There are pics of the paddlewheeler Lansdowne and the two Skytop lounge cars at www.shipspotting.com. Search for Lansdowne.Are there any efforts to save the two lounge cars, rumor has it that the ship is headed for scrap.

That is a shame. The Lansdowne is a rare item. Sidewheel steam, open deck ferry.OH my goodness, I just saw the photos. What a disgrace! They have destroyed her. All that is left is the hull and one engine. They ripped all the structure off.

I never got aboard the Lansdowne when it was a restaurant at Detroit, but I was given to understand that about twenty feet of each Skytop carside was cut off. (Although it's opposing sides on the two cars, so I suppose a committed restorer with a lot of welding rod could . . . )The wheels are welded to the boat rails, so a buyer will need wheelsets, too. And the woodworking abilities necessary for any Milwaukee Road car.

As Aarne kind of indicated, most of the damage was done when they turned her into a restuarant, actually. The Skytops were cut into pretty heavily, and the "superstructure" was actually added on --- most of her original materials were LONG gone even then. The other engine was there --- didn't know it was this bad though.TJ

There's a lot more than 20' cut away from the side of these cars. For all practical purposes, the entire left side of one car, and the entire right side of another, is cut away. Probably 55' worth at least. This was done from just before where the obs lounges would have been to just inboard of he vestibules. At least it appears they did not cut into the side sills or the side plates. The interiors are COMPLETELY gutted. So, at best they could be made into full lounge cars. There's few cars out there that are in this bad of shape that would be worth saving, but...........they ARE Skytops, and "there ain't too many of them around".

I think the most feasable plan to save these cars would be for somebody to acquire them for scrap value and market them to real estate developers for use in rail themed businesses (e.g. restaurants, casinos, hotels etc.). Such businesses are generally not well informed of the significance of any given piece of railroad equipment - and purchase something based on how it will fit into the design. Unfortunately this has meant that many very intact passenger cars (and to a lesser extent other equipment) continue to be gutted for non-rail use while modfied cars languish or are scrapped. Is there a equipment dealer that would be willing to make such a purchase?Likewise, one of these cars could be used - in their current state - as an interpretive exhibit on the design and construction of Pullman cars. With their current level of deconstruction they are very close to where a car would have been midway through Pullman's construction process.Tom Cornillie

There's neat stuff on there!Rio Grande tunnel motor in Brazilhttp://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=99433C&O Tughttp://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=68213N&W Tugshttp://www.shipspotting.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=64345

From what I remember from when the Lansdowne was in Detroit, they probably aren't worth perserving separately from the Lansdowne because of the cars were pertty much butchered (walls etc that were removed) when they were put in their present configuration.Bob H