The city of Garland’s application for a state historic marker for the Pullman Railcar was recently accepted by the Texas Historic Commission.
Pullman Coach Car #582 is one of only three remaining cars in the U.S. built of a combination of wood and steel construction. Built in 1910, it is also the only surviving car that was never clad in steel-plated siding.
The Pullman Railcar is located outside the Landmark Museum, 393 North Sixth Street. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Garland is lucky to have such a unique part of U.S. rail history. Stay tuned for more information!
More information on the Pullman Car Coach from the city of Garland website:
Donated to the city of Garland in 1976 by the Santa Fe Railroad, this Pullman Coach Car 582 transported passengers on the main line steam trains of the Santa Fe railroad system from 1910 to about 1930. It played a vital role in troop transportation during World War 1.
From 1930 to 1949, it connected small towns in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, linking Santa Fe’s branch lines like Garland’s to their main line. Finally, in 1949, it was taken out of service and became living quarters for a Santa Fe employee. This saved it from the demolition many similar railroad cars faced.
Design
This 1910 Pullman Coach Car represents a unique transitional design, combining a newer metal undercarriage with a wooden framed car. In 2014, it underwent an exterior refurbishment, returning its paint color and markings to their original 1910 specifications. Few of these cars are believed to still be in existence.
The Pullman Coach Car 582 stands as a reminder of the important role railroads played in the development of Garland.