Skytop Lounge #186 Cedar Rapids

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Skytop Lounge #186 Cedar Rapids

186 "Cedar Rapids" - stored for many years at west Milwaukee shops, the car was sold during 1985 (SOO Line takover) to Brook Stevens of Mequon WI, son of the car designer. After repainting and rebuilding the car was operated by a group calling themselves "First Premier Express" based in Chicago IL, with the car operating out of Milwaukee in full orange & maroon delivery colors. The car was sold during 1990 just before Amtrak's requirement that all cars be 'HEP' and 27 pin commline, etc. The new owner, William Nicholson/Cedar Rapids Ltd was based in Denver CO and the car was moved out there on the tail end of #6. After several trips up the front range, the car was stored when Amtrak's new rules came into play. The car was re-sold during Spring 1999 to the "Friends of the 261" group and the car was moved to Minneapolis. The car has been cleaned and repainted into the same original delivery scheme (maroon & orange), and went on the road in passenger service for the first time in about ten years on May 22-23 1999. Car status is "in service" (800040).