Wichita Museum Converting Baggage Car Into Multipurpose Space

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The Wichita Great Plains Transportation Museum is converting a 1953 passenger train baggage car into a multipurpose space that can host birthday parties, educational tours, corporate and organizational gatherings. The $70,000 project includes a new steel roof, flooring, interior walls, electrical wiring, HVAC system, and furnishings to transform the 73-foot-8-inch car.

Why it matters

The museum's conversion of the donated Amtrak baggage car will provide a unique, versatile space for the Wichita community to utilize, expanding the museum's offerings beyond just transportation exhibits and displays.

The details

Buckley Roofing donated and installed a new $12,500 steel roof, replacing the original one that was damaged prior to Amtrak donating the car to GPTM in 2020. Removal of worn flooring material is underway, with a new floor forthcoming, followed by installation of new, laminated, sheet steel, interior walls. The car will also receive new electrical wiring, an HVAC system for year-round guest comfort, additional interior finish work and new furnishings appropriate for the car's multipurpose use.

• Amtrak donated the 1953 passenger train baggage car to the Great Plains Transportation Museum in 2020.
• Buckley Roofing donated and installed a new $12,500 steel roof in 2026.

What’s next

The museum plans to complete the $70,000 conversion project by the end of 2026, including installing a new floor, interior walls, electrical, HVAC, and furnishings.