I have a client that has expressed interest in acquiring a standard-gauge wooden coach for a now-active operation. Said car has to be intact enough for restoration to operation; coach would be preferred. This client seems to have a decent record of finding money to meet a need such as this, I won't say "money no object" by any means, but they appear realistic. Coincidentally, I was able to send him the images of Strasburg's latest just as he was asking me; no doubt he's turning green with envy and wishes he could sign a lease on said car............Questions to those of you that know:1) The Williams Grove (Pa.) Historical Steam Engine Assn. had in its possession a number of wooden ex-Everett cars that, last I saw, had trees growing through them and serious arson damage. In the spirit of "nothing is impossible except skiing through a revolving door", are these sad shells still extant?2) In a more likely vein, what ever came of that ex-BAR(?) coach in Maine that was pictured in this forum months ago as "unloved, unwanted, etc."? That car may be perfect for this proposal.3) Is there anyone else out there with a wooden car that needs a good home? (Said client is on the Eastern Seaboard.)

Hello SandySaid party may want to contact Steamtown as there may (or may not) be an unclaimed car or two (or ten). Several old cars (coaches and combines) were moved from long time storage in Tobyhanna down to Scranton about 3 years ago. Might be something there. Might be one of those "get 5 to make one" type deals. I have no idea what the status of these cars is, but it might be worth a phone call to find out.Dave Crosby

While I'm thinking of wooden cars...There were several on the dormant Rail Tours Inc dead line in Jim Thorpe PA, some better than others. Also, whatever became of David Woodbury's restored coach from all those fine RYPN articles?Dave Crosby

You might want to checkthe RyPN news articles on the 1246 restoration. The owner appears to be asking if anyone would like to make use of his restored car:"The old coach must earn her keep. As an interpretive space or sales area or even office use, there is a lot of life left in this old relic. It is not an opportunity to be passed up in favor of a lesser space. These are some of the reasons you ought to be interested in this piece of equipment. If you have a good idea, get in touch with me."J.R. May

What about that last extant NKP car?

Sandy - if steam eats dollars squared, wooden coaches eat dollars cubed. If I understood the inquiry, the car is to be used in service, which would make a steel car (perhaps sheathed in wood for the desired esthetic) a more reasonable choice. Just rode the new White Pass cars built this way - look and work very nicely (apart from a noisy draft gear). There is no shortage of wooden carbodies in condition ranging from splinters to almost good enough to run, but missing hardware. They cost little to acquire, but much to move and restore. Complete cars in nearly useful condition cost much more to acquire, more to move, and not an awful lot less to restore, considering they must be pretty well stripped to assure a sound structure and tighten up. Unless there is some emotional or interpretive imperative, the majority of the wooden cars I have surveyed over the past couple decades would be more rationally scrapped than restored. I am now looking at a L&N business car that by all rights should have been scrapped years ago, but the owner has invested considerable funds into replacing about half its structure in none too sensible ways, so it will be adaptively reused in some way some day, eating lots more money while generating headaches all the way. So, dollars ahead to replicate either from the ground up or from a steel frame. Side benefit is you get exactly what you want rather than a compromise. dave

If I remember correctly, there were two wood passenger cars that went to Williams Grove; I think both were six axle B&O cars that had been in MofW service before going to Everett. I think they were pretty much destroyed by vandals but the frames and trucks might still be there. Alan Maples

Thank you, J. R. May. My sentiments exactly. Talk to me off post. David Woodbury

I have to agree with Gerald --- contact the guys at Wellington, Ohio, about the last Nickel Plate wooden coach. She needs TLC, but if you guarantee her work I think those guys would be forever greatful. TJG