Radio Atlantic, IA – AM 1220

Western Iowa Railroad Museum

March 24th, 2012 by admin

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs is putting a vintage baggage car on the rails again to use as a traveling exhibit as the railroad celebrates its 150th anniversary this year. 

The baggage car, dubbed the Promontory, was built in 1962 as a postal storage car.  Union Pacific has turned it into a traveling museum highlighting its history since 1862.  It includes 13 large graphics, an interactive touch screen and artifacts from the railroad’s museum. 

The baggage car is named for Promontory Summit in Utah, the site selected for the joining of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads in 1869. 

The traveling exhibit, which will visit 27 communities, is a smaller version of the “Building America” exhibit that will open at the museum in May.