I recently ran accross a press release from the D.C. Booth National Historic Fish Hatchery in Spearfish, SD stating (eroneously) that that have to only existing railroad fish stocking car. I know that Mid-Continent Railway Museum also has one. Anyone know if any more still exist? Thanks in advance for any info.

Allan

Wisconsin Fish Commission #2

ddg14@attbi.com

The Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, IL owns the fish car "Nautilus" (or "Nautulis" according to their roster page) that was used by the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Their roster says it was built by Thrall in 1957, and is ex-C&EI #304.

Frank Hicks

Monticello Railway Museum roster page
fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

There was a plan to turn one of the two ex DL*W MU parlor cars into a replica fish car in southern New York State. Did that ever happen?

It would be a shame, since electric heavy-rail parlors are not exactly everyday pieces.

Rob


Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com

> There was a plan to turn one of the two ex
> DL*W MU parlor cars into a replica fish car
> in southern New York State. Did that ever
> happen?

There was a plan to re-create a NYO&W trout stocking car using another piece of equipment. This was to be on display next to the caboose at Roscoe, NY. I think this project is still active.

> It would be a shame, since electric
> heavy-rail parlors are not exactly everyday
> pieces.

Those subscription parlor cars are a crime unto themselves. I saw them in dead storage at Ridgefield Park, NJ in the early 1990's. Windows were left open and nothing was being done to protect them. The last time I saw them you could observe the mahogany inlay curling up and away from the walls with water damage and some scary looking "growth" in the rattan parlor seats. When I was (indirectly) involved I tried to convince the powers that be to invest in boarding up the windows, but was told it was "low priority". Unless I am wrong, those two cars are beyond the point of no return. Or, as I like to say about it, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions".



Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society
tstuy@eldcps.org

Lackawanna MU club cars #2453 and #2454 are owned by the United Railroad Historical Society.

http://www.urhs.org/pictures/dlw_2453.jpg
http://www.urhs.org/pictures/dlw_2454.jpg

Club car #2451 is owned by the Ontario & Western Historical Society in Roscoe, NY. I don't know much about the car's condition, but if you're right about plans to build a replica "fish car" then the MU car in question must be #2451.

Frank Hicks


fullparallel@wideopenwest.com

> I recently ran accross a press release from
> the D.C. Booth National Historic Fish
> Hatchery in Spearfish, SD stating
> (eroneously) that that have to only existing
> railroad fish stocking car.

When I visited the site above in 1997, some restoration work was being done to modify a passenger car into a "fish car". I was even given a tour of the unfinished interior construction. I believe that it would qualify as a replica by our standards.

wyld@sbcglobal.net

Booth Hatchery
wyld@sbcglobal.net

So far it sounds like Mid-Continent's fish car is the only authentic (non-replica) wood fish car still around. And Monticello Railway Museum has a streamlined car. Do any heavyweight fish cars exist?

Allan

ddg14@attbi.com