Canadian Pacific Railway dome-lounge 3605, the Selkirk, was built by Pullman-Standard in 1938 as Southern Pacific Railroad tavern car 10312. In 1955 the SP rebuilt it into a dome-lounge (SP 3605), often referred to as a "three-quarter dome" because only three-fourths of the dome had upper-level seating, with the other quarter being a low-level dome – an arrangement that was unique to the SP. This car would later be sold to Amtrak (AMTK 9374) and, after retirement by that carrier, it would pass through a few private owners.
Canadian Pacific acquired it from the Royal Gorge Route Railroad (in Colorado) in 2018, and the car underwent an extensive rebuilding in CP's Ogden Yard in Calgary, which required the car to essentially be rebuilt with nearly all-new material, with work completed in June 2019. Along with rebuilding this car's superstructure, the interior was also completely reimagined, and this car now has a look somewhat reminiscent of its SP days, but with a much more elegant appearance. I remember riding in a few of these back in the 60s, and the word "Linoleum" comes to mind. Today, this car's interior is nothing short of elegant, yet thanks to the work of CP's crew (and, in particular, Senior Manager of Heritage Operations Kevin Hrysak and Manager of Heritage Operations and Mechanical Justin Tracy), somehow much of SP's original design was retained, but updated with better materials (just admire all the woodwork!) and more comfortable accommodations. (And, as of April 14, 2023, the new CPKC Railway not only owns this former SP dome-lounge, but also another in service on the Panama Canal Railway, part of the new CPKC system.)
To see the exterior of this car (from 2019), click HERE.
(Calgary, Alberta, Canada – April 15, 2023). Photo taken on railroad property with permission.
