Places in Peril – Part 4 – A Deserving Diner

Southern Railway Dining Car 3168 is part 4 of our partnership in the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s Places in Peril program, which seeks to identify and preserve historic sites, or in our case, equipment, threatened by time and Georgia’s weather. The program in no way reflects poorly on our status or our dedicated crew. It only highlights new opportunities for education, restoration, and historic preservation.

This car was built by Pullman in 1926 with original seating for 36. It was rebuilt in 1948 to accommodate 48-seat cafe-style service. The original kitchen is intact. It was donated to the fledgling museum in 1971.

This image was shot in the middle of our Building 2, though the roof and both flanks of the car reveal the scourge of time and Southern weather. Even if you look closely, it’s difficult to make out the car’s number and the Southern lettering as the paint turns to a chalk-like surface. While in fair shape, a coat of paint and a little TLC will go a long way in helping this “place in peril.”

Still open to the public, our team has managed to enhance the car’s interior at minimal cost. We hope to add portable HVAC, some interior paint, maybe replace the tile, and improve the doors so we can offer the car for classrooms, private events, and keep it on exhibit for decades to come. We watch the wonder of our young visitors (kids of all ages) as they walk the aisle seeing a dining car for the first time. One little lady stood at a two-top table and finally asked her dad to pull the chair back as a gentleman, then help the little lady into her seat. She proceeded to mime her way through an appetizer. You can’t beat experiences like that.

Though sitting under cover, we would love to discuss how you can support this educational opportunity for the next generation. For information on how you can help, the benefits of corporate and/or foundation project sponsorships, and how your support could develop career enhancing skills for our volunteers, or how to donate, please write to: execdirector@train-museum.com   Thank you!