Crew Cars
Willie James
The Willie James was built in 1950 by the Budd Company as a 10-roomette, 6-bedroom sleeper, the Pacific Domain. In 1973, it was rebuilt and numbered 202. The car was renamed the Cabarton in 1980 by John C. Kenefick, then Union Pacific Railroad’s president, in honor of R.L. Richmond, Union Pacific's then vice president of operations.
Richmond's father began his railroad career as a Union Pacific carman in Cabarton, Idaho. The town was named for C.A. Barton, general manager of the Boise & Payette Lumber Company in the early 1920s. It's located on the former Idaho Northern Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad in a major lumber area.
The car was renamed Willie James in January 2009 to honor long-time business car chef Willie James. James started his railroad career as a business car chef in 1984 with Union Pacific Railroad in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston. He was transferred to Omaha in 1999 and held the same position throughout his career. James has worked on all of Union Pacific’s Heritage Fleet dining cars over the years, though his favorite car to prepare meals on was the Cabarton.
This rail car is constructed of stainless steel and is one of two such cars remaining in Union Pacific's fleet. The other stainless steel constructed rail car is the business car Sunset.
The support staff for special train operations uses the Willie James as a command post, and the rail car is typically found toward the front of a special passenger train consist. A dining room/lounge area and a large kitchen provide meal service to all special train personnel, which can include up to 40 people for a meal.