A few weeks ago there was some discussion about the Rail City Museum here. I have now been able to borrow a copy of The Railfan's Guide to Museum and Park Displays by Randolph Kean.

There is too much to type out But if anyone wants to know about a specific engine or car I can look it up for you.

Further, did anyone ever know Mr. Kean? His book is a pioneering study of preservation in the rail field. Both because of the early date cira 1873; but also he covered everything smain line steam, traction, logging, short lines, you name it!

The book is spiral bound; I surmise he wanted to do later editions, but have only seen the one year. Also, he seems to have been associated with the National Capital Trolley Museum.

Getting back to Rail City; I woder where the French Merci car went to? There has been discussion about them here and I believe a web site is running now. And also where are the Huntington and East Broadtop cars now? They must have been late 19th century wooden cars.

Ted Miles



ted_miles@nps.gov

> Further, did anyone ever know Mr. Kean? His
> book is a pioneering study of preservation
> in the rail field.

> And also where are
> the Huntington and East Broadtop cars now?
> They must have been late 19th century wooden
> cars.

Mr. Kean's "Railfans Guide to Museum & Park Displays" is a rather remarkable compendium, especially considering it was published 30 years ago, before the internet made information gathering so easy.

The Huntingdon & Broad Top combine at Rail City was a 1929 Brill gas-electric. It was wrecked in 1942 and the power plant was not rebuilt, so the railroad simply towed it around with a steam engine thereafter. I believe it went to another museum in New York state following the Rail City auction.

Alan Maples

AMaples@aol.com

Ted,

Thank you for the offer of info. I do have two specific questions:

How many steam locomotives were at RC that were not saddletankers?

Was there any wooden frieght rolling stock?

Rob

trains@robertjohndavis.com

> Ted,

> Thank you for the offer of info. I do have
> two specific questions:

> How many steam locomotives were at RC that
> were not saddletankers?

> Was there any wooden frieght rolling stock?

> Rob

IIRC, Solvay Process 0-6-0 #25, H&BTM 2-8-0 #38 and NPRR 2-6-0 #11 are the only non-saddletankers that come to mind, other than a saddletanker or two without the saddletank!!

drotarinoh@webtv.net

Randy Kean was very active at National Capital Trolley Museum in the 1960s and early 1970s. He lead the crew (mostly himself) that rebuilt JTCo 352 the first time, prioir to the opening of the Museum in 1969. Randy also published several manuscripts on a variety of regional topics. I believe he was also part owner of a Lynchburg Master Unit body - maybe the one now at Seashore? (Can anyone confirm this?) I recall Randy died from cancer in the 1980s.

Wesley Paulson

> A few weeks ago there was some discussion
> about the Rail City Museum here. I have now
> been able to borrow a copy of The Railfan's
> Guide to Museum and Park Displays by
> Randolph Kean.

> There is too much to type out But if anyone
> wants to know about a specific engine or car
> I can look it up for you.

> Further, did anyone ever know Mr. Kean? His
> book is a pioneering study of preservation
> in the rail field. Both because of the early
> date cira 1873; but also he covered
> everything smain line steam, traction,
> logging, short lines, you name it!

> The book is spiral bound; I surmise he
> wanted to do later editions, but have only
> seen the one year. Also, he seems to have
> been associated with the National Capital
> Trolley Museum.

> Getting back to Rail City; I woder where the
> French Merci car went to? There has been
> discussion about them here and I believe a
> web site is running now. And also where are
> the Huntington and East Broadtop cars now?
> They must have been late 19th century wooden
> cars.

> Ted Miles


National Capital Trolley Museum

Rob,

The non tank engines were the Bath&Hammondsport #11, 1920 by Alco (Cooke), c/n 62635.

There was also the Surry, Sussex & Southampton 24
built by BLM in 1920, c/n 53795, 36"

The cars were the Huntington & East Broadtop wooden combine ex gas car.

Huntington& East Broadtop 17 no data given

Long Island RR Caboose 5436 not sure if its wood or steel


ted_miles@nps.gov

> There was also the Surry, Sussex &
> Southampton 24
> built by BLM in 1920, c/n 53795, 36"

I had heard that this locomotive survived from the SS&S Ry and the Gray Lumber Co., but I was never really convinced! Back in 1959 the old RAILROAD magazine published a list of then-preserved US steam locomotives and listed "ex-SS&S Ry, Gray Lumber 21 [sic]" as being at the Rail City Museum at that time. IIRC (I don't have his book handy to be sure) Dave Conrad also noted this locomotive in his directory's "recent losses" list, but IIRC it was listed as being someplace else (VA??) when scrapped. I think the scrap date was listed as being sometime around 1970.

Anyone know for sure the story concerning SS&S Ry 24? Did it actually survive all way to 1970, only to be cut up?

The fate of 24's twin sister, ex-Gray Lumber exx-SS&S Ry 26, is well known. 26 was acquired from Gray Lumber by an individual who stored it privately in New Jersey for many years. Still under private ownership, 26 was moved to the Pine Creek RR at Allaire State Park, NJ and was restored to operation during the early 1970's (it's currently sidelined pending repairs). If the 24 did survive until 1970, it's too bad the NJMT /PCK RR didn't get a hold of it--they would have had bookends!!

Regards,
Jim Robinson