Dinwiddie County Pullman Car
Also known as: DHR File No. 20-23
Why it's listed
Dinwiddie County is a heavyweight, all-steel Pullman sleeping car kept at Hallsboro Yard near Midlothian, Virginia. Completed in Chicago on 30 October 1926 as the Mount Angeles, it was the first of thirty cars built to a ten-section, one-observation-lounge plan, a departure from Pullman's standard twelve-section, one-drawing-room car. It was renamed in 1934 and again in 1937 when assigned to Norfolk and Western service in Virginia. Changes over time include air-conditioning added in 1937, a vestibule and diaphragm fitted in the 1930s so it could run anywhere in a train, and roller-style lubricator pads installed in 1970. The lounge furniture, made in Pullman's shops, remains original. Only this car and one other of its type are known to survive. The Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society bought it in 1965. It was listed for its place in rail travel history and as a well-preserved example of steel railcar construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the car is an excellent example of a heavyweight steel sleeping car and a rare survivor, since only two of the thirty cars built to this plan are known to exist. It has high integrity and retains its original furnishings. A later amendment clarifies significance for both transportation history and engineering construction, under Criteria A and C.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91000834, listed July 3, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Hallsboro Yard, NE of jct. of VA 606 and VA 671, Midlothian |
|---|---|
| County | Chesterfield County |
| Listed | July 3, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000834 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1926-1940 |
| Architect / builder | The Pullman Company |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned privately; the car retains its Edison batteries, generator and original lounge furnishings, and was sold in 1965 to the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.48326, -77.73595 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91000834.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712238
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.