BMCX 857 was built as a 52 seat coach in 1947 by the Budd Company for the Richmond, Fredericksburg &
Potomac Railroad. It was used primarily in New York-Florida service in such trains as the "Silver Meteor," the
"Havana Special" and the "West Coast Champion" until the 1970's, when it was sold to Amtrak (which took over
most American intercity passenger train services in 1971). Amtrak rebuilt the car into a 60 seat coach in 1974,
and later sold the car to The Bluewater Michigan Chapter in 1984.
857 is constructed of stainless steel and weighs about 63 tons. Originally equipped with electro-mechanical air
conditioning and steam heat, Bluewater replaced these systems with a diesel engine-powered heat pump. The
electrical system was originally an axle-driven 110 volt DC generator charging a large bank of batteries.
In 1999 Bluewater began a major effort to refurbish the 857. When received from Amtrak in 1984, the car had
been extensively vandalized. The restrooms in the car had been almost completely destroyed. In 2000 Bluewater
began an effort to restore the seats in the coach, which were showing wear from over 25 years of use since they
were last restored by Amtrak in 1974. The seats and frames were removed from the car and sent out for
restoration. In 2000 a project to renovate the restrooms in 857 was started as well.
In the fall and winter of 2002 the projects to renovate the seats and the restrooms were completed. The car is
now has 52 seats, as it did when new. In addition to these projects the carpet in the seating area was replaced
and the baseboard heating system was replaced.
Potomac Railroad. It was used primarily in New York-Florida service in such trains as the "Silver Meteor," the
"Havana Special" and the "West Coast Champion" until the 1970's, when it was sold to Amtrak (which took over
most American intercity passenger train services in 1971). Amtrak rebuilt the car into a 60 seat coach in 1974,
and later sold the car to The Bluewater Michigan Chapter in 1984.
857 is constructed of stainless steel and weighs about 63 tons. Originally equipped with electro-mechanical air
conditioning and steam heat, Bluewater replaced these systems with a diesel engine-powered heat pump. The
electrical system was originally an axle-driven 110 volt DC generator charging a large bank of batteries.
In 1999 Bluewater began a major effort to refurbish the 857. When received from Amtrak in 1984, the car had
been extensively vandalized. The restrooms in the car had been almost completely destroyed. In 2000 Bluewater
began an effort to restore the seats in the coach, which were showing wear from over 25 years of use since they
were last restored by Amtrak in 1974. The seats and frames were removed from the car and sent out for
restoration. In 2000 a project to renovate the restrooms in 857 was started as well.
In the fall and winter of 2002 the projects to renovate the seats and the restrooms were completed. The car is
now has 52 seats, as it did when new. In addition to these projects the carpet in the seating area was replaced
and the baseboard heating system was replaced.
