Hi everyone-

Over the past month, our chapter has acquired two more significant and extremely rare pieces of railroad equipment.

Last month, we obtained the remains/body of Yadkin Railroad #100, a model M10 Edwards Railcar that ran between Salisbury, Norwood, and Badin, NC, and then later serving the Chesterfield & Lancaster in SC. We will be bringing the car to our shops in Hickory, NC next Saturday.

Check out www.tarheelpress.com/yadkin100

This past week we obtained another Lawndale Railway boxcar, this one in absolutely magnificent condition compared to the other two boxcars we are doing. From first blush, other than trucks and brake rigging, all it appears to need is fresh siding, ladders, and roof walks. Importantly, the addition of this car will allow us to letter our first Lawndale car (#401) for either the Chester & Lenoir Narrow Gauge, or the Carolina & North-Western, from whence the car came prior to serving on the Lawndale. This will now give us a train representing arguably the 3 most significant common carrier narrow gauge lines in North Carolina.

You can check out progress of our first two cars at:

www.tarheelpress.com/LawndaleBoxcar
www.tarheelpress.com/etbox

Today is the 60th anniversary of the last revenue run of the narrow gauge ET&WNC. In honor of the event, #434 got a new set of ladders!!

Thanks for checking in....

Matt Bumgarner
Alexander Chapter-NRHS

Every time I look at the web site and see the latest progress I am totally amazed by the work this group is doing. It really is a fine example of how focus and dedication goes a long way. Is there hope of finding proper, or even functional narrow gauge trucks for each of these boxcars? I certainly hope they can be returned to rail!

Do you know the number of the second box car?

I am always pleased to add equipment to my list of preserved narrow gauge; especially in States that do not have very much of it already?

Ted Miles

Stephen- Yes, we are actively working on locating and fabricating trucks for the cars. Our plans all along have been to make them operational and we have engaged in some conversations with some fairly local narrow gauge organizations. Nothing major to note as of yet, but there is some degree of mutual interest on all parts. For the older Chester & Lenoir/Lawndale car, it dates to the late 1870's. We will most likely fabricate trucks for it, utilizing journal boxes and wheels that we either locate or have cast. We have already cut the oak timbers for it.

For the Tweetsie car, it had more modern archbar trucks a la' the EBT or D&RGS style. This car would most likely be the first to return to operation.


Ted- No, we do not know the number of the new Lawndale car as of yet. We were lucky to find the number of the #401, which we were able to do by comparing it to photos. The 401 had some unique ladder and grab iron variations compared to the other cars, so it stood out quite clearly. Not sure we'll ever find this one, other than it is a 300-series car.

Thanks for your interest!

Matt