Another Rock Island Coach FOR SALE

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:56 pm

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

An awful lot of fan trips out there, or at least what we're seeing pictures of, seem split between two types of conveyances:
*The overcrowded "cattle car" commuter (or ex-commuter) coach; or
*First-class parlor/dome/observation/compartment cars, at a rather steep price.
It used to be a matter of routine that first-class accommodations, no matter how inflated the price, was the first group to sell out at any NRHS Convention, any special series of trips, etc. It's rather obvious why: If you can afford it, you want the best. (This also plays into the stereotypes of the NRHS and/or R&LHS as well-to-do retirees.) Meanwhile, the "proletariat"--the students, the folks with families, etc.--are increasingly funneled into commuter cars or Amfleet, yet still expected to pay fares well above a comparable Amtrak fare for an experience little different from a daily trip on the commuter agency or Amtrak, with maybe the only difference being sunlight. Not even a diner, open "Dutch door" or screened baggage door is available to interest passengers.

I'm not a rich retiree, but I do save up my money to afford a few good trips. For the reasons mentioned above, I go 1st Class or not at all. If I'm going to pay more than Amtrak fare for a ride, I want to experience more than a commuter car seat, so I pay even more for 1st Class with the dome or open rear platform.
John Q. Public can't understand why anyone would pay good money to ride for pleasure in the same rail car that they are condemned to use to get to work. Often, the organizers of the excursion trip can't understand why anyone would pay good money to ride for pleasure in the same Business Car that the organizers are condemned to use while at work! Thus, the coach passengers ride in commuter cars, the 1st Class passengers ride in Amfleet cars, and the Observation Car is reserved for the Trip Committee.

wesp · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:56 pm

Quote:

I recall the reference to Jessie James cars was in a TRAINS article in the 1980s(?) about Rock Island commuter service.

I found the reference whilst cleaning out the collection at home.

Trains, June 1986 (pp 30-36); "Disaster du jour, and other stories" by Ed King, Jr.:
When I joined the Rock Island in January 1977, I quickly found out that I was the de facto curator of the country's largest operating railroad museum. All but a couple of trains...were equipped with 2500- and 2600- series "Jesse James" (or "Harriman") open-window coaches from the mid-1920's. Some commuters swore there were holes in them from the bullets and arrows.

Wesley

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:14 am

"Some commuters swore there were holes in them from the bullets and arrows."

Egads, what would they think if they had encountered the coaches of the East Broad Top, the Strasburg, or the Durango & Silverton, some of which really ARE that old, particularly on the EBT?

It's particularly notable when you consider that the current EBT coach fleet came from the commuter road Boston, Revere Beach & Lynne in 1916--almost 97 years ago!! Good grief, second hand in 1916--what would those poor, dear children (cry-babies) say? And with steam power, too!! :-D