Thanks to a grant from the David L. and Rita E. Nelson Family Fund, the National Railroad Museum has begun a three-year restoration of the Union Pacific No. 8003 Dome Diner. The car was moved from the McCormick Pavilion into our restoration facility in May of 2024.
The Union Pacific Dome Diner No. 8003 was manufactured by the American Car & Foundry Company in 1955 and donated to the National Railroad Museum by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1971. The dining car was originally assigned to the “City of Los Angeles” passenger train. The Union Pacific Dome Diner No. 8003 was one of ten cars ordered in 1952 and delivered to Union Pacific in 1955. It has two kitchens with seating for eighteen in its main dining area, seating for ten in a private dining area, and seating for twenty-four in the dome section. No restoration had been done to the car’s exterior or interior, including upholstery of seats and preservation of artwork, since its donation.
As with all restoration projects, background research on the original construction and maintenance of the car was completed. Restoration to date has included identification of missing components, removal of asbestos wrapping from pipes under the car and in the kitchens, removal of artwork in the main dining section for restoration, and removal of paint from the car’s interior and exterior.
In the next two years, seats will be reupholstered, artwork conserved, new windows installed, new electrical run, window shades repaired, bodywork done, and the interior and exterior painted. Restoration projects of this size always seem daunting. Thankfully, the museum has a talented group of maintenance/restoration staff and volunteers.
The goal of the project is to bring the dining car to the cosmetic condition it had when it was first put into service in 1955. Upon completion of the restoration, the Dome Diner will be displayed in the Fox River Expansion section. Periodic updates will be shared on our social media and in our Rail Lines publication, and monthly updates will be posted below.
Volunteers Needed!
Put your skills to work preserving history! The National Railroad Museum is seeking volunteers to assist with historic railroad equipment restoration. We welcome individuals with backgrounds in bodywork, automotive maintenance and refinishing, welding, fabrication, painting, mechanical repair, and more. Whether you’re bringing years of experience or looking to learn a new trade, you’ll have the opportunity to make a lasting impact while helping preserve our railroad heritage for future generations.
Ready to climb aboard? Contact us at volunteers@nationalrrmuseum.org!
Restoration Updates
As outlined last month, volunteers and staff are making substantial progress on the restoration of the Dome Diner 8003, with bodywork taking a very methodical approach. As you can see from the photos, several patch areas had to be cut around non-replaceable hardware and rivets. Most often, it would be easier to remove all these obstacles when making repairs, but hardware does not always go back on the same as it comes off, and/or pieces get lost or ruined in the process. For that reason, our strategy is to keep as much intact as possible and maintain historical accuracy.
Working on the body is Jim Blom, world-renowned auto body technician!
Pete Angeli, resident expert on electrical work, is now in the phase of wiring accent lighting and retrofitting incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. Restoring or upgrading electrical wiring on historic rail cars requires balancing authentic preservation with safety and energy efficiency. Once this car is put into the museum, the lighting will be used more than 12 hours per day. This is the reason for going with LED bulbs.
On the sandblaster is Gary Gierczak, cleaning hundreds of small parts that will eventually be reinstalled once painted.
The asbestos and lead paint abatement was completed in January, so the crew immediately started on the bodywork. The body of 8003 was originally constructed of 3/16” aluminum alloy riveted to a steel and aluminum sub-structure. After years of service and exposure to the elements, some of the body panels had delaminated from moisture and had to be cut out and replaced with new 3/16” patch panels, followed by body filler to blend in the seams. In addition to the cut-outs, thousands of dents, chips, and blemishes need to be filled and sanded before primer can be applied. The exterior bodywork is expected to take eight to twelve months to complete.
For the interior, the upholstery and artwork were removed and then our electrical guru “Pete” was able to work on the wiring. The first obstacle was to map the hundreds of feet of electrical wiring and confirm that it is properly terminated. Once that is completed, wall refinishing and cabinetry work will begin. The interior is expected to take two years to complete.
2024 Photos – Union Pacific #8003 Dome Diner, Pre-Restoration
Contact Us
Daniel Liedtke, Curator: (920) 437-7623 or dliedtke@nationalrrmuseum.org