Heavyweight Pullman "The James Watt"  

 

 

The Southwest Chapter owns the heavyweight Pullman, the James Watt, built in 1926 as a 14-section pullman for the Santa Fe Railroad.  The James Watt was often used on deluxe trains Nos. 3 & 4, the California Limited. There were six other similar cars built to Plan 3958 and assigned to the A.T. & S.F. By the late forties, the James Watt was relegated to secondary trains and it has been reported it served as backup to the Isaac Newton, another 14-section car, on the El Paso-Albuquerque run until that train was converted to lightweight equipment and daylight running in 1953.  James Watt was converted to maintenance of way service in 1956 and served as a foreman's shower car. Eleven of the original 14 sections remain, two having been removed on one end to add a shower and one removed on the other end for office space. Otherwise the car is in remarkably original condition. It is unrestored and not serviceable on mainlines due to friction bearings and old brakes. It is located with our other equipment at the Phelps-Dodge plant in El Paso and can be seen by appointment with a chapter member.