Palm Point Restoration

09/28/2023

What’s up Wednesday. September 27th, 2023

I and the team want to thank everyone for following this page. We have 29 new followers this past month, beginning the total up too 969 followers. Please take the time and review past posts from Palm Point Restoration. This will give details on the various stages of the Palm Point’s past uses. This demonstrate the history and original details of this car and its value as a restored hand on history.

Please read our mission statement.

Thank you
Richard Kulik - President
Palm Point Restoration

This project is made possible through your donations. Please donate and help move this project forward. Check or PayPal

08/17/2023

What’s up Wednesday - August 16th 2023

I want to first thank all the followers for your interest in the restoration of the Palm Point. We have grown too 936 followers as of today. Please share with friends and other railroad enthusiasts. Let’s see if we can reach 1000 and or more. Please look back at other posts to see the history of such a grand Pullman car.

Thank you
Richard Kulik- President

12/25/2022

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Hoping that Santa will be here, we are dreaming of window repairs and a coat of shining green.paint, along with six sets of new wheels. Hope that needed repairs will get completed in the new year.

Thank you
Palm Point Restoration

11/24/2022

What’s up Wednesday - November 23, 2022

From all of us hear in Cleveland Ohio we sincerely wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. Even with all the negative news, overall this has been a good year and we are thankful for the friends and family members that are a big part of our lives .

Happy thanksgiving
Palm Point Restoration

09/01/2022

What’s up Wednesday August 31, 2022

It’s hard to believe summer is almost over. It has been a very busy time since my last post. Mostly good times spent with family and friends.

The Palm Point is still waiting for funding to complete the sealing the outside from the weather. With inflation and a recession going on taking away everyone’s cash , this is the worst time to be asking for donations, but I need to ask, if possible please donate. The goal is to get the exterior sealed up before winter.

Thank you, your comments are welcomed.

Donation button in the comments section.

06/30/2022

What’s up Wednesday June 29, 2022

It’s Wednesday or hump day again, now it’s the last Wednesday in the first half of the year. Wow time flies, half of 2022 is now over. This has been a tough year and we are faced with many problems. Inflation is out of control, product shortages and many more issues. life goes on and we here at Palm Point Restoration are still in need of money to move this project forward. For those who have made donations or given grants we thank you.

For those who have not donated I urge you to think of this like a summer picnic or get together with family or friends. With over 500 followers on Facebook, for the amount of a case of beer, you could help generate half the funds needed to make her weather proof.

Enjoy the forth of July, and remember us when picking up the beer.

The following link will take you to PayPal donations for Palm Point Restoration.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=23XUF9T8RUQ3C

Thank you
Richard S Kulik
President- Palm Point Restoration

Help support Palm Point Restoration by donating or sharing with your friends.

05/12/2022

what’s up Wednesday. May 11, 2022

Where is the Palm Point now?

The Pullman car is stored at Midwest Railway Preservation Society in Cleveland Ohio. After tacking over ownership of the Palm Point three years ago, stabilization against the Northern Ohio’s harsh weather has been number one priority. Over the past year and a half, The team hear has sealed most of her from the weather. Windows are the next large task to be accomplished.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=23XUF9T8RUQ3C

Here is where your help and participants is needed. I know now is a very hard time to ask for donations with sky high inflation increasing the cost of basic needs for every one. But please consider helping move this project along. Let’s not miss the opportunity of nice weather in northeast Ohio. Before you know it, winter will return.

Thank you
Richard S Kulik
President/ Palm Point Restoration Inc.
[email protected]
Text 440/570-8606

04/14/2022

What’s up Wednesday - April 13, 2022

Palm Point returns to the rails.

After it’s life as a restaurant then a store ends Palm Point returns to the rails thanks to a gentleman Doug Brown from of Farmington Hills, MI. Doug cleaned out the car and got the breaks working. He in-listed a house mover to transport Palm Point to live rail, this happened during a unplanned blizzard in Rochester, Minnesota make for a very dramatic event. Brown has owned several cars restoring some to operate on Amtrak. Soon after Mr. Brown received an offer to sell Palm Point he could not refuse.

The car was sold to a Mr. Richard Henderson of Silver Springs, MD. He was affiliated with the local group of NRPS that also owned and operated the famous Dover Harbor. A lounge buffet sleeper car built in the 30’s and in operation today. Henderson located several missing parts for the Palm Point including a set of roller bearings trucks. Mr. Henderson continued restoration until his fortune changed and he opted to abandon the project and gave ownership to Midwest Railroad Preservation Society. There Palm Point sat in a storage lot for over twenty years at the mercy of the weather theft and vandalism.

Next time where is the Palm Point now.

Happy Easter or Passover to all, hope you have a joyful time

Richard S Kulik
President
Palm Point Restoration, Inc.

03/17/2022

What’s up Tuesday. - March 16, 2022

New information on the sale of Palm Point to Northern Pacific.

Please see,the attached document. Highlights from this as follows. 1948 sold and numbered 349 along with the name by Northern Pacific. In 1953 the name Palm Point was removed along with the Pullman name. Car was renumbered 749 and retired in 1965,

https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%.

03/10/2022

What’s up Wednesday - March, 9th 2022

Third life for the Palm Point, starts after restaurant closed and building becomes a Salvation Army store. The Pullman is converted to storage for books. This arrangement lasted until the early 1990s when the store moved out. This starts another life for the Palm Point.

I ask anyone following this story to help us fill in some blanks or expand on the facts.

Spring is getting closer and we need funds to continue with the stabilization of the Palm Point. Please help us complete the repair of the windows.

Thank you

https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.com%2Fdonate%2F%3Fhosted_button_id%3D23XUF9T8RUQ3C&data=04%7C01%7Ckkulik%404wp.com%7Ce2c0f6b83592458b4ec408d9fadc5c84%7C85f78c4cad11473596240b2c11611dff%7C0%7C0%7C637816646614138459%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=SHDPtfCXazF4%2FO8vcb6MycE6Dc3kNsEdqtJMolhMx98%3D&reserved=0

This is supposedly the donation button for PayPal

03/03/2022

What’s up Wednesday. March 2, 2022
Palm Point’s second life

Looking for information on the following gap in history.

The photo below was taken around 1979 when the Palm Point was moved to Cleveland. This is based on the coats date. It has Depot House Express painted on the side.

What we do know is that Some time after 1960 and before 1980 the Palm Point was used as a bar / lounge for an upscale restaurant located in Rochester, Minnesota. Possible named Depot House Express. The car remained in service until the restaurant closed.

Hopefully someone out there in Facebook land has more details and photos.

Thank you

02/24/2022

What’s up Wednesday - February 23, 2022

Requesting feedback.

There are about 100 people following the Palm Point on Facebook. Would you please take a minute and give us honest feedback. Comment on Facebook or private message me. Need your feedback to improve the content of the posts.

On donations, also give us feedback. Have you tried the buttons, and if so how well do they work. If not why not.

Thank you
Richard S Kulik
President- Palm Point Restoration, Inc
A non profit corporation

02/17/2022

What’s up Wednesday 2/16/2022’

Working this week on improving our skill and tools to raise money. We are applying for grants starting today. And will continue as new means of funding the restoration of Palm Point become available.

To the followers of these posts, we need for you to trust us and donate any amount possible to make this restoration a reality. Funds are held in a segregated bank account to protect the integrity of your donations. At this time your Funds are used only for material and outside labor. All other costs are covered by us. We can maintain the status quo but that’s not our goal. Please see our mission statement. Attached is a link to PayPal to help facilitate donations.

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=23XUF9T8RUQ3C

Help support Palm Point Restoration by donating or sharing with your friends.

02/14/2022

To recap the unique features that the Palm Point contains including the Pullman engineering and design sets this car apart from the standard passenger car from the early 1930. Today the Palm Point is believed to be the only remaining heavyweight car, with this magnificent Pullman air conditioning system.

When Pullman was ordered to break up their passenger car monopoly in 1948, The Northern Pacific Railroad purchased the Palm Point along with other passenger cars is use. The cars were then leased back to Pullman company to operate. The Palm Point was immediately placed in seasonal service, with Northern Pacific Railroad top shelf passenger trains servicing the northwest during summer and Seaboard Coast Lines on popular trains to Florida during the winter months.

The Palm Point was retired by Northern Pacific Railroad 1960, making it one of the last heavyweight sleeper observation cars in service. The Palm Point was put into storage.

02/10/2022

What’s up Wednesday. - . February 9, 2022

It’s been a rough week. Second winter storm takes down a 100 foot oak tree across the driveway. Thank god no one enjored and only minor property damage. Power out for 36 hours.

That’s this week’s weather report.

In response to last week’s post, several of you are looking for a replacement trap door and hardware. Others have provided historical photos of similar cars interior to that of the Palm Point. Even giving build information such as data range of build and build photos. Great stuff.

I did not know if you wanted your name published, so if you don’t mind just reply with a your welcomed.

Thank you for your help, this is very helpful in restoring Palm Point too as built condition. We are creating a hands on historical experience.

We need your help. Please make a donation of any amount in check to our address in Westlake Ohio. We will send you a receipt notice with our tax exception information.

Major job needing funding is window replacement. Offering an adoption program for each window. We will mount a commemorative placket next each window. To adopt a window please send donation check for $1,000

Thank you
Richard S. Kulik
President - Palm Point Restoration

02/02/2022

What’s up Wednesday - February 2nd 2022

We have been snowed in for the past week, and another major storm on its way. Ok so much for the weather. Spent time this week looking for a vestibule trap door grab irons and latches . THese items are no where to be found. Asking everyone here to let me know if you have any of these and wish to pass it too someone how will put it to work.

Now fun part; is a picture of Northern Pacific train at Gardner, Montana. This is the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. You can see the gateway arch to the right. It is possible that Palm Point could of stopped here. I have no record of such a stop. Any information on the travels of our car is appreciated.

I will edit the pictures into post asap. Technically challenged

02/01/2022

Palm Point Restoration, let the cool air flow.

In the 1930s Pullman started retrofitting the older cars with air conditioning. The Palm Point and her sisters first class sleeper,lounge, observation cars were modified with Pullman Air Conditioning System. This was accomplished with a small modifications to the look of the interior buy lowering the clerestory to accommodate air conditioning ducts to circulate air. The Pullman a/c system also retained the classic exterior raised clerestory look. Adding to the custom luxury ambiance, Pullman added very ornate brass ceiling vents with a floral design.

We are fortunate to have all eight of these vents that went down the center of the ceiling. One other Pullman that I know of has this feature. Just happens to be in the same yard next to our car. The Hot Spring has Pullman a/c with similar vents going along the ceiling. Other sister cars that were sold to different railroads did not retain there classic interior and exterior roof lines. Of the remaining Pullmans, few examples of this a/c system survive today.

If you know of a car with Pullman a/c, please let me know. Pictures would be welcomed.



01/27/2022

What’s up Wednesday = January 26, 2022

It is a very cold week we are having, keeping outside activity to a minimum, that includes inside the Palm Point. An nice 10 degrees f in the car. Did want to emphasize to anyone doing restoration work, do not throw anything away.

Spare bucked of bolts, not scrap turns out to be needed to hold bearing boxes on to trucks. Brass strip the size of a yardstick all over the floor, many bent or destroyed. They are used to attach the windows to the frames. Should be enough left to finish most of the windows, we’re lucky. Small pieces of steel looking like cutoff’s but actually are original padlock latches. Much stronger that the flimsy consumer latch that was in place. Window glass, that turns out to be, new pieces of safety glass. The previous owner was in the process of converting from plate glass. Last but not least, old metal half doors that looked useless and were looking like scrap. Turns out to be the lower Dutch doors that came with this car. The fun of restoration.

Only wish I could find a vestibule trap door with brackets and hand rails.
No magic here of stumble on one of these. If you know of one please needing a new home, please message me. Thanks for following alone with us here in cold Ohio.

01/25/2022

Thought I would share a photo of a brass model of the Palm Point from a few years ago.

We will cover air conditioning and 1930 Pullmans next time and how unique this makes this car

Thank you and stay warm safe

01/20/2022

What’s up Wednesday, January 19 2022

Very busy week, the Railroad Passenger Car Alliance was here in Cleveland this past week. Great opportunity to meet others, that are crazy about passenger cars like me.

Did some clean up of parts /stuff taken out of the Palm Point over a year ago. One major takeaway learned is don’t throw away anything, even stuff that looks like scrap metal. I will have pictures next week of some examples.

We need your donations, so please consider being a supporter in saving this car and get it out into the public. 100% of donations are used to acquire material and labor to restore the Palm Point.

Thank you’
Richard Kulik
President - _Palm Point Restoration.

01/18/2022

History of Solarium lounge cars

Most of the solarium lounge type cars built in this era (1926 - 1030) were of the 3-2 lounge solarium, observation solarium layout. (Three compartment, two drawing rooms and no buffet). The addition of a buffet was a special feature. Always a plus, to enjoy a cool drink and snacks, right at hand. More so, these eight late 20s Pullman heavyweights cars had rare special features that enhanced the Pullman experience. Such as very special brass window sashes and drip rails over the windows replacing wood or steel preventing rust and making window replacement faster in route. These special cars also have six extra tall observation solarium windows. Not the usual four standard height windows used on heavyweights.

Since these cars were designated to first class limited service only they were outfitted with special very fancy interior features like furniture, overstuffed chairs or wicker and curved couches. Everything was top shelf even the lighting fixtures and ac vents were very elaborate The Palm Point is a very unique Pullman car with many one off features. It is a very special treasure to railroad history and travel during the start of the depression. Representing the panicle of the Pullman heavyweight era, that ended in 1930,s.

What another restored solarium lounge looks like ❤️

01/13/2022

It’s Whats up Wednesday January 12, 2022

Today I went down to the historic B&O roundhouse. Cleaned and organized the steel ready to be installed to repair the windows frames on the Palm Point. I decided to remove several loose plywood sheets used to cover windows. Took them to my shop, to coat with deck stain. An effort that will take a few weeks and hopefully improve the longevity of the plywood. Providing protection from possible vandalism and the ravages of the weather.

Also located a poster I had made years ago on the Palm Point to a window facing the yard and possibility visitors from RPCA (Rail Passenger Car Alliance) national conference held here in Cleveland this week.

Please help our efforts save this car, donate any amount today, thank you

01/10/2022

Interesting facts about the Palm Point Pullman car.
Week 2

The Palm Point was built by Pullman Company in Chicago, IL and delivered to. host railroad in January 1930. It is based on plan # 3975X lot number 6337. A total of 43 plan 3975 cars were built from 1929-30, of that group 8 were named in the Palm series. A plan 3975 is a 3 compartment,1 drawing room, buffet, solarium lounge, enclosed observation car. A very long name for a top notch luxurious passenger car. Often host railroad dictated different style of lighting or furniture etc.

As train speeds increased, during the 20’s. The popular open observation platforms diminished in favor, of the “sun -room” or solarium room often featuring wicker chairs, popular in the era.

Palm Point’s close cousin on the Northern Pacific, leaning for this style paint.

01/06/2022

01/06/2022

01/06/2022

What’s happening now. January 2022’

Continuing to seal up the car. Winter is coming to the Midwest and time is short. Focus now on fixing windows. Several in good shape others need complete rebuilding. Rust never sleeps.

We are asking for your help. The cost of rebuilding windows is around $30,000 dollars based on estimates. Please consider making a tax exempt donation, please help fund the restoration. Contact me for donation details.
Together we can persevere railroad history.

Also Want to cover windows with plywood to protect the glass. Would lIke them to be removable or be able to leave on car during transport. Any ideas on how to attach plywood to car. Pictures would help.

01/04/2022

We are off on a new journey. The start of a new year, week and day. On Monday’s I will be offering a, Pullman car Palm Point description, interesting facts and history. This includes ownership and various uses over the decades.

Please check in with us for weekly updates to better understand why this car Palm Point is so special in Pullman history and railroad preservation

Be back next week to start our journey

Richard Kulik
President
Palm Point Restoration, non profit corporation

12/25/2021

Merry Christmas from the team.

12/21/2021

The team here at Palm Point Restoration would like too wish you and your family a merry Christmas with peace health love and joy

Richard Kulik- President

🎄⛪️🎄

12/12/2021

I would like to thank Cordell & Cordell law firm for their generous grant last month. 100% of the money is going towards sealing up the Palm Point against the weather. First project was coating the roof during the latest warm period. A second coat will be applied depending on weather.

These funds will go a long way toward preserving this 1930 Pullman car.

11/25/2021

Happy Thanksgiving from the Palm Point Restoration!

08/04/2021

One of the many systems that will needed rebuilding but is original to the car.

04/20/2021

Good news this week. Palm Point is now funded and managed by a nonprofit corporation 501(c)(3) called
Palm Point Restoration

More information to follow

02/26/2021

Looking for information on the following pictures. This is the Palm Point car with a fresh roof coating of primer red. On the side reads, Station House Express. Any information is appreciated. Where when ?

Thanks

01/30/2021

Car has been in storage as Palm Point Restoration Group are working on setting up 501c3 for grants and donations!

01/18/2020

The side that need rust repairs is closed up! Moving on to roof repairs and windows. Nice work Midwest Railway Preservation.

01/04/2020

Nice repair without more cutting. Great staff.

Fixing a part of the roof on the Palm Point. This part was crushed and we are straighting it out with a Port a power. It is coming along.

11/23/2019

Work is coming along nicely on rust repairs!

10/13/2019

Palm point has a lot of brass on it. It's hard to tell with all the paint that was covering it up.
The car will be completely done with sand blasting on Tuesday. Then come the weeks of welding as we found a lot of holes in the metal that we'll need to be cut patched and welded.

10/08/2019

Midwest crew was hard at it today working on sand blasting the car!