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Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car
http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43134
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Author:  Alexander D. Mitchell IV [ Tue Mar 12, 2019 3:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

car57 wrote:
First i had ever heard of Rail Swap was today.... that's the problem right there those kind of web pages are very outdated and need overhauling. I run a buy sell and swap for items on a Facebook page which i hope helps in some way, many contacts come via Facebook these days.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1522658211333952/


Ignore the issues with people that refuse to touch Facebook with a 1000-foot DSL cable, can't/won't assess it at work, etc.:

It's a "Closed Group"--you have to apply and be granted permission to see what's in it.

That's kind of like advertising in a membership magazine that only members of the organization see.

As mentioned upthread, virtually nobody that anyone can take seriously goes out LOOKING FOR a baggage car--maybe a few more do for a caboose, but.......

Instead, this is about advertising an OPPORTUNITY.

I have seen at least two places that had railroad equipment to dispose of literally spraypaint "FREE TRAIN CAR" on the side of the equipment in question, with one placing a boxful of flyers with relevant info on a post next to it and another saying "Inquire within" in smaller letters. Neither was really "historic"--a box car and a tank car--but both somehow found local "suckers" who found something innovative and paid to move them off somewhere else. Now, there are some problems with appearance with a museum doing that--but maybe not............

Author:  car57 [ Tue Mar 12, 2019 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

Mr Michell ......Its a closed group that i monitor on and off 16 hours a day, easy just ask to join and i will approve you.....don't make a mountain out of a molehill, i dont want spam requests, i am trying at least. I have helped or saved more things than most people do in a lifetime in my 15 years in the USA and will try to help anyone else in the preservation world and am incredibly busy juggling it all.

Mike Pannell

Author:  hamster [ Wed Mar 13, 2019 5:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

Unfortunately, wood car restoration is mostly a game requiring patience, years of work and significant $$$. Just the effort to protect a car from deterioration while it waits for restoration is a major consideration. The number of collectors of wooden equipment has diminished significantly as the number of cars with high historical value gets smaller. I am sure that a place like Mid-Continent would like to have more vintage wood equipment, but a baggage car is a pretty low value artifact, even if it came from the home road. In fact, the cost of moving it even just 200 miles in the case of Mid-Continent would be problematic and increasing distance makes it even more difficult as the cost of transportation will far exceed the value of the artifact. We rail geeks may love the empty shell that is a baggage car, but the visiting public has no interest in that baggage car unless it is not empty and has been repurposed for gifts or concessions. Whoever suggested that the best use may be as a donor of increasingly scarce parts is probably right, in this case.

Author:  John Risley [ Wed Mar 13, 2019 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

Chuck you offer a point of view and it is well taken. But what is the condition of the car that you feel it should be a donor car? Not trying to be confrontational Chuck but ask in all honesty because while I see some of your points I also see the car as a historical pc that could easily be put to use as a display car like Mid Continents Wi Central baggage car. Your spot on about many of your points. So lets hear on why the car would probably be better off as a donor?

I talked to Bill Burmaster about this car and it was never mentioned that it was in bad shape {as far as wood cars go}. So I would like to know the details or thoughts on "why". I don't know of many C&NW wooden cars that survived. Though I admit I have not researched that comment. That is my interest in this car and seeing it saved. Regards, John.

Author:  hamster [ Wed Mar 13, 2019 11:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

John Risley wrote:
Chuck you offer a point of view and it is well taken. But what is the condition of the car that you feel it should be a donor car? Not trying to be confrontational Chuck but ask in all honesty because while I see some of your points I also see the car as a historical pc that could easily be put to use as a display car like Mid Continents Wi Central baggage car. Your spot on about many of your points. So lets hear on why the car would probably be better off as a donor?

I talked to Bill Burmaster about this car and it was never mentioned that it was in bad shape {as far as wood cars go}. So I would like to know the details or thoughts on "why". I don't know of many C&NW wooden cars that survived. Though I admit I have not researched that comment. That is my interest in this car and seeing it saved. Regards, John.

I guess that's what this thread is really all about. It is not about this specific car but about all heritage rolling stock. Everyone is interested in seeing cars like this saved but there doesn't seem to be anyone willing to put the rubber to the road. This restoration could be somewhere in excess of $75K, including transportation, and several years of work by a crew of volunteers. And therein lies the rub.

Author:  John Risley [ Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

Well thanks for your thoughts Chuck and again your points about cost both transportation, restoration and man hours is right on the money, no pun. As I mentioned before, if we start using "pure" logic we shall all cease and desist in this endeavor of rail preservation. I do not have the money to pay for this so I can't really say too much more about it.

Does anybody know the overall condition of the car besides commenting on the exterior paint? I hate when railfans comment on condition based on the peeling paint and rust showing. Actual physical condition is what I am asking about not cosmetics. Seeing the restoration of the East Jordan & Southern #2 http://www.midcontinent.org/members-bbs ... &mode=view and D&SSA #64 http://www.midcontinent.org/members-bbs ... &mode=view I agree with your comments about time, money and man hours. But I am a dreamer and can't help myself. The journey of a dream and turning it into reality is a long haul for sure. And I do realize we can't save everything and sometimes need to let go. But for me the idea of a wooden CNW car is a tough thing to let go of. Thanks for bringing up the reality points as they are indeed the major part of this "saving" historical rolling stock equation.

Regards, John.

Author:  Dennis Storzek [ Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

I'm surprised no one has commented on the condition... likely because no one really knows. For the last forty five years that I am familiar with, both wood 'baggage' cars (they were actually baggage-mail cars) have been kept water tight with tarpaper roofs and tarpaper patches applied where the siding was going bad, and kept painted. But, and it's a big but, I would expect pockets of rot in the side sills, especially in the vicinity of the doors. Of the two cars, the one up for disposition actually looks better. I'm not privy as to why they have decided to keep the 1901 car, but I'm sure there is a good reason. You should be able to view photos of both at irm.org in the equipment roster found under the LEARN tab. Sorry I can't include a direct link but that's beyond me smart phone ability.

Author:  Scranton Yard [ Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

Here's the link to the IRM website that Mr. Storzek mentioned for the CNW 1236 that is available. The photo album consists of five photos, all of which appear to be from March 2006.

http://www5.irm.org/cgi-bin/rsearch.cgi?coaches=Chicago+&+North+Western=1236

Author:  Chase [ Mon Mar 18, 2019 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Clock Ticking For 1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car

CTA4453 wrote:
1908 Wooden CNW Baggage Car Available

Also posted in the classifieds. This car needs to find a home SOON. Otherwise, it sadly may not be long for this world.

Please click the link above for more information.


How soon is soon?

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