| Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad MWX 251162 as seen from a 5632 steam fantrip arriving at Galesburg, Illinois on September 29, 1963, photograph by Chuck Zeiler. Number 251162 was built by the CB&Q at Aurora, Illinois as Saint Louis Keokuk & Northwestern Office Car 77, as built it measured 55 feet and 3 inches. During 1912 it was sent back to Aurora, lengthened to 60 feet, reconfigured, and became CB&Q Office Car 93. On August 19, 1958 it became Rail Detector Outfit car 251162, a mobile home for the rail defect detector crew. It was sold to screen actor Sterling Hayden and his wife Catherine in June 1966 which he used as his office in Sausalito, California until his death in 1986. I've inquired to the Sausalito Historical Society to find out any further information about this car. Update; the Sausalito HS sent me a newspaper article dated September 21, 1972 which mentions that the car would be auctioned off to help pay Sterling Hayden's back taxes. However, the article also notes that Hayden's daughter, Gretchen, claimed that the car was never owned by Sterling but was purchased by his wife Catherine for $2,700.00, later given to Gretchen. The car was moved to a siding in Greenbrae, California pending the outcome of lawsuit blocking the auction. More information as it becomes available. |