Southern Pacific #139

Technical Data

Builder Pullman
Date 1923
Class 60-C
Length 60′
Acquired 1975
Weight 60 tons

History

This car was built new as El Paso and Southwestern (EP&SW) coach #730 in August 1923 under Pullman lot number 4694. When the EP&SW was purchased by the Southern Pacific in 1924 this coach was assigned SP number 1057. 

In January of 1929, SP 1057 was rebuilt as an open-platform observation business car and renumbered/named Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) #139, “Sacramento”. The SP139 was the business car for the Superintendent of the Sacramento Division on the SP. 

During 1952 M. L. Jennings was superintendent of the Sacramento Division. When the City of San Francisco was stranded in the snow in the Sierra Nevada’s on January 13, 1952, the Sacramento served as SP’s base of operations for the rescue efforts to free the train. You can learn more about the rescue of the City of San Francisco in the web links on the right side of this page. 

At an unknown time the car was released for use by maintenance of way and renumbered Southern Pacific (SP) #MW 5441. Acquired by PLA, July 1975; Moved to Niles Canyon in big move of Jan 8, 2005. 

This car has undergone some restoration work and contains beautiful wood paneling. In March of 2025, the car was pulled from long term storage and is under evaluation for restoration.

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Southern Pacific #139 in service on June 6, 2014 during our Steamfest III celebration. The 139 was used on several different excursions that week. This side of the car had been repainted for this event as it is seen here at Hearst siding as part of the Steamfest III had short trips operated east of Sunol.
Photo by Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
SP #139 sits in Sunol pulling up the markers of our 4th of July Members Special – 07.04.2014
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
The #139 as photographed on 03.09.2025 after being pulled from long term storage for evaluation for restoration. Interested in helping us bring the #139 back to its former glory, please contact us so we can see how you can help.
Photo by: Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
The view our of the rear of the #139 as it sat in Sunol Station during Steamfest III. 06.13.2014
Image by Christopher Hauf – Used with permission
During the 2014 restoration work that was started, an archeological sanding was done to find the original car lettering. Two different sets of lettering for ‘SACRAMENTO’ were found representing different eras of the car.
08.09.2014
Image by Christopher Hauf – Used with permission