There is a photo in the recent Railroaders@Work thread showing a Gainesville Midland 2-8-0 switching a Central of Georgia boxcar, apparently CG #5563 or perhaps #5583. These particular series of boxcars carried a very distinctive paint scheme; a silver oval surrounded by dark blue as I recall (perhaps someone could submit a color photo). The scheme was referred to as a Watermelon paint scheme if I remember correctly, but these were not watermelon cars but rather 50' (or 40'?) modern steel cars. They did obviously, date back into the steam era. My question is, have any of these cars been preserved anywhere? Thnx.

Les

Can't help you as to if any are left (don't recall seeing any) but I do remember the cars. I always thought they were black and silver with an imitation gold and black CofG logo. Steam was gone off the CofG before those cars were purchased. Most railroaders I knew referrred to the "football scheme" to describe those cars. SEC and high school football are passions in CofG's service area.

Thirdrail - Perhaps you are right; black rather than dark blue. That's why a photo would have been helpful. I figured that the CofG had dieselized by the time the cars were built, but the photo shows that the cars did run behind steam in other places. I have never heard of one being preserved either, but who knows exactly what is out there?

Les

You can email the Central of Georgia Historical Society at www.cofg.org

They have an EXCELLENT website and have always gotten back with me promptly.

Matt