Two Historic 1890s Railcars to be Transported on Local Highways This Week

Cheryl Marcell, President & CEO of the California State Railroad Museum Foundation

           

Escorted by the California State Highway Patrol, two eye-catching and historic railcars – Sierra Railway passenger car No. 3 Stanislaus and Western Pacific No. 103 Glen Eyre private car – will be transported on local highways to “swap” places between the historic shops in the Sacramento railyards and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown. Exact timing is dependent on routing and permit clearance times to be provided by the California Highway Patrol.

Among many other uses, the Stanislaus was once used in daily passenger transport between Tuolumne & Oakdale periodically throughout the 1920's and regularly during the 1930s. Also known as a "Movie Car,” the Stanislaus appeared in numerous movies and is now “coming home” to be on display at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.

Having once served as the private car for George Westinghouse – American entrepreneur, engineer and inventor of the Westinghouse Air Brake – the prized Glen Eyre railcar is headed to Old Sacramento for future public display at the California State Railroad Museum. The historic railcar was gifted to California State Parks in 2005 from American railroad executive Charles Crocker.