1946 Buick inspection car

060 Hogger · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:07 am

Here is a link to a posting on Smokstak about a 1946 Buick flanged wheel auto.http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87857

sbhunterca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:58 am **Posts:** 728

Unfortunately, the link requires registering, so I couldn't view the car discussed there.

At RMEO in Smiths Falls, Ontario, we have CPR M-260, a 1947 Cadillac rebuilt with flanged wheels. It is on loan from CRHA, and is an absolutely beautiful car. M-260 is in running condition, although a bit of transmission work remains to be done.

CRHA still has a similar CPR Buick railcar at Exporail in St. Constant, Quebec.

Here is M-260:

http://public.fotki.com/elliottd/sfrmeo/sfrmeoalbum4/img_0107copy.html

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

mikefrommontana · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 2:37 pm

Original poster on Smokstak is in Starlville, Mississippi and said that car hasn't been out of the shed in 25 years. Car is dusty but looks straight and clean. Will let other's guess where it came from, but I doubt from very far away.

Apparently the predecessor car (Model T or A) is stored nearby. Presuming they are from the same operation and not just collected.

Happy hunting.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

Paulie62 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:33 am **Posts:** 33

Cool to see some of these classic inspection cars still exist. I remember as a boy see a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Inspection car on the tracks of the Pennsy lines near Renovo PA. Wonder if that one is still around!

MEC_557 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:09 pm

That is so unique and awesome! I have never seen a real inspection car before. High rail vehicles yes, but no dedicated vehicle that was converted for track use only.

(There is a guy in the Western CT area that has a 1960's Surburban highrail painted up for the New Haven, it's at some car shows in this area, and he even showed up at RMNE's shop once when I was there. I wish I had gotten his name.)

Paulie62 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 06, 2010 1:33 am **Posts:** 33

What year did they make the inspection cars with the pneumatic wheels sets. I know that 1955 Chevy I saw had them. I would assume looking at the Buick, being a dedicated unit for rails only, that the 55 would have been close to the first of the either or models?

sbhunterca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:58 am **Posts:** 728

Quote:

What year did they make the inspection cars with the pneumatic wheels sets. I know that 1955 Chevy I saw had them. I would assume looking at the Buick, being a dedicated unit for rails only, that the 55 would have been close to the first of the either or models?

The Bytown Railway Society has a Canadian National 1958 Pontiac station wagon with hy-rail gear:

http://www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca/hyrail.htm

This car is fully operational, and was restored to immaculate condition by BRS members. The car was borrowed by the hy-rail equipment maker a few years ago for a major trade show, as it is the oldest known surviving example of that type of hy-rail equipment.

The Ontario Rail Association used to have a Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo sedan inspection car on flanged wheels. I believe this car was sold to a private owner a number of years ago.

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

DR · **Posted:** Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:22 pm

MEC_557 wrote:

That is so unique and awesome! I have never seen a real inspection car before. High rail vehicles yes, but no dedicated vehicle that was converted for track use only.

(There is a guy in the Western CT area that has a 1960's Surburban highrail painted up for the New Haven, it's at some car shows in this area, and he even showed up at RMNE's shop once when I was there. I wish I had gotten his name.)

You can find him at Valley Railroad.