROVE. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7082 GROVE. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2027 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car JAMES WILSON. Reclassified plan 3416E on 3/22/1938. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7087 JAMES WILSON. Withdrawn fronm lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2028 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car KARNS. Renamed SUSAN B. ANTHONY on 5/31/1938. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7113 SUSAN B. ANTHONY. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2029 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car LEDY. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7091 LEDY. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2030 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car SMOCK. Renamed LUCRETIA MOTT on 4/30/1940. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7096 LUCRETIA MOTT. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2031 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1926, lot 4958, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car MARKEL. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7097 MARKEL. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired August 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2032 | P74DL | Built by Pullman in 1930, lot 6326, plan 4002, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor lounge solarium car PLYMOUTH ROCK. Reclassified plan 40002D on 11/08/1932. Reclassified plan 4002J on 1/28/1943. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7020 PLYMOUTH ROCK. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Derailed in a train wreck. Retired August 1968. Scrapped. | |
| 2033 | P74DL | Built by Pullman in 1930, lot 6385, plan 4002C, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor lounge solarium car ALEXANDER HAMILTON. Reclassified plan 4002H on 4/06/1942. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. Renamed CORNELIUS HENDRICKSON on 8/10/1951. PRR 7021 CORNELIUS HENDRICKSON. Withdrawn fromlease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired August 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2034 | P74DL | Built by Pullman in 1930, lot 6385, plan 4002C, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor lounge car THOMAS JEFFERSON. Reclassified plan 4002H on 5/12/1942. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7022 THOMAS JEFFERSON. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired August 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2035 | P74DL | Built by Pullman in 1930, lot 6383, plan 3999A as 20 seat parlor lounge car JOHN ADAMS. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. Reclassified plan 3999C on 8/07/1947. PRR 7030 JOHN ADAMS. Withdrawn from lease 3/28/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired August 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2036 | P74DL | Built by Pullman in 1916, lot 4390, plan 2917, as 32 seat 1 drawing room parlor lounge car WESTDALE. Reclassified plan 2917B on 5/02/1933. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7052 WESTDALE. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1961. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2037 | P74EL | Built by Pullman? in 19?? as baggage club car. Rebuilt 1953 by Lehigh Valley as LV 1000 LEHIGH VALLEY. 48 seat diner? Acquired by LIRR in August 1961. Briefly numbered 2005 before being assigned number 2037. Kitchen removed when rebuilt to full parlor car in May 1970, using parts from 2011, and redesignated LIRR 2037 ONTEORA (2nd). |
Retired September 1970. Sold in 1974. January 2003 - Parked on isolated track alongside CSX mainline in downtown Marietta, GA. Reportedly there since the 1980s. Formerly part of a restaurant that closed about 10 years ago. | |
| 2038 | P73L | Built by Pullman Standard in 1916 as business car Nevada Northern (2nd) 100. Retired in 1935 and sold to DL&W; renamed ANTHRACITE. Renamed SCRANTON; later redesignated as car number 3. Redesignated car number 97. Acquired by LIRR from Erie Lackawanna in September 1962. Redesignated LIRR 2038 SETAUKET in May 1963 and operated as parlor lounge observation until September 1968. Renumbered W-99 and reclassified as business car in 1970. In 1971, renumbered as (2nd) 99 and renamed (2nd) JAMAICA. Transferred to Maintenance of Equipment section. Last used approximately 1975. | Retired 11 July 1978. Sold to Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter NRHS on 14 July 1978. Acquired by Porter C. Collins in 1983 and currently stored at Ohi-Rail facility in Minerva, OH. Operational at STEAM Railroad Museum in Minerva, OH. | |
| 2039 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1930, lot 6384, plan 4000A, as 30 seat 1 drawing room parlor car ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7044 ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2040 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6087, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car CURTIS BAY. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7067 CURTIS BAY. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2041 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1924, lot 4761, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car DORA. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7070 DORA. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2042 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6087, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car GLEN OSBORNE. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7080 GLEN OSBORNE. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2043 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1925, lot 4864, plan 3416, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car HAINES. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7083 HAINES. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2044 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6807, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car HAZEL DELL. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7084 HAZEL DELL. Withdrawn from lease 7/26/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired June 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2045 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6807, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car QUAKER VALLEY. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7102 QUAKER VALLEY. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2046 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6087, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car SPRING MEADOW. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7110 SPRING MEADOW. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. | |
| 2047 | P74D | Built by Pullman in 1927, lot 6087, plan 3416A, as 28 seat 1 drawing room parlor car TRINDLE SPRING. Sold to PRR and leased back to Pullman 12/31/1945. PRR 7115 TRINDLE SPRING. Withdrawn from lease 10/01/1956. Acquired by LIRR March 1964. | Retired October 1968. Presumed scrapped. |
Although it was not a revenue car, the crew
dormitory at Montauk Yard is worthy of inclusion here. LIRR bought
Pullman heavyweight (8 sections 1 drawing room 2 compartments) sleeper
CENTHILL from PRR, assigned it number W37 and spotted it on track 4 at
Montauk. The sleeper was used by parlor and bar attendants who laid
over between runs at Montauk. It was placed behind a bumper block
to keep it from being accidently coupled into the consist of an outbound
train. It was eventually renumbered W3. It was painted into MTA
colors and finally scrapped in 1975.
The primary reference sources for this roster table are:
(1) "The Pullman Project" database by Thomas C. Madden. An authoritative online reference on Pullman cars derived from countless hours of research into Pullman Company records now in the collection of the Newberry Library in Chicago IL..
(2) "The Route of the Weekend Chief", by Mike Boland, published in the Autumn 1995 issue of The Keystone (journal of the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society). Copy provided by Ed Frye.
(3) "Steel Cars of the Sunrise Trail", a roster compiled by
E. M. Koehler, Jr. sometime in the 1970s. Copy provided by Tim Darnell.
(4) An article on the Long Island Rail Road's roster, written by Sy Reich,
printed in the April 1963 issue of Railroad magazine.
(5) For 2038 SETAUKET, later W-99 and (2nd) 99 (2nd) JAMAICA: Nevada Northern Railway passenger equipment roster at the Nevada Northern and railroads of White Pine County website created/maintained by Keith Albrandt.
(6) "Parlor Car East" by H. Stafford Bryant Jr., published in May 1968 issue of Trains. The article contains a roster. Copy provided by Ed Frye.
ALCO Century locomotive 219 and a cut of cars at Montauk Yard
on a summer afternoon in 1967. |
Equipment at Montauk Yard on a summer afternoon in 1967. |
Updated on 6/08/2008