BYOB Sleeping Car No. 470 was built by the Pullman Company in Detroit in 1889 as a 12-section tourist sleeper (third class) for use on the three-foot gauge Denver & Rio Grande. The car was sold in 1898 to Colorado & Northwestern out of Boulder, Colorado, becoming a Denver, Boulder & Western car in 1909 with a C&N reorganization. It was bought by Western Union in 1919 and used as a work car, and eventually ended up on Denver & Rio Grande Western as an coach outfit car 0252 in maintenance-of-way service in 1933. It was retired in Alamosa by the D&RGW in 1953, with the carbody sold.
In 1994, the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec organization acquired the body, and beginning in 2009, began a ten-year-plus rebuild of the car at Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is restored to its as-built 1889 appearance, inside and out. The entire interior of the car is constructed of clear-finished red oak—wood benches and wood bunks—make it very utilitarian. When lowered, “beds” provide only about 5’-10” worth of length, so you better not be too tall either. And don’t forget—BYOB—bring your own bedroll!
The beautiful car was on display in Chama, New Mexico, on August 28, 2021, during Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad’s Victorian Iron Horse Roundup celebrating the 50th anniversary of C&TS.
