Here is some existing hardware I am hoping can help identify the car's manufacturer.

Thanks

Matt

Metro-North?

I'm putting my money on Osgood Bradley

The hardware in the pictures are Adams and Westlake illustrated in the 1906 car builders dictionary, however that doesnt tell you anything much. The answer will be those frames lying on the floor if they have any stamp numbers on them, not every company stamped stuff but most RR's stamped the parts on overhaul with a position in the car and car number.

Mike Pannell

Mike,

I looked at every door frame, door threshold, door jamb, window frame, window sash, etc...

No nuthin' nowhere.

We took 200 photos... nuthin'.

I just looked at the window frames and vestibule windows that I ...uh, preserved...

Again, there is nothing on them. No numbers, no letters...

And you talk about a RUDE owner... wow.... she wanted nothing to do with me. I'm hoping she was just naturally defensive. Will be sending her letter begging her to do something with the car- anything but let it continue to rot.

Wish me luck--- and thanks for your input everyone!

Matt Bumgarner
Alexander Chapter-NRHS

Maybe she's worried about folks making off with bits and pieces of the car. :)

Good luck on your goal of getting it preserved. You may prevail eventually. Look at the Chapel Car at Northwest Railway Museum. Apparently they're been trying to get that one for years.

When I first heard about the car, it sounded like one of those "engine in a quarry" stories. "Down by the beach, kind of hidden behind a sand dune, used as a cabin..." I'd have dismissed the story, except that the fellow telling it claimed (justifiably) that he himself had seen it, and had pretty accurate directions. So accurate in fact that I was looking on Google maps and said "Wait, I found it!" to which he replied "Huh, what?" I said "I found it, I see it on Google maps!"

Fortunately, several other folks knew about it too, and kept chipping away at getting the car. He eventually passed on, and the car became available, and went to a good home with a premier wood car restoration facility.

Actually Bob, you're quite right.

If someone called me out of the blue, who was nowhere near me, and I had no idea what their intentions were, and who had been poking around on my land, I would be defensive too. Maybe even pissed.

By the end of the conversation, she agreed to discuss it with her children. I thought that went well until I told her I was sending a letter about who we were and what we wanted and that I would call her within a month.

Then, I got the ol' "don't call me, I'll call you" routine.

Are you kidding me??? I INVENTED that routine...

She's gonna get a phone call...

Don't discount the old schmooze. Offer to buy her (or her designee) lunch if she let's you share your organizations progress, visions, and goals. If that's no go, have flowers delivered with a short printed presentation and personal note. Provided nothing you send is sleazy, you will at least get a read and some consideration.

dave

There's that, or you could try and appeal to the owner's reason. Give the owner the plan; how it will be funded, where's it would go, what role it would serve, how it would be used. On the project for me going to Uxbridge to see the train out in the middle of the woods (Two days away), I'm planning to take that path with that train, but that's once a plan is in place.

Explain to her, it's lost if nothing is done, and don't forget to ask her about the family connection to the car, recording that as part of the history. Without whoever snagged it to begin with, for whatever purpose, it would ashes by now. Sincerity and respect will go a long way.

I agree with 100% of what y'all said. Fortunately, I'm no stranger to this game. It took me 10 years to get that last Lawndale car (though this car doesn't have that much time left).

I have sent her a letter, with a very nice letter detailing our plans, as well as an offer to place a plaque honoring her family, etc.

I also included a summary of our past work, a prospectus of the museum we are building, and a complimentary copy of "The Lawndale Railway & Industrial Company", a narrow gauge company much like the one this car served on.

I also have the gift of persistence, and [the foresight to completely edit what I first wrote lest someone stumble across this thread while surfing the internet].

:>)

I'm kidding!!! Sort of..

Hey- we have to keep this fun... while a passion, its still a hobby.

Thanks!

Matt

Hi Matt
Well that rules out Pullman then ! The St Charles car here in Cheyenne only has C&S numbers no manufacturer numbers. Many manufacturers were not as studious as Pullman about recording parts used etc !
Did you check the frame edges sorry if you have but this is where the numbers will be.
The 1866 unknown manufacturers car in Cheyenne has the name stamped on all the frames and parts, clearly pre 1902 and built as 'Omaha', the post 1902 numbers are C&S ones stamped on the parts.

I would love to check it out myself.

Tell the lady that you are interested in preserving the families history with the car, that is vital and we are constantly aware that Car57 spent 54 years as a house and is loved by the family who grew up in her, thats their memories nothing to do with its RR history.
Cheers
Mike Pannell
Cheyenne

Matt, you must keep after her and be nice about it. I have tried over the years to convince owners of classic cars that are just rotting away to save them by selling or giving them to me with little success. I have seen many disappear completly after my initial inquiry. Some I have come to find out were junked because they were so far gone.

Be patient but be persistent.

Good luck!
Mr. Ed

Hey Matt - Any luck with the mystery coach?

I had a quick chance to drop by Dendron today and see the portion of the SS&S combine. Sad that it is so far gone, but it has more hardware than I expected. Bolster is still in place and a fair amount of the metal framing parts. As bad as it is, I think it could be made presentable on a concrete slab with a roof and some supports to shore up the walls and remaining roof. I thought this hinge looked similar to the one you posted from the other car.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

Few more detail shots of the SS&S car.

Mike