Great ideas all around, popping up everywhere. You've given us tons to think about. My sincere thanks! Jim

http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

If you can't get #1401 out of the Smithsonian,then how about High Point,Thomasville & Denton RR 70 tonner #202 (L&S/Franklin County #105) in Rural Hall?

tsridenhour@ptmc.net

Jim,

There are 6 Lawndale Boxcars still in existence, including one on display at Metcalf's Station (museum, with original trucks), and one at the Lawndale Museum sitting on std gauge trucks. Those are probably not going anywhere. There are 4 others owned privately. Note that in addition to their "Lawndale Heritage", most of them are also ex- Chester & Lenoir Narrow Gauge (subsequently Carolina & North-Western) cars, the largest narrow gauge in either Carolina. These would be well worth saving, and much of the original hardware is still intact on most of these cars. I can put you in contact with folks in Cleveland County. Also, there is a park in New Jersey that has an ET&WNC boxcar (less trucks) that would go great with the ET&WNC combine on-hand. There is also an ET&WNC boxcar in Roan Mtn, TN that could probably be had as well.

There is a strong possibility that one or more of the last Carolina & North-Western cars, a ballast hopper, is still in service with NS. There is a pic of one of these cars at www.tarheelpress.com

One of the SR high-side gons that were/are in unit coal train service, as well as a radio control car, might make a useful display on commodity railroading as well. A "Big John" covered hopper would as well. Or maybe even an SR pig flat with some SR Intermodal trailers onboard. Would fit nicely with the NC "Transportation" musuem.

Either Cliffside loco is a great suggestion. The one in New Jersey, occasionally lettered instead for the Lancaster & Chester, sure would look good on excursion run back thru her ol stomping grounds in nearby South Carolina. I like the idea of an Alexander Alco, though both of them are still in active service, and probably will be for the next ten years or so. I have heard rumors that the ex-Yancey RR 44 tonner at Great Lakes Carbon in Morganton is about to be put up for sale.

On the modern side, how about a Southern Railway GP38-2 in her Tuxedo scheme? Very prevalant engine that would look great with the GP-30, and new enough to be damn useful as well! Of course, another SR FP-7 or E-8, pulling a string of streamlined SR passenger cars is a nice image as well.

Anyway, keep up the great work as always.

Matt

stealthnfo@aol.com