Thanks for all of the contributions to this thread. I was wondering if anyone even remembered Rail City.

Rail City was my first-ever ride behind a steam locomotive, when I was a kid in the mid-1960s. B&H #11 was the power and I believe she pulled only a single combine. I distinctly recall the words "The Champagne Trail" lettered on the cab of the engine. Someplace, my family probably still has a few feet of 8mm film that my dad shot when the train first pulled up to the platform.

Questions:

I know that B&H #11 now sits down at the WMSR awaiting restoration for the Everett Railroad. Does anyone have any information as to what sort of plans they have for her and what the timeframe is? Seeing this engine run again would definitely be on my personal "bucket list".

Also, what ever happened to the water tower from Rail City? Was that preserved, or was it destroyed when the museum was dismantled?

Thanks!

/Kevin

Also not lost was H&BT ND #17. It was sold and moved; the problem is that no one seems to know to whom, and to where. The ex-PRR RPO, #5436 was cut up, however.

Keith Burkey
http://www.bbandbrr.com

That PDF is incorrect in saying that the car was built for the PRR. Brill built M-39 new for the H&BTM in 1929. In 1942, it was wrecked in a head-on collision and rebuilt into a motorless coach. It was then that it was renumbered as the 27.

Regardless, we're fortunate that the Central NY NRHS has preserved the car. It is the only known surviving piece of H&BTM passenger or freight equipment.

Keith

http://www.bbandbrr.com

Didn't I just recently see an ex-PRR four-wheel caboose at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania lettered "H&BTM"?

Yes, that's ND #16.

Cabins 15-17 all still exist, with 15 at Williams Grove, 16 at Strasburg, and 17 somewhere out in the ether.

I was referring to revenue equipment, however, when I was talking about survivors. I should've been more clear.

Keith

Thanks everyone on the updates.

Does anyone know what happened to the crane?

Here is a shot of H&BTM # 38 at the Western Maryland Scenic a few weeks ago. I sure would like to see this run again, but it looks like they have a lot of work to do

All of the equipment at Rail City was auctioned off 1991. Flagg Coal 75 is one of the Solvay Process engines that has been restored and tours the country out of Owasso, MI. A couple pieces are at the CNY Chapter NRHS museum in Central Square, a couple of other Solvay 0-4-0s are restored or pending around the country.

#11, the duty engine, was sold to a dentist from CT sometime after the museum folded in 1974. I was one of the last to run her there. She went back to Narragansett Pier but never ran there. Then to Middletown & NJ in Middletown, NY until a couple years ago, when she was sold the owner of the Everett RR. She is currently at the Western Maryland Scenic shops slowly going thru her Form 4 inspection. Ironically, her one time stable mate, Huntington & Broad Top Mountain #38 is also owned by the same man and is also at WMS. We yet see part of Rail City operating again. I have run three different Rail City engines and rode on 38 when whe was at the LA&L.

Does anyone recall seeing this work car at Rail City?

Frank;

We acquiired Lake Erie & Northern 1500V combine, 797 in a trade deal with Seashore Trolley Museum in 1999. We traded ex-TTC Small Peter Witt, 2890 for it. 797 is currently under cover on public display and some cosmetic work has been completed. Longer range plans are to restore it to operation.

It's too bad so little NS&T equipment survives as the line lasted until 1959. Our museum wanted one of the cars (TSubR 107 / NS&T 83) that ran on our former Toronto Suburban right of way but we were in our infancy and had no resources to purchase and move a large steel car. Scrap prices were pretty high in 1959.

To my knowledge the following are the only surviving cars which saw some use on the NS&T.
-ST DE open bench car #8 at Exporail / Canadian Ry. Mus.
-DT DE light steeeplecab #7 at Exporail
-DT DE BLW-WH steepecab #18 at Warehouse Pt.

Our line car, Oshawa Ry. #45 was built by the NS&T and no doubt was tested on their trackage.

Gord McOuat
Master Mechanic
OERHA / Halton County

Steve,

To which crane were you referring?

Keith Burkey

In the photos of the Rail City museum that I have seen or have in my collection, I've never seen the work car that is pictured in this thread. I do have a photo of the Scranton 505 and the Rochester 0243 sitting together, outside. To my knowledge the only car that was placed indoors was the Scranton sweeper 107. This was only because it was small enough to fit inside the one building. I would be interested in knowing why the 107 was placed inside and not the Rochester sand car, as that is a single truck car as well.

Perhaps contacting the Rail City website and asking them would provide an answer if this work car pictured above was ever at Rail City?

Joel

Keith, This one.

http://www.railcitymuseum.com/RAI_CITY_ ... mpany.html