Kansas City Southern Lines Good Cheer
Tavern-lounge-observation built 1940, rebuilt 1949

The Good Cheer is a classic round-end streamlined observation car, built in 1940 for service between Kansas City, Texarkana and New Orleans on the KCS streamliner Southern Belle.

As built by Pullman-Standard, the car was configured as a diner-lounge.  The all-aluminum car was rebuilt to its present configuration by American Car & Foundry in 1949.  In the early 1960s, the car was bumped from Southern Belle service and ran on KCS's secondary service between Shreveport, Louisiana, and Port Arthur, Texas.  The car was donated to the Gulf Coast Railroad Museum by Kansas City Southern in 1968.

We are conducting a fundraising campaign in support of the restoration of the Good Cheer.  Major structural repairs have been completed, and the car is back in Houston for completion of the restoration work. Click here to download a PDF donation/pledge form and a Good Cheer 2008 Calendar!

In the photo below (taken a few years ago), Gulf Coast Chapter member Paul L. DeVerter II signals "highball" from the Good Cheer's vestibule for departure from Houston Union Station.

Above, the Good Cheer preparing to depart Houston on Amtrak's Texas Eagle.  Gulf Coast Chapter - NRHS is in the process of restoring the Good Cheer.  Your donations are welcome.  Click here for more information.

Below, a Good Cheer tavern table set in the classic manner with Eagle china from the Missouri Pacific.

Above, Good Cheer at the Gulf Coast Chapter's original home, Houston Union Station.  Below, a KCS time table from 1967.  By this time, the Good Cheer was providing the food service on trains 15 and 16, the Kansas City to Port Arthur service.

Above, the Good Cheer carried the rear markers for the inaugural runs of the Tex Mex Express.

Below, an ACF builder's photo of one of the observation interiors after the 1949 rebuild.

Back to Roster Index

Back to Home Page