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Whistle Stop InnRiding High on Railroad HeritageBy Toni Dabbs
The couple bought a 1903 Victorian house in New York Mills, Minnesota, and decorated the rooms with lanterns, signs, stock certificates and other railroad paraphernalia. They even stretched model trains across the lintels above the windows and doorways. They christened their business the Whistle Stop Inn.
The Cozy Caboose is a favorite. Built in 1893, it formerly did duty on the Sioux line. It still has bunk beds in what were the crew quarters, but it also has a queen size Murphy bed, full whirlpool bath, TV/VCR, refrigerator and air conditioning.
The Imperial Car was manufactured by Pullman as a 60-seat day coach in 1895 and served on the Yellowstone Park line. Above its windows are the original crescent shaped colored glass insets. A queen size brass bed is supplemented by a double sofa bed, so the car can accommodate a family. It also has a booth-like dining area.
The Lees say that the book Mr. Pullman's Elegant Palace Cars gave them a lot of ideas for redecorating the 80-foot-long 9.5-foot-wide rolling stock. Although many guests prefer to gather in the dining room of the Victorian house for breakfast, those staying in the Imperial and Palace Cars may have their morning meal served "on board." Photos by Toni Dabbs FOR MORE INFORMATIONWhistle Stop Inn Bed and Breakfast Copyright 2002 by Toni Dabbs. This work, including photographs, is protected by copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved, and commercial use is prohibited without permission of the author. |
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Roger
Lee's father worked for the railroad. So did his grandfather. So when Roger
and his wife Jann decided to open a bed and breakfast, it seemed only
natural that it should have a railroad theme.
It
was cute, but that wasn't enough for Roger. He had an acre of land
surrounding the house, and he soon began buying railroad cars, placing them
around the property and converting them into luxury accommodations. Bringing
the rolling stock to the house posed no problem; the Burlington Northern
tracks are just 100 yards away.
He
was obviously onto something. Today, rail fans come from far and wide to
stay in the converted railcars. They bring scanners so they'll know when to
watch for one of the 50 trains a day that pass nearby.
Whirlpool,
TV/VCR, refrigerator and air conditioning are standard for all the railcars,
but the other two also feature gas fireplaces, ceiling fans, microwave
ovens, dark wood interiors and brass fittings.
The
Palace Car was built as a dining car by Pullman in 1909. Draped with ample
amounts of lace and containing a queen size bed, it rivals the Imperial Car
in elegance.