The 12th Car:
Private Observation Car
PURETEST

Originally built as a 10 compartment Pullman observation car in 1916, this car was modernized into a 4 compartment office observation car named NEWPORT.

For the Rexall Train it was rebuilt to Pullman Plan 2502B. The car got its PURETEST name from Rexall's very successful line of vitamins. On the Rexall Train the car was used by company founder Louis K. Liggett as his private car.

The car went back to its NEWPORT paint and name after the Rexall Train.

Apparently the car was used briefly by President Roosevelt at some point before or after the Rexall Train.

In 1941 the car was sold to the Northern Pacific to become their business car #4 GALLATIN RIVER.

To Andy's Diner in Seattle, WA around 1970 until the diner closed in 2008. The diner later reopened as Orient Express and was still in operation in 2022.

On the Rexall Train, the car operated in every state of the Union - 48 at the time. Only Pullman Central Plains, the observation car of the 1947 Freedom Train, has seen more states. It visited Alaska in 2000, giving it 49.

Color Images: Todd Schannuth 2022, Seattle.

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