Built as NKP Boxcar in 1917, car converted to NKP tool car, becoming N&W 550110.
Car has wooden body, with steel underframe. Car has been at museum since
1989. Serious wood problem on outside, inside is restorable. Has been outside
in the weather and never had a chance to work on it. Last couple of years
it has been tarped. Car has trucks, brakes system intact, but unkown if they work.

Car is slated for scrap shortly. Price would be what scrap value is worth. Must
provide own shipping via truck.

http://hvrm.railfan.net/
hvrm@yahoo.com
574-896-3950

Tom Travis HVRM Restoration North Judson IN

Folks -

Tom originally posted the above 18 months ago. Since that time, we have had a couple of inquiries about the car from museums, and also from a private individual. Nothing has panned out, even though HVRM has said that the car would be offered free to someone who would be willing to take the car and undertake its restoration. The Board decided at a meeting yesterday, that the car will be burned and the remaining steel parts scrapped. Tom and I still believe that the car could be saved by an organization or individual that has a committment to it. Failing that, there seems little that can be done to convince our Board to see the car saved.

Tom or I would be glad to try to answer any questions.

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railrod Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

In case anyone cares, this is what the car would have looked like in 1927:

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/sh ... 27/cat/533

While it was a NKP car, the same plan was used to build auto boxcars for the NYC, MC, CCC&StL and LE&W.

Ray -

Thanks very much for the photo. We know of course, that the car was originally Nickel Plate Road, but have had conflicting reports whether it was actually built for the NKP itself, or possibly for the Lake Erie & Western. It would be nice if we knew the original number. When the Nickel Plate converted the car from a box car to NKP tool car #X50110 in September of 1947, they removed the center side doors and put a small sliding door at the opposite ends of the car; one on each side. A couple of small windows were put in each side for interior light. They also cut a door through the center of both steel ends for access to adjoining cars. We have a photo of the car after it became N&W #550110 when she was still in excellent condition. The photo was probably taken at Frankfort, Indiana which is where the museum found her, along with 5 other pieces of retired equipment, all of which were donated to the museum. Most of the Nickel Plate's wood maintenance-of-way equipment met the torch rather quickly after the N&W took over the railroad. Wood bodied X50110 was a rare survivor.

Les