Stopped at the Oilville exit of of I-64 (West of Richmond) this afternoon to get some gas, when I noticed a faded red Pullman sleeper sitting in a field, behind an old gas station. It sits inside a fenced in compound, and is posted with No Trespassing signs, so I did'nt investigate any further. Does anyone know the heritage and/or the owner of this car? I would like to get some photos, sometime.
Thanks!

Russell Underwood

Jay611@home.com

The car was once part of a bank in richmond. When the bank was closed it was sold at auction along with other rr artifacts. I will try to locate the original rr owner as I remember seeing it somewhere but need to do some hunting. Feel free to contact me by e-mail.


dieselmouse@att.net

> The car was once part of a bank in richmond.
> When the bank was closed it was sold at
> auction along with other rr artifacts.

Thanks! I stopped at the same location last year to shoot a steam powered tractor that was sitting next to the road. I was looking at the slide tonight, and the Pullman car does not appear to be in place in the shot. So, I'd have to say it has been placed there within the last year.

BTW, which bank, and what other artifacts?
Thanks!

Jay611@home.com

I cant find the newspaper clipping that stated the heritage of the car but I believe it might have been southern. The bank was called heritage s&l and has been closed for 10+ years. Their branches each had an oldtime theme, millhouse, a windmill, gas station and the depot with the pullman. When they went bankrupt they auctioned the car and artifacts used as decorations. The car was moved to a shopping center in oilville and then recently to the site it is now which contains other old buildings that were moved from their original location due to "modernization". There is an antique steam tractor meet there every year.

dieselmouse@att.net

Thanks Mike!
The meet is next week, if I remember the signs correctly. I thought I might go to the show to see what I can find out about the collection of equipment there. From what I could see of the car, and knowing what roads served Richmond, I would also say Southern, or RF&P. A quick peek under the car should answer the heritage question, unless it has been repainted. Still no response from the ODC historian. I'll post whatever he sends.

Russell Underwood


Jay611@home.com

> Thanks Mike!
> The meet is next week, if I remember the
> signs correctly. I thought I might go to the
> show to see what I can find out about the
> collection of equipment there. From what I
> could see of the car, and knowing what roads
> served Richmond, I would also say Southern,
> or RF&P. A quick peek under the car
> should answer the heritage question, unless
> it has been repainted. Still no response
> from the ODC historian. I'll post whatever
> he sends.

> Russell Underwood

The event this weekend that you speak of is a truck/tractor pull. The main event is "Field Day of the Past" and is in September.

The railroad car is not original inside. The restaurant converted it into a cocktail lounge/waiting area for people to use while waiting for dinner, but I never saw anyone actually using it. I don't know if the bank made any earlier changes to the interior.

rwilkes@saturn.vcu.edu