URHS Begins Restoration of New York Central Tavern-Lounge No. 37
Car to Enter Service in 2025 as Part of New Finger Lakes Rail Experience
The United Railroad Historical Society of New Jersey (URHS) announced today that it has officially begun restoration of New York Central Tavern-Lounge No. 37, a 1947 Budd-built stainless steel lounge car. Once complete, NYC 37 will become the fourth Amtrak-certified car in the organization’s growing fleet of operational historic railcars.
The car is currently undergoing a comprehensive renovation at URHS’s Boonton Yard. This work includes critical mechanical upgrades and a floor-to-ceiling refresh of the car’s interior. The restoration is being undertaken in phases, allowing NYC 37 to return to service in the short term while URHS continues the process of acquiring, rebuilding, and installing the necessary components for full Amtrak certification over the coming years.
“This approach allows us to share the car with the public right away while fundraising and progressing toward a full, historically-accurate restoration,” said URHS Executive Director Kevin Phalon. “URHS is committed to making public excursions a larger part of our programming, both on and off Amtrak, and the 37 is key to our growth.”
Historical views courtesy of the New York Central System Historical Society Archives
Work on NYC 37 is being performed by a dedicated team of URHS staff and volunteers, with specialty work being performed by AMC Rail. The completed car will feature a new interior inspired by New York Central’s classic dining and lounge car designs, configured for table seating during excursions. While operating on short lines, continued restoration work will include rebuilding wheels, trucks, and recreating historically accurate fixtures and furniture.
In 2025, NYC 37 will debut as part of the new Finger Lakes Rail Experience, a heritage tourism partnership between FMW Rail Operations, the Finger Lakes Railway, URHS, and other community partners. Upon completion of its Amtrak certification, the car will also become a key feature of URHS’s Hudson River Rail Excursions out of New York City, when those trips resume from their temporary hiatus.
NYC 37 is a prime example of postwar American passenger car innovation. Built by the Budd Company in 1947 as part of a lot of 13 Tavern-Lounge cars for the New York Central Railroad, it originally featured a wet-bar tavern section with booths and a lounge area with movable chairs, accommodating up to 47 passengers. As a pool lounge, it served on iconic trains such as the Empire State Express and the New England States.
Following its service with New York Central, the car was transferred to Penn Central and eventually to NJ Transit, which later donated the car to URHS. It holds a special place in the organization’s history as the first operational car in its collection. Many railfans will remember the car under the number 5450, when it ran lettered as “New Jersey Railroads” and later was dedicated in honor of NJ Assemblyman Alex DeCroce. It operated as a first-class car and mobile gift shop on excursions including behind the C&O 614 and during the final run of the U34CH.
This restoration project is made possible through generous support from the Emery Rail Heritage Trust, which awarded URHS a total of $30,000 in grants across 2024 and 2025.