Rumor mill has it that these ex Conn Dot, nee C&O cars have been purchased by NS for the steam program. They have been sighted in Altoona. If the NS is going out and buying coaches, this sounds a little bit more formal a program than the original announcement.

http://trains-trams-trolleys.com/home/4100_5.htm

Rob

Don't they already have a bunch of coaches from the older version of the steam program?

Actually rather nice looking coaches with a lot of potential. Too bad they aren't NS heritage cars. A little TLC, some baggage racks and some better seats will lead to some very nice coaches for NS's corporate fleet.

As for the coaches from the original steam excursion program, there are only two left on NS, the 28 & 29. The Southern 840 series (and CG combine) and N&W 500 series cars were sold at the auction in Birmingham in 1995. The WM has the 726, and some of the 840 coaches and possibly one of the N&W cars. Great Smoky ended up with one of the N&W cars as I recall, and NYSW had 2 or 3 840-series coaches. At least one of those has made it to KRM. I could be wrong on some of these, as that's been 15 years ago. Others here from the respective organizations can elaborate on what they have.

Steam = happiness

Mike

The NS under the change in leadership did their best to sell off equipment and salt the earth to prevent future steam programs. As I remember most of the coaches were sold along with the shop equipment, spare parts, and the shop was torn down.

There was no change in leadership at the top level. The destruction of the program came from an upper mid-level manager who convinced the top brass to scrap what they had just invested nearly $2million in the previous 2 years.

I know someone who tried to bid on the older NS coaches but they didn't go cheaply.
One combine I was always curious of was a streamlined combine they often tacked behind the crew car, was polished metal with tuscan red center stripe. I know Jim Wrinn's NS steam program book (page 81, second car in the consist) shows it on 1218's break-in run. I rode the baggage door of that car on every NS program trip I ever rode. I wish I knew which car that was and what ever happened to it. I'm sure it's still out there somewhere...

I've ridden both 28 and 29 on Operation Lifesaver trips. They are very nicely maintained cars, both were fairly recently shopped at Altoona, but I wonder if the OL program can spare them. I'm not sure how much use they get there.

p51, if you are referring to the combine 'Man of War', it is alive and well at Western Maryland Scenic. What I found interesting about that car is that an extra set of 'windows', but without glass, was added right behind the baggage door for photographers and for audio recording; there are 115 VAC outlets nearby as well. (And I don't think I've ever actually occupied a seat while riding at WMSR-)

p51, The car I think you are thinking of is the former Roanoke Chapter NRHS combine #727 "Fort Mitchell". That car was used on the steam program up until the end of 1992. The Roanoke Chapter sold her to the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic, where she is in use today. Just think, she could be behind NKP 765 sometime soon. ;)

Martin

I think we may be getting ahead of ourselves. I've seen, on this board and others, people assume that it's going to be a return to 1970s and 1980s style Southern steam trips. If NS only has two coaches, then it makes sense for them to buy a few coaches to add capacity, and still have coaches for other non-steam usage.

Also, the car at KRM came from WMSRR, I believe. KRM also has one of the ex ConDOT/C&O coaches that was converted to a HEP and cap control car. It currently serves as the power car.

That being said, the cars that NS rehabbed in the 1990s for the original steam program appear to be holding up well for their various new owners.

#727 is now one of two wheelchair lift equipped coaches on the CVSR, currently named for corporate sponsor Invacare, and has fixed vinyl covered seats for 36 and a small bar area in the baggage section. It spent the Summer on the Canton service train. It could conceivably be used on the #765 trips, as the CVSR recently completed conversion of an ex-MBTA "de-humped" RDC-3 into another lift-equipped Handicap access car that was on the regular "scenic" train yesterday.

You might be right. I know it wasn’t the Man of War because that car didn’t have fluted sides like the car I was thinking of. I found reference to the car, saying the Roanoke Chapter owned it during the NS steam era and was named, “Fort Mitchell.” The only good photos I found were before the maroon center stripe was painted so I wasn’t sure if it was the same car.

I know Martin is right. I was well aquainted with that car from its donation by Southern to the Roanoke Chapter in 1979 until it's sale (which I arranged) to Cuyohoga Valley in the mid 90's.........:)

Yay, I got something right!!! Thanks Gary! :)

BTW, I read on the Roanoke Chapter Newsletter that car 1827 has been sold to the Monticello Railway Museum, and that Maurdi Gras and the Devals Lake are also up for sale. Going to miss seeing them in Spencer. Ironically, the last time I was at the NCTM, I rode in 1827.

"Lambert's Point" can be yours!

http://www.trains-trams-trolleys.com/home/8002.htm

It was an original N&W car. "Claytor Lake" is still in the NS office car fleet. It was ex-N&W 500, formerly a Wabash car.

"Claytor Lake" is NS 3. NS 4, the "Michigan", was ex-CR, formerly SR 3.
"Lambert's Point" was sold by NS in the Goode era. It belonged to an owner in Florida for a while, then ended up with the 261 folks.....