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 Post subject: Re: Existing Wabash passenger equipment
PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 11:26 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 29, 2004 4:49 pm
Posts: 521
Yes, at Lake State Ry. It gets to live indoors normally so it is not generally visible unless it is on a trip.


Last edited by Topfuel on Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Existing Wabash passenger equipment
PostPosted: Sat Nov 27, 2021 12:59 pm 
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Joined: Thu May 05, 2016 6:30 pm
Posts: 238
Dome car 1602 is in storage near Taylorville, Illinois.

Thomas

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 Post subject: Re: Existing Wabash passenger equipment
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 7:09 pm 

Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:19 pm
Posts: 267
Wabash 1510, a lounge-buffet car, survives at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo hotel. It was last reported to be used as a lounge as part of an up-scale restaurant on site. I think there is a good potential that the car retains its interior fixtures, as the (former New York Central) dining cars on-site retain many elements of their in-service interiors. 

However, it has been out of retail service for many years. The hotel is currently being redeveloped (as discussed here) and the car should be regarded as endangered as other passenger cars are currently being demolished on site. 

According to the roster of passenger car equipment as of January 1962, published in Donald Heimburger's book Wabash, Pullman built the car in 1927 and it was rebuilt in 1933. At that time, it had seating for 45. Unlike other modernized heavyweights owned by the Wabash, it received a streamlined roof.  

A photo of it in Norfolk & Western service may be viewed here: https://www.nwhs.org/archivesdb/detail.php?ID=168820

A 2021 photo of the car may be viewed here: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=5555183


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 Post subject: Re: Existing Wabash passenger equipment
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2022 8:41 pm 

Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:19 am
Posts: 702
Location: Scottsboro, AL
Thomas Cornillie wrote:
Wabash 1510, a lounge-buffet car, survives at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo hotel. It was last reported to be used as a lounge as part of an up-scale restaurant on site. I think there is a good potential that the car retains its interior fixtures, as the (former New York Central) dining cars on-site retain many elements of their in-service interiors. 


The 1510 has suffered considerable corrosion and water damage over the years and I almost fell through the floor when I inspected it a few months ago. Certainly repairable, but at considerable expense if the car was to be returned to service.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and others have been working quietly with the various parties involved with the hotel renovation to secure the best possible outcome for the railcars on site. Plans have changed from week to week but as of now it appears most of the cars, including the 1510, will be retained but repositioned.

- Alan Maples


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Wabash 1510 Lounge Car July 27 2022 Chattanooga TN.jpg
Wabash 1510 Lounge Car July 27 2022 Chattanooga TN.jpg [ 102.41 KiB | Viewed 1124 times ]
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 Post subject: Re: Existing Wabash passenger equipment
PostPosted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 1:06 am 

Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:19 pm
Posts: 267
Alan, thank you for sharing that photo and your account of the inspection. Did you happen to look at the electrical cabinet?

Here is the big picture I see with this car: Moving it (both the move and the preparation and stabilization) is significant for any museum. Likewise, the work to stabilize the car so it can be accessed and the long-term work to restore it to operation will also be a massive multi-year project.  Yes, the rust is bad, but it is outperforming considering it has sat in a damp climate for 50+ years. This is a trade-off that comes with benign neglect. 

What makes this car special in 2022 is that it looks like most (all?) of the fixtures and parts are there. There aren't many passenger cars anywhere in the country that have 60-year-old curtains and upholstery intact. All of that would make for an excellent interpretive exhibit on the experience of mid-20th century train travel in the Midwest—a time when many of the cities served by the Wabash and the enlarged Norfolk & Western reached their peak population and economic output. Looking at this photo of Detroit's Fort St. Depot reminds one just how far away that time is from 21st century America: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgf-3YZlyLw/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D

Conversely, if this car is modified (as the PRR P70 has been: https://www.yelp.com/biz/american-draft-Chattanooga), the historic integrity of the car will be compromised too. And, the developer will still have a retail space that isn't ADA compatible (and the legal cloud that comes with that) and many of the complications that come with having an old passenger car. Yes, the car would still appear on the roster of existent cars, but the loss of integrity makes it challenging to create an interpretive strategy that would interest grantors enough to contribute significantly to the acquisition and repair costs.

I'm glad that the developers have been in contact with some in the preservation community. However, the lack of fundraising efforts will be a major stumbling block for anything happening with this car or the NYC dining cars, which also seem to retain a high degree of integrity. 

For the benefit of future readers, other cars at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo are discussed on this thread: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=45619&p=332673#p332673


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