One of the more unique cars on my layout is a model of the Union Pacific Railroad's photography car as used by J.B Silvis. In the late 1800s, cameras weren't worn around your neck. They were big and heavy. This was also before the invention of film, so cameras used wet plate glass for negatives, which needed to be promptly developed in a dark room after exposure.
This technology, which yielded amazing detail in its time, lead photographers to roam about the countryside with a wagon dedicated to their trade. When constructing the transcontinental railroad, it made sense to cart the company photographer with the trains and the UPRR photography car was born.
The car was reasonably basic, essentially a four-wheel caboose that had been modified to include living quarters, a darkroom and a portrait studio. A skylight in the roof illuminated the studio.
The CPRR.org website has some excellent information about J B Silvis and this car. Be sure to check it out it.
The model is by Roundhouse/MDC. Out of the box, the model includes decals which are pretty close to the prototype. I modified the car by adding the skylight. I couldn't find any images of the top of skylight, so used some spare windows I had in my kitbashing box and inferred what it may look like.
I replaced the wheelsets with Walthers 33" proto wheelsets and reamed the trucks out so that it rolled easily.
It often spends its time parked on a siding. But occasionally it will be coupled to a passenger or freight train and moved to a different location. Just another way that modelling the turn of the 19th century adds brings something a little different operating the railroad.
