Trailer turning toward the iron bridge.
Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
CHESTER — The historic Pullman car from Bernie’s Dining Depot was on the move again on Nov. 25, headed to its new home at the Chester Railway Station and Museum.
The car traveled on the road — not the railroad — on the Massachusetts Turnpike and Route 20 through Westfield.
It wasn’t expected to get all the way to the museum, said Dave Pierce, president of the museum and the Chester Foundation. It’ll take a few weeks to navigate one final hairpin curve, as Lower Prospect Street in Chester swoops under the railroad.
Once in place, the museum will renovate the railcar into an event space.
Iron Mt. Iron Company successfully hauls Bernie’s Dining Car over the iron bridge on Maple Street in Chester on Nov. 25. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) 
Not quite making the turn onto the iron bridge from Route 20. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) 
Chester Highway Superintendent Charles Dazelle gives it a go with the town’s CAT. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) 
Drivers looking at the next challenge – the Prospect St. underpass. Red’s Towing will take the train car off the trailer and push and pull it through from behind and in front. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) 
Successfully parked across the tracks from the Chester Railway Station. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) 
Red’s Towing repositions the trailer. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS) 
Red’s Towing of West Springfield backs up to help. (AMY PORTER / THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
Bernie’s closed in 2022, and the real estate in Chicopee has been sold to new owners who are developing their own restaurant concept for the location. They donated the car to the museum.
The Chester museum already has an early steam engine, two boxcars with museum articles to study, a Baker’s Chocolate tanker and a Blue Caboose kitchen with two cook stoves, which is also available for parties.
Campers can also rent out a caboose for overnight stays.
The 1862 restored station was part of the Western Railway, an engineering marvel of the age when it was completed through the Berkshires in 1841.
The rail lines’ Keystone Arch stone bridges over the Westfield River area are popular for hikes.
Following a planning meeting on Dec. 8, tentative plans were made to move the car to the station on Dec. 22, weather depending.
- Amy Porter
- Amy Porter
- Amy Porter
- Amy Porter
- Amy Porter
- Amy Porter
- Amy Porter
