Property Record
500 Railroad Ave
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Soo Line #991 Barney & Smith Passenger Coach |
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| Other Name: | Colfax Railroad Museum |
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| Reference Number: | 246047 |
| Location (Address): | 500 Railroad Ave |
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| County: | Dunn |
| City: | Colfax |
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| Year Built: | 1911 |
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| Historic Use: | rolling stock |
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| Other Buildings On Site: | Y |
| Demolished?: | No |
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| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| Additional Information: | The car is constructed of metal panels with a raised roof with openings on each side filled with stained glass panels. Banks of single light windows sit along each side wall. These openings were originally single light windows with transoms, but in the 1920s, the transoms were enclosed. The interior décor has a streamlined appearance with arched upper walls and wood paneling. The seats were removed in the 1950s and today the car is interpreted as a museum car with railroad memorabilia exhibits. The car was built with the innovation of radiator baseboard heating and had an ice bunker under the car for chilled water to provide air conditioning in the summer. The car was used as a passenger car until the late 1950s, when it was recommissioned as a work train with bunk areas and a kitchen. The museum removed these alterations and converted it to a museum car. |
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| Bibliographic References: | NRQ, August, 2023. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |