PRPA Multi-Purpose Car #105, the Gregory Kamholz
Photo by Jeremy Klitzke
Originally a sleeper car on the New York Central, this item of rolling stock fills multiple roles for the PRPA and for ORHC. The car was originally used by the PRPA as a crew car (lettered as PRPX #23) to carry off-duty crew and our most oft-used maintenance tools, allowing us to perform work on the engine while well away from home. Following extensive refurbishment and rechristening, the Gregory Kamholz has been used as a classroom by OMSI while "in station" at ORHC, and it has also been used to transport Santa, his helpers, and passengers during Holiday Express. We look forward to expanding the role this car plays through many years of service. Please contact ORHF to inquire about availability if you are interested in holding an event at ORHC in our passenger car.
Claim to fame: The car was used in a MacGyver episode in which stolen plans were hidden onboard.
Timeline:
- 1948 - Built by Pullman Standard Car Company for the New York Central Railroad. Designated NYC 10442, the "Great Peconic Bay," the car had 22 roomettes and was one of 45 cars in the "Bay Series" of sleeper cars.
- 1958 - Sold to the Canadian National Railroad for use as a sleeper and renumbered to CN 2063, the "Valjean."
- 1973 - Converted by VIA to a baggage/dormitory car and renumbered to CN 9477.
- 1990 - Removed from service and sold to a private individual, who stored it at Mineral, WA.
- 2003 - Acquired by the PRPA and designated PRPX 23.
- 2004 - PRPA removed all but two roomettes, and converted the baggage area into a tool storage and work area.
- 2005 - Installed conduit in walls, pulled wires in conduit, poured concrete floor, put insulating foam in walls, and put chip-board panels on walls.
- 2006 - Put up heating duct in ceiling, put up curved panels on ceiling, sandblasted exterior, painted in red primer, painted in black with yellow stripes, built and installed interior wooden window frames.
- 2007 - Assembled and installed kitchen cabinets, put wainscoting on bottom part of walls, swapped trucks with PRPX 111, laid linoleum on floor, put vinyl wallpaper on walls, and painted wooden window frames.
- 2008 - Waterproofed roof, installed floor tiles in entry at vestibule end, and installed generator.
- 2009 - Added numbering and lettering.