The "Ferroequinologist" parked at San Jose on April 27, 1957. Notice the "Central Coast" name along the letterboard.
[Car 2901 Timeline]  [Car 2901's Restoration]

During the years 1956 to 1967 Central Coast Railroad Club was the proud owner of our very own private railway car. 

Car 2901, christened "The Ferroequinologist" began it's very historic life as Southern Pacific observation lounge 2901. Built in 1910 by the Pullman Car Company, the 2901 filled various Southern Pacific passenger duties on many of the company's famous name trains. 

The car was donated to the club by SP in February of 1956 and  our February 12th trip to Sacramento was to have been the first official trip under CCRC ownership. However, the delivery of the car  by the railroad was delayed and SP 2902 was substituted at the last minute. (This was written up in the February 1956 issue of the Ferroequinologist.)

It appears that the inaugural trip under Central Coast ownership was the Inside Gateway trip to Bieber over the Western Pacific during September 1-3, 1956. Interestingly, the car did operate on at least one Central Coast trip prior to the club acquiring it, that being the Arcata & Mad River trip in 1954.)

The last trip on "The Foo Car" by Central Coast, was shortly after it's sale to Doug Morgan, and was a New Year's Eve trip from San Jose to San Francisco on Dec 31,1967. Over the years we operated many of these New Year's Eve trips, which were very popular..

By 1966 the car was becoming a burden to operate and maintain. The club could no longer afford to continue to pay the maintenance and storage costs to keep up the car, and thus we were no longer able to operate the 2901 on any Class I railroad. 

At the September 1967 club meeting the membership voted 48 to 5 to sell the car to member Doug Morgan for $505.00. It must be assumed that Doug Morgan sold the car to the Sierra Railroad because 2901 eventually ended up on the  property at Jamestown. When the Jamestown property was deeded to the California State Railroad Museum, the car was donated in August of 1982. 

In January of 2000 the Central Coast Chapter, NRHS, made a generous donation of $2,000 to support the restoration of Southern Pacific observation car #2901 and as of 2005 the car project seems to be completed.

Any additional information on Car 2901 would be appreciated and should be sent to Ken Rattenne at rattenne@earthlink.net.