A friend of mine who does not post here at RyPN sent me a link to a short TV news segment about a boxcar being moved to the Cowan Railroad Museum. The move made the news because the police pulled the truck over for taking down some overhead lines. I couldn't tell from the video much about the car itself although the truck driver claimed it was going to be painted red with a yellow stripe. There was also a mention of the Tennessee Central, so perhaps that museum is where it came from. Anyway, nothing about it on the Cowan Railroad Museum website. The TV newsperson stated that the boxcar eventually made it to the museum. Anyone have any additional information? The proposed paint scheme sounds like it might be Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis, and the museum has a genuine NC&StL 44-ton GE diesel, but is this car actually NC&StL? There was a long ago thread about a NC&StL boxcar being moved out of Louisville, Kentucky but I don't recall that it was going to Cowan.

Thanks for any info.

Les

No info received on this so I thought I'd check the Tennessee Central Railway Museum website and their equipment roster. There is a listing for a "40' sliding door" boxcar shown as being NC&StL #22524. Not sure if this is one of the cars that carried the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis "yellow stripe" paint scheme or not. But it would seem that it would be a good fit to go with their NC&StL 44-ton GE diesel.

Can anyone confirm that this is actually the car moved to Cowan?

Les

Yes, the boxcar is NC&StL #22524, PS-1, built in 1952. This particular car was the last one to be on CSX Transportation books, carrying the original reporting marks and road number as late as 1994. It was transferred from CSX to Tennessee Central Railroad Museum, and most recently from TCRM to Cowan Railroad Museum.

The Channel 5 Nashville News video has caused quite a stir, and typical of news reports, is not entirely accurate. The news crew was actually in Coffee County on another assignment, and thought the boxcar would be a good "human interest" story. Not every day you see a boxcar being transported on a flat bed! The move was properly carried out, but apparently one or two line (cable or phone) had been snagged, and no tickets were issued during the stop in Coffee County. After a brief delay, they proceeded to Cowan.

The boxcar is currently on the other end of the rails from Diesel Engine 100, positioned near electricity and water for preliminary cleanup. Eventually it will be connected to the NC&StL 44-ton GE diesel.

CRM plans to use the boxcar for storage, so as to free up the current caboose for interior restoration. Over the past few years, we have acquired original bunk beds, conductor's desk, some wall lanterns, stove, and more.

Volunteers are needed to help with both projects.

Website will be updated shortly. Please like us on facebook.com/cowanrailroadmuseum.

Maryann Knowles
Secretary, Cowan Railroad Museum

Maryann -

Thanks very much for the information. Good luck with the restoration.

Les

See:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nas ... 601843563/

The lettering is a bit rough, but at least their hearts are in the right place. Good to see another piece of the NC&StL surviving. Hopefully they will eventually get the car cleaned, repainted and lettered a bit better.

Les

Cool, it still has running boards and the A end ladders entirely intact!