Illinois Car Works has been given the honor of finding a home for an 1889 Jackson & Sharp Day Coach currently in the care of a railroad historical group. The car was originally part of a 1889, 30 car order for the Quebec Montmorency and Charlevoix Railway in Quebec, Canada, which later became the Quebec Railway Light & Power. This car transitioned into the Steamtown collection until moving into private ownership.

E-mail illinoiscarworks@outlook.com for further information on this car and requirements for the Request For Proposal.

Photo of an identical coach #128 can be viewed on Facebook/Illinois Car Works.

Are current photos of the car available? These would be very useful for organizations to decide whether to make an official inquiry... better to weed out the dreamers quickly.

Would you have any dimensional data on the car, height, overall length, wheelbase, weight, etc? It looks as though it should be an easy move with a railway bed float, but this would have a tremendous impact on whether an organization is interested enough to follow up.

Thanks,

Steve Hunter

I also have an interested party; the first question out of their mouths is "where is it now"?

A state or reasonably nearby city/area will suffice.

I will post information including rough dimensions and several current photos tomorrow here and on Facebook/Illinois Car Works. The car is currently in the Philadelphia, PA area.

Rough dimensions are 45 ft over buffers, about 13.5 ft from top of rail, 9.5 ft wide. The car is on early 1900s traction trucks. A proposal will be required to be submitted. The details tomorrow.

Thanks- it would be a very simple move, even easier if a route with 15'6" clearances allowed a roll on- roll off trip using a railway bed float.

I'll pass the info on.

Steve Hunter

This car has been in dry storage on rail since 2005 in the Philadelphia, PA area with work being done on it until 2009. This car is now available, and as part of the acquisition includes $16,000 worth of specially milled poplar siding, exterior and interior trim of poplar (exterior) and ash (interior), new oak platform beams, new rough cut oak buffers, pine steps and risers, square headed bolts and nuts, and roofing material. There may be 4 (four) early 1900s Pullman electric coach lights and 10 (ten) restored Dayton Car Seats available. The car was placed on early 1900s traction trucks at some point by QRL&P and the air brakes are early 1900s P-1.
The Illinois Car Works is accepting proposals from potential buyers for the restoration and final use of this car. Proposals will be reviewed by ICW and acceptable proposals will then then be forwarded to the car’s owner for final review. This car is not available for parting out as the condition is too good for that and any such proposals will be deemed non-acceptable.

All interested parties need to submit a written proposal for evaluation of the best group to purchase this car. The proposal needs to include the proposed transfer of the coach from the current owners, your qualifications to purchase this car, an outline for the future plans for the car's restoration, its storage and preservation plan, and its eventual use.
Some of these items are in storage, and not original to the car, but may also be available depending on your needs.

This coach cannot be moved on the US rail system due to its age and construction. It will need to be moved by flatbed to your location or trucked to live rail for shipment by flatcar. You would need to determine and fund the shipping and rigging costs for movement in addition to the acquisition of the coach. There are railcar movers in the area. The coach is approx 45 ft long, 10 ft wide, 13+ ft high from top of rail, and weights approx 47,000 lb.

We can arrange for an examination of the car. Should you have further interest we can provide a list of materials on hand for the car's restoration.

You should address the proposal to the Illinois Car Works. ICW will review the proposals, and forward qualified proposals to the owner after they have been vetted.

You should submit 2 (two) hardcopies and electronic copy in Microsoft Word 2007 or 2010 for review.

Photos of the coach can be provided upon request

Forward any questions by e-mail to be answered to.
Illinois Car Works
200 S. Niles Ave
Tuscola, IL 61953
illinoiscarworks@outlook.com


The particulars of the car are: Plain Arched Roof, all wood frame, P-1 brakes, length over buffers 52'2" (couplers length extra), body width 9'8", body length 46' +/-, body wheelbase at king pins 32'10", top of rail to platform 4', top of rail to top of roof 12'6", wheel diameter 33", truck wheelbase 5'10". These are as close as possible.

Current photos in next message.

Current photos of the Jackson & Sharp Coach #124 have been posted at Facebook/Illinois Car Works.