I've long loved the Q's car names, so perfect in every way. A bit off topic, but I'm reading rail book and the authors note with amusement that the MoPac perhaps took the prize for difficult-to-pronounce car names. I did some quick research and found examples such as like Ixtaccihuatl, Paricutin, Rio Grijalva, Rio Papaloapan and Rio Usamacinta.
Those of you who tried to pronounced the real meanies and needed to go to the ER because their tongues are in a knot, raise your hands. I'd just call "Ixtaccihuatl" "Itchy and Scratchy". The Q's names were great. And tongue-friendly.
I can imagine the guys in the coach yard trying to read the train manifests and having to figure out how to avoid saying the car name and still getting the consist correct. At that point, I would just look for the road number in the vestibule or something. Anything but Ixtaccihuatl.
GN Heater Car 14 (ex-F3B 430B), Denver, CO, circa 1970 (Bob Jordan) GN Coach 1226, Denver, CO, circa 1971 (Bob Jordan photo)
GN Coach 1226, Denver, CO, circa 1971 (Bob Jordan) GN 11xx series Coach, Denver, CO, circa 1971 (Bob Jordan)
GN Coach 1004, Denver, CO, circa 1971 (Bob Jordan) GN Coach 1003, Denver, CO, circa 1971 (Bob Jordan)
It looks like there were about eight such heater cars made, mostly converted from F3B units and at least one F9B. http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/index2.htm?GNEGNDieselRosterF3BF.htm http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/index2.htm?GNEGNDieselRosterF9B.htm
Cathedral Mountain ended up parked outside the Empire Builder Antiques shop in Walla Walla, WA. A year-old Google streetview shows that the car was still there at that time. Does anyone know if any attempts will be made to restore it? Or, is it beyond the stage of ever being able to be made operable again?
It exists, which is a plus. But it would take a lot of work and TLC to get it back into any operating condition. Just getting it out of there intact would be a big job. But if the underframe is still solid, it's possible. The body looks reasonable. Still, it would take years and mucho dinero to get her up to snuff. It would be a nice ride, though, in the observation lounge in back. It's always breathtaking to see the tracks and the scenery recede behind you. Almost as interesting as seeing it coming at you!