Hi Chris,

I wish I could help you with the drawings you're looking for, but you may be aware that four of the passenger cars you are asking about survive today on the White Pass & Yukon: two (WP&Y numbers 218 and 220) built by J&S in 1881 for the Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain, and two (WP&Y numbers 222 and 224) built by J&S in 1883 for the Kaaterskill RR. So, if the documents don't materialize then it may actually be possible to take measurements from the cars themselves!

Good luck in your research,

-Philip Marshall

In addition to the coaches Philip identified, one of the arch roof coaches from the Catskill Mountain Railway still survives in service on the Huckleberry RR. It was sold to Ferrocarril Unidos de Yucatan in 1920 (becoming their #109, I believe). From there it was sold to Early West Railways of Pomona CA. That RR was never built, but I was told, the coach eventually made its way to the Huckleberry in Flint, MI.
"Source - "The Ulster & Delaware ... Railroad through the Catskills" by Gerald M. Best"

I've seen and ridden in the car, it sure looks like the genuine article.

I would suggest contacting the Hagley Museum in Wilmington, where Jackson & Sharp was based.

Tom

Of course the D&RG purchased a number of J&S coaches in the early 1880's... the most original would likely be 292 on the Cumbres and Toltec.

In addition to the information at the Hagley, the Smithsonian holds the J&S engineering book (a notebook with cars built, with some details but virtually no drawings) for the late 1880's

The Delaware Public Archives has the J&S photo collection, with much if not all on line...

Randy

The Sanborn fire maps only show the footprint, placement, construction material, and information on whether there is a boiler or furnace in a building, but are still pretty interesting. Many libraries have digital black and white copies which can be viewed by card holders on the library's Internet site, but the libraries typically subscribe only for the set for their own state. I've found some libraries where anyone with a library card from anywhere in the state can access the files. The maps also tend to be restricted to the built up area of a city, so may show the RR infrastructure in the city, but not outside of it.

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