Hello,

I'm looking for information regarding a Chicago & North Western Narrow Gauge coach # 2743 that was dismantled and moved to the California State Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum (Los Angeles) in the late 1979. It was used on a farm outside of Fennimore, Wisconsin after abandonment of the "dinky." The "Dinky" book by Condon and Felten makes reference to this coach as having an indefinite disposition, but the car was shipped to this museum with intent of reassembly and restoration. I cannot find any contact information for the place. If anyone knows where this car went, I'm in need of information. I will be in California next month and I would like to find and see it if it still exists.

Thanks,

Tim

This group was trying to develope a museum about 25-30 years ago. I seem to recall that the equpment was stored someplace up in the Antelope Valley.

During the 1990s four cars that the group had were privately purchased and then donated to Orange Empire. These were a West Side Lumber caboose and three Rio Grande cars.

I've got a feeler out to find out some more information.

I inquired about the car and I am told that all that remains of the car body are a few roof ribs, etc. It was a rough car body when it came west without any trucks, etc.

That's too bad. I had hoped to hear that it was in more-complete condition. If only roof ribs are left, I suppose it's safe to call it scrapped.

Erich

There might be more that roof ribs. It was discribed to me as "roof stuff." So maybe some other clearestory parts. But not any car sides, etc.

The person, as interested he is in other things railroad and narrow gauge, did not lament the passing of the car.

For what it's worth, one of the Dinky's boxcars is preserved and on display at Mid-Continent in North Freedom, Wisc. As I recall, it's not
sitting on it's original trucks, but otherwise I beleive the car is complete and original.

There is another one in Fennimore. Is it authentic C&NW or a stand-in?

Visible here:
http://www.shownontheweb.com/RR/html/fennimore_railroad_historical__4.html

Erich[/url]

Here are the two pieces at Mid-Continent:

Box car #10:
http://www.midcontinent.org/collectn/woodfrt/cnw10.html

Combination #1099:
http://www.midcontinent.org/collectn/woodpas/cnw1099.html

Erich

The boxcar at Fennimore is authentic. It was used as a farm shed. Nice people but they don't see the need to keep old cars under cover.

Hi Brian,

Thank you for the information about the car. I inquired about it on this site about 5 years ago and no one had any information at the time. It's a shame that it fell apart. The 1960's photos of the body in the book "The Dinky" seem (notice the qualifier 'seem') to show it in reasonable and restorable condition. I guess 30 years can really turn a restorable project into a pile of sawdust. It's a shame that it didn't go to midcontinent in the first place. It would have had more relevance there and may have survived.

Charles