Meridian Railroad Museum

Miss Alva

"Miss Alva" was built on Aug. 4, 1911 as Pullman 16 section tourist sleeper # 4127 named "MONTEITH"

It was basically a Pullman pool car, painted pullman
green, there were about 2500 of them in various configurations. It might have
operated anywhere, on any line that had toursit class sleeping
accomodations (Think Amtrak economy bedroom).
Sometimes, when a particular Pullman car or cars,
were regularly assigned to a specific train, Pullman might paint the car in a one
or two tone scheme to match that of the railroad it operated on
(still lettered Pullman).
.....but this car stayed Pullman green and was just one of many to serve
where needed.

Demand changed, and lots of these cars were converted to something else.
The Steel sheathing added 5/15/24. and it was Converted to a chair car 2/27/35
The Ice A/C added 5/27/37

Purchased by the KCS 11/4/47
KCS must have needed some cheap coaches......they ran football
specials, troop extras to Fort Polk, and for several years operated a commuter
train from downtown Baton Rouge out to the Exxon refinery north of there.

L&A (KCS) Heavy weight chair car #353.

It was removed from the KCS roster around 1962/63

The car was sold (early 60's?) to a Mr Harry Gamberg of Alexandria, a
wholesale concrete pipe distributor.
He had purchased the L&A(Couch) business car
MAGNOLIA and several IC baggage cars among other things.

Leased to the Movie company to star in the 1966
"Tennesse Williams" movie "This Property Is Condemned",
starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford.
Filmed in Bay St Louis, MS. and New Orleans, LA

The Car was later sold to a Meridian bussiness man and made into a Cafe
on Old Highway 80 in Meridian, later given to the city of Meridian

It is now on display as part of The Meridian Railroad Museum's Collection.
The car is open to the public during special events.



(Information obtain from KCSNOTES thanks Richard, Greg and Art for your help)
Please contact me if you know of any errors in the info or additional info to add to it
Email me @ kcsrailfan@queenandcrescent.org