Great Northern 1084 was built by Pullman in 1920 as their parlor car "Natalie." Its history with Pullman is not known, but it was apparently a full steel heavyweight. In June 1942 it and sister "Cordelia" were purchased by the Great Northern and converted to coaches 1084 and 1083. In 1945 (one might assume the end of the war meant more opportunity for luxury travel) they were converted back to parlor cars. Then in April 1952 they were completely rebuilt for the streamlined "Gopher" and "Badger" trains. They became streamlined, flat-ended buffet-parlor observation cars with a rounded roof end, Mars light, end windows, streamlined marker lights on the sides, and a long, horizontal antenna like the A-11's on top. The car name, 'Twin Ports' on the 1084 and 'Twin Cities' on the 1083, was centered in the green band below the windows, and the number placed in the same band at each end. On the observation end, a GN logo appeared under each window, with "BADGER" below the left and "GOPHER" below the right. Inside, the cars had 26 easy chairs in the parlor, which was separated from the cafe and buffet by glass panels with frosted artwork of a gopher and a badger. The buffet area had two tables to seat four and one to seat two, and a small kitchen. At the vestibule end were men's and women's toilets. (Click here for a diagram.) In February, 1959 they were modified for mid-train operation by squaring off the observation-end roof, replacing the Mars light with a red Gyralight, and adding a diaphragm. The end lettering was removed.
After retirement in 1969, 1083 was converted to a track inspection car in 1973 and 1084 was canibalized for the BN business car fleet. 1084 was apparently never assigned a BN passenger car number after the merger.
MTM aquired the "Twin Ports" in 1979, and stripped and primed the exterior for restoration in 1980. However, circumstances changed, and 1084 spent the next twenty years in storage. In 2002, it was part of an MTM train from a secured military facility to the Jackson Street Roundhouse. Volunteers promptly fell in love with it (so pretty in the dark with all its lights on!) and gave it a quick paint job. Plans for a complete restoration are being drafted.
1084 is a member of MTM's GN streamlined passenger train set.
More photos of the "Twin Ports"
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The observation end of freshly-painted 1084. |
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Freshly-painted 1084 was displayed at Jackson Street in a "train" with 265 and A11. (The restroom window is boarded up.) |
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Primer-yellow 1084 brings up the rear of the MTM equipment move to Jackson Street. |
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In 2002, 1084 is back on Great Northern trackage. The MTM equipment move is about to pass under Snelling Avenue in St. Paul. |
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