Birch Grove

The Birch Grove was built by the Budd Company in 1950 as one of twenty-five 10 & 6 sleepers ordered by the Southern Pacific for use on the Sunset Limited. The cars were not named, but were numbered from 9001 to 9025. The Birch Grove was car number 9020.

As with most remaining private cars of today, the Birch Grove was sold to Amtrak in 1971 and renumbered to 2696. Ironically, the car remained in service on the Sunset Limited. In 1980, the car was sent to Beech Grove for a major shop rebuild where it was converted to a handicap accessible sleeper by eliminating the porter's quarters and public restroom, enlarging roomette #10, and widening the B end door and entryway.

During this same time, Amtrak named the sixteen remaining Southern Pacific sleepers in the "Grove" series name. Amtrak car 2696 became car number 2451 with the name "Birch Grove" on the side board.

In 1988 the Birch Grove received yet another major shopping and was reassigned to the various routes between New York and Florida. In 1995 the car was sold at the Miami, Florida Amtrak auction to Chuck Grisler who, in turn, sold it to Tom McOwen. The car sat in Nashville, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama until 2001 when the current owner purchased it and had it moved to Sea Island Passenger Service in Bellvue, Ohio. Between 2001 and 2005 the car was totally rebuilt by Sea Island and then by L&C Passenger Service in Lancaster, South Carolina.