At least that was the word in July, 2005 when I shot this photograph of former UP dome coach #7000 at the American Orient Express shops in Western Junction, Wash. The 1955-vintage ACF car was the lead coach of 10 built for the "City" fleet, along with 10 unique dome diners and 15 dome lounge-observations.

After UP exited the passenger business in 1971, it was one of 33 of UP's 40 domes purchased by the original Auto-Train Corporation for service between Virginia and Florida. It served in the A-T fleet as #700, entering private ownership after Auto-Train went bankrupt and sold off its rolling stock in 1981.

AOE acquired it in 1999, but never operated it. Grandluxe Rail Journeys, which purchased AOE in 2006, moved the shop operation and the rolling stock to the Fort Lupton, Colo. shops of Colorado Railcar. The 700 was put up for sale as part of the Grandluxe shutdown.

Photographed by Thomas McCann, July 31, 2005.
Added to the photo archive by Thomas McCann, December 6, 2006.
Railroad: American Orient Express.

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