| Canadian National dome car 99, named "American Spirit," is one of at least seven business cars undergoing work in the railway’s Woodcrest Shops. The most visible change is the new red, black and white (or is it light grey, as on their diesels?) paint job being applied to business cars CN 1059 "Tawah," CN 1710 "Frasier Spirit," IC 101314 "Champlain," IC 800210 "Baton Rouge," IC 800413 "Great Lakes" and IC 800653 "Sandford Fleming," along with CN 99. This car was built as a 46-seat dome-coach by Budd in 1955 as Great Northern 1325. It was assigned number 4605 by GN successor Burlington Northern, but that number was never applied before it became Amtrak 9465. When Amtrak rebuilt it with Head-End Power, it was renumbered 9409. In the late 1990s, Montana Rockies Rail Tours operated the "Montana Rockies Daylight" on Montana Rail Link (as BKSX 9409), and when that service ended after the 2004 season, the car was sold to American Orient Express as AOEX 9409. From there it was sold to Canadian National. (Homewo |