In the 1940s, the former McKeen Motor Car #22 had been retired from its life carrying passengers on the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Like many other former rail cars around the country, it was converted into a restaurant. Here is the interior of the McKeen when it was known as Denny’s Diner. This was located next door to the Richfield station on Carson Street, north of William. A waitress poses at the counter, with stools along the right side. A couple of slot machines are along the wall, and through the door in the back is another dining room. The distinctive round windows of the McKeen Car can still be seen.
McKeen #22 served as diners in a few different places around town, and then served as part of a plumbing supply store. In 1996 the car was brought to the Nevada State Railroad museum, and in 2010 it debuted at the museum, fully restored to its former glory and operational condition. The middle section of the rail car here is where the counter and kitchen used to be.
Here is a photo of the back dining room, located in the curved rear section of the car. This area has also been lovingly restored, with replica seating replacing the aluminum tables.
Years ago, I was driving in Carson City and looked over at a plumbing shop and thought “That looks like the lost McKean Car I just read about”! I stopped in at the Railroad Museum and told them my suspicions and left. A few weeks later, I read the car had been found. Yeah, right. Found. I’ll bet Carson locals knew where it was for years!