Anyone heard of a 'Southern Pacific' camper?

[JohnsBMW]

I passed by a house this weekend and noticed a rather tall square aluminum shed, or so I thought. I knocked on the front door of the house and ask about the shed. The owner was very polite and was very happy to talk about his "camper". It seems that the shed was in fact a Southern Railroad camper that was built and used on the railways some 50+ years ago by the railroad employees. This gentleman purchased it in 1955. His particlar model was called a foremans series because of the interior layout. I believe he said it was equiped with 2 desks as the standard workers model had 2 sets of bunk beds at either end with a common bath in the middle. It appears to only be about 20' long and has a door at curbside front and another at the very rear. All aluminum and the skin looks to be in excellent condition. It's a dual axle with a 1 1/2 ton tow eye. I couldn't see inside or much of the outside because of all the vegetation growing around it. The gentleman told me to come back and talk with him some more about it. Does anyone here know where I can get info on this model? I've googled and can't find anything. Thanks, John. On a side note a friend of mine hooked me up with somone who has a 1972 21'Winnebago Indian dual axle camper trailer. I pick it up next weekend. It's in very nice condition. JohnsBMW@Charter.net

[overlander63]

Welcome to the forums.
Many railroads built their own trailers, or purchased heavily modified travel trailers. It sounds like the one you found was a company-built unit, rather than a commercially available one. Here is a photo of an Airstream the Western Pacific Railroad had for many years. It is now enjoying its retirement at the railroad museum at Portola, California:

[davidz71]

Do a forum search on Southern Pacific Railroad and I remember seeing a picture someone posted of an aluminum sleeping quarters mounted on a flatbed RR car.

[till]

Terry, how long is that monster?!?!?!! And do you have a floor plan for it??

[john hd]

http://www.airforums.com/forum...und-15749.html?

unfortunately rich's pics are no longer there.

john

[Coastalview]

Originally Posted by till

Terry, how long is that monster?!?!?!! And do you have a floor plan for it??

I have lots of photos of this trailer. We visit the Portola Railway Museum every year. It is a 40 ft. unit. I can't rembember the first two digits of the vin ??-4009. It's a double door, double kitchen, single bath and bunks in the middle. Can you say duplex?
Jeff

[C Johnson]

There is another one just like this with the same striping in Oasis, NV. FYI

You can see it from I 80

[SJ1]

That's beautiful! I hope to see one someday.