Below is a short list of the oldest preserved passenger cars in the U.S., to the best of my knowledge. I am inviting all RyPN patrons to review this list and please post your comments, corrections and additions. This list is being compiled for the archives files at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Many thanks everyone!

1. Boston and Providence stagecoach-style car, c.1834-1836 (currently at the Danbury Fair, Connecticut);
2. Camden and Amboy eight-wheel passenger car No. 3, c.1836 (Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.)
3. Nova Scotia coach, c.1838 (B&O Museum, Baltimore, MD);
4. Cumberland Valley Railroad gallery car, c.1855 (Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Strasburg, PA)

Are any cars from the 1840's still extant?

K.R. Bell
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Kurt, the Boston and Providence car to which I think you are referring was purchased by the Museum of Transportation, along with the locomotive Daniel Nason, from the Danbury collection in the early 1980s. However, with a few exceptions, it has been stored in our off-site collections storage facility since then due to its fragility (particularly the upholstery and lace-lined shades). It is available to researchers by appointment.


Museum of Transportation

I don't know of any more comprehensive roster than that presenet in the "Representative Cars" section at the end of Chapter 1 of John White's The AMerican Railroad Passenger Car--but from the content of your list, I'm guessing that's where you started!

eledbetter@rypn.org

Add to the list the 2 ex-CNJ baggage cars and 2 ex-CNJ coaches at the B&O Museum. All date from circa 1868.

B&O Railroad Museum
kevingillespie@usa.net

> Below is a short list of the oldest
> preserved passenger cars in the U.S., to the
> best of my knowledge. I am inviting all RyPN
> patrons to review this list and please post
> your comments, corrections and additions.
> This list is being compiled for the archives
> files at the Railroad Museum of
> Pennsylvania. Many thanks everyone!

> 1. Boston and Providence stagecoach-style
> car, c.1834-1836 (currently at the Danbury
> Fair, Connecticut);
> 2. Camden and Amboy eight-wheel passenger
> car No. 3, c.1836 (Smithsonian Institution,
> Washington, D.C.)
> 3. Nova Scotia coach, c.1838 (B&O
> Museum, Baltimore, MD);
> 4. Cumberland Valley Railroad gallery car,
> c.1855 (Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
> Strasburg, PA)

> Are any cars from the 1840's still extant?

> K.R. Bell
> Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

The oldest existing street railway car is thought to be Second Ave. Railroad Corp. #76, made in 1859 probably by John Stephenson, a New York City horsecar, located in the Museum of the City of New York. Bob Reich, Seashore Trolley Museum


RJReich@aol.com

Mant thanks to Molly and everyone else who provided additional information!

K.R. Bell
Railroad Museum of PA

> Kurt, the Boston and Providence car to which
> I think you are referring was purchased by
> the Museum of Transportation, along with the
> locomotive Daniel Nason, from the Danbury
> collection in the early 1980s. However, with
> a few exceptions, it has been stored in our
> off-site collections storage facility since
> then due to its fragility (particularly the
> upholstery and lace-lined shades). It is
> available to researchers by appointment.

> The oldest existing street railway car is
> thought to be Second Ave. Railroad Corp.
> #76, made in 1859 probably by John
> Stephenson, a New York City horsecar,
> located in the Museum of the City of New
> York. Bob Reich, Seashore Trolley Museum

North Chicago Street Railroad #8 is a horsecar preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum that was also built by Stephenson in 1859.

frank@gats.com

She may not be THE oldest, but don't forget about East Jordan & Southern #2 at Mid-Continent. According to their website, it was built by the Osgood Bradley in November 1864 for the Grand Trunk Railway as their #112. The car was renumbered to 585 in November of 1885 and in 1889 the car was rebuilt at the Chicago & Grand Trunk, Fort Gratiot Car Shops in Port Huron, Michigan. EJ&S bought it in 1902. There is some excellent shots of the car from Ray Buhrmaster's collection on the Mid-Continent website. There is also a link and picture below:

East Jordan & Southern #2

tjgaffney@phmuseum.org