Presidental Railroad Car of Warren G. Harding built by Pullman in 1911

Stuart C
by Stuart C
I am in the process of restoring President Warren G. Harding's Railroad Car. I need help to make the walls and ceilings look like wood paneling that was in the railroad car in 1923. I also need help with the upholstery for the chairs and couch . I have the fabric. Need someone to help duplicate the light fixtures that are in the rest of the railroad car. Can someone make a prop that looks like a wood burning stove? I have the railroad car located at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth Georgia.
  12 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jan 13, 2012
    How cool. Obviously, I am a little far away to drop in and help out, but I will send a shout-out to some other folks in my Hometalk network who might be able to help you.
  • Hudson Designs Hudson Designs on Jan 14, 2012
    Hello, I would like to help on this project. My mother worked for Norfork Southern for 22 years and I have seen many of trains in my life. I think the paneling would be made of pine board, sim. to T/G pine boards to day. As for a demo stove this would be easy to mock up.
  • As Hudson said the prop is easy. I can help with the upholstery. I work and restore antique chairs. Call me on the number on my profile. I'd love to work on the project.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jan 14, 2012
    We have some old time train cars in my town that are set up as a coffee shop / candy shop. They have stained glass windows along the top and some sweet woodwork...Some thin "bendy" ply could be used in the cove shaped curves of the ceiling...if present. I'm jealous...it sounds like a great restoration project...and I would love to help but I'm 1500 miles away.
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jan 14, 2012
    KMS, my wife had her fortune read once in one of those old train cars. I think we were up there for lunch at that great Nepalese place.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jan 15, 2012
    Yes, Katmandu...is our favorite...I'm a sucker for the Turkey meatballs with the curry Sauces in the Sunday Buffet.
  • 3po3 3po3 on Jan 15, 2012
    Yeah, definitely worth the trip. For the rest of you Hometalkers, if you ever come to Colorado and want to go see Rocky Mountain National Park, stop in Nederland for Nepalese lunch on your way, then drive up the back way through the mountains rather than driving straight up to the park from Boulder or Loveland. Here I go turning this into TravelTalk. Sorry.
  • Stuart, The siding was likey a thick - like 3" - T&G "car-siding" made of long leaf or southern yellow pine, with a shellac finish. It ages yellow with time so matching will be tricky There is a place in the Boston area IIRC that does custom lighting to specifications. Newstamp Lighting. I am sure there are others around the country also.
  • What a great project. Don't know that I have any skills to add but I hope you post photos of your progress and keep us all informed.
  • Hudson Designs Hudson Designs on Jan 16, 2012
    The Superb was used as U.S. President Warren G. Harding's personal Pullman railroad car in a cross-country tour in 1923. Just a few photo's of this cars design. It's a bit more than Pine T&G. http://www.flickr.com/photos/thespouses/3432394863/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kayak49/33676067/in/set-747232 http://vilda.alaska.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/cdmg2&CISOPTR=606&REC=1 It looks like the Alaska Museum let it go to waste. Just give us a call we would be happy to work on this project. From the photos i have seen it maybe missing the back platform that he address the people from. But thats not an issue I know a black smith that can help replicate this section.
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Jan 16, 2012
    I keep getting the picture in my head from the original wild wild west series with Robert Conrad...and the cool train that they tooled around in.
  • Well KMS, I guess that is better than Supertrain! :D