SANTA FE RAILWAY
TOOL CAR 190006

Originally built in 1914 by Pullman as Santa Fe Railway passenger train baggage/express car #1745, this steel, heavyweight, six-axle car ran on passenger and mail trains for 50 years. In 1965, Santa Fe converted it into a tool car for use in maintenance of way (MOW) service supporting the railroad’s upkeep of its physical plant. Upon its conversion, the car was painted silver and renumbered to 190006 in keeping with Santa Fe’s standards for railcars in maintenance of way service.

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Santa Fe converted hundreds of baggage type cars into tool cars for use by work crews (gangs), across the railroad’s system. Other cars, including boxcars and refrigerator cars (reefers) were also converted to tool cars. However, baggage cars such as 190006 required minimal modifications for hauling tools and other materials used in track, signal, bridge and structure maintenance and wreck mitigation. With large doors and ample space, baggage cars were ideal for this job.

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After retiring tool car 190006, Santa Fe donated it to our museum. Today, this car serves as a museum shop car in which work is conducted to support the museum’s equipment maintenance and preservation.