On June 6, 2003, I found the sadly derelict Baptist railroad chapel car, “Good Will”in Boyes Hot Springs, CA. It was practically invisible in the midst of a jungle of foliage, and I could not find the property owner to ask permission to explore it. It was at the corner of Orchard Avenue and Greger Street, behind the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn. I’m wondering if anyone is familiar with this car and would know any of these points of information, or anything else about this car:
(1) Is the car still there?
(2) What is its present condition?
(3) Are there any plans for its maintenance or restoration?
(4) How might the present owner(s) be contacted?.

“Good Will,” built in 1894, is one of seven Baptist chapel cars built by the Barney and Smith Car Co. of Dayton, Ohio, from 1891 to 1915. They were operated by the American Baptist Publication Society to carry the Christian gospel to the relatively church-less areas of the country, and they traveled over many different railroads in 31 states.

I do now know if the car is still there; but assuming that is was recently included in the "Pepsi Smash" thing where the public votes on some ideas and the winner after one week of voting receives $50,000(?) towards that idea gives me some reason to believe that some restoration work has begun on it. As the where it is, who owns it I do not know.

Hi, Aaron:

Might you be confusing this chapel car with the chapel car "Messenger of peace" at the Northwest Railway Museum, which received $50K from the American Express Partners in Preservation grant contest?

http://www.trainmuseum.org/MoP/H.asp

Just wondering...

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

Looking at the satellite photos on Google Maps, it appears that the trees and vegetation in that area have not been disturbed in many years, so there is a good chance that the car still exists.

Maybe someone at one of the Baptist churches in Sonoma might know something about it.

Ohh...I think I am confused. I didnt know more then one Chapel Car were perserved. Thanks for the enlightenment!

I think there are several chapel cars still around. There was a good article in Locomotive & Railway Preservation a number of years ago about chapel cars, and extant survivors.

I believe another chapel car, lives in the E&LS warehouse in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

That would be the St Paul, Barney and Smith, Class of 1915. Good article about it here:

http://archives.thepilot.com/August2005/08-10-05/r081005Church.html

And a photo:



Steve

Thanks to all for your good comments.

Steve Hunter: Thanks for your clarification on Aaron’s post. It’s great the museum received the grant for restoration of “Messenger of Peace.”

Aaron: I appreciate your suggestion and yes, there are at least four of the Baptist cars still existing (if “Good Will” can be included). And there is also one of the original three Catholic chapel cars still existing - “St. Paul,” the one David Wilkins refers to in Michigan.

Al: Yes, I noticed the same thing about the vegetation on Google maps, and hope you’re right about the car still being there. Thanks for the suggestion to contact a church in Sonoma. I’ve sent off an e-mail to the ABC church there.

Steve Zuiderveen: Thanks for your reference to “St. Paul.”

Dick

The ELS car was part of the collection at Nevada City, MT and was included in the trade to the Montana Historical Commission for what would become 30" AGSL 2-8-0 #12. It was a Soo Line car if I remember right, saved by Charles Bovey.

I just checked out the street view photos on Google Earth - the car definitely does exist as of the latest (late 2010?) photo!

Check out 18000 Greger St, Boyes Hot Springs, CA

Thanks, Al. I didn't find the car earlier but did this time.

If you pop into Street View at about 18000 Greger Street, and look to the side away from the Inn, you should see the car. It's behind a hedge, beside a grey house, under a thick canopy of trees. The car looks rough but worth having a closer look at.

These links don't always work perfectly, so you might need to move up and down Greger Street to find the spot.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=fair ... 14,,0,6.67

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

A comprehensive book on the chapel cars was written by Wilma Rugh Taylor and Norman Thomas Taylor (wife and husband) - This Train Is Bound For Glory, Judson Press, 1999. Mr. Taylor used to be a carman at Beech Grove Shops.

As of a few years ago, the couple were caretakers for the Chapel Car Grace, at the American Baptist Assembly in Green Lake Wisconsin. The car is in an open-sided shelter, and is in remarkable condition.
http://www.glcc.org/Files/Recreation%202010.pdf

John Redden

Wilma Taylor also published a book in 2005 specifically on the Good Will:

"Gospel Tracks Through Texas: The Mission of the Chapel Car Good Will"
published by Texas A&M Press.

Looking at the photograph on Google Earth, I think the car is remarkably straight. They must not have removed the truss rods, and the body is not sitting directly on the ground.

We had some discussion about this before. While there were Soo Line cars involved in the trade, the chapel car was never Soo Line, as far as I know.

Yes, I heartily endorse John's recommendation of this book. It is an excellent volume with a wealth of information on all of the chapel cars, Baptist, Episcopalian, and Catholic.

Norman Taylor did much painstaking work in restoring Chapel Car Grace, and as I understand, it continues to be used for worship services. Unfortunately Mr. Taylor is no longer with us. He died on July 17, 2007, according to one the newsletters of the American Baptist Historical Society (page 6)
http://www.abhsarchives.org/docs/Newsletter_0707.pdf

Todd Taylor (I don't know if he's related) has a nice collection of photos of the car at: http://public.fotki.com/ttaylor/trains/ ... car_grace/

Dick