After reading this month's article, I am glad to see the Chapel Car St. Paul is with a new owner. Is the car in Michigan? Does anybody know what the plans are for this historic car?

wilkidm@wku.edu

I had an extensive exchange of Emails, and a series of posts about 2 years ago on this subject. To answer your question, I believe the car is currently in Michigan, but I may be wrong.

IMHO the proper resting place for this ecclesiastical treasure is the B&O Railroad Museum, just over a mile away from Benjamin Latrobe's maginificent Basilica of the Assumption, the oldest Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States. Maryland is the cradle of American Catholicism. For those of you who do not know, these cars were used by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith to spread the gospel, and allow Catholics in remote parts of the country to attend Mass where there was otherwise little opportunity to receive the Sacraments.

As a devout Catholic and railway enthusiast, as well as an ardent student of history, I hope this car finds the good home it deserves. The B&O Museum management is working full time on the 175th anniversary celebrations for the next 18 months. They are also concerned about lack of track space, although this might work itself out. I have no idea what plans Mr. Larkin has for the car but I hope it can be on display where it can be appreciated by all.

About 10 years ago, Railway and Locomotive Preservation had a feature article on chapel cars. While there are several Baptist Chapel cars that have been restored and put on display, the St. Paul is the last remaining example of approximately 10 Catholic cars that were used from about the 1880's until the middle of the 20th century. I believe that there are several Episcopal cars still extant.

kevingillespie@usa.net

"Railway to Heaven" is a great little hour-long historical narrative 1999 video about the Baptist, Episcopal and Catholic cars. I heartily recommend it.

> About 10 years ago, Railway and Locomotive
> Preservation had a feature article on chapel
> cars. While there are several Baptist Chapel
> cars that have been restored and put on
> display, the St. Paul is the last remaining
> example of approximately 10 Catholic cars
> that were used from about the 1880's until
> the middle of the 20th century. I believe
> that there are several Episcopal cars still
> extant.


wyld@oc-net.com