Every so often the subject of the CNJ business cars comes up here and other places. A recent photo of Perry Shoemaker's office car #99 has surfaced on Rail Pictures. The car was part of the hotel complex at the P&LE depot in Pittsburgh. Then it was sent to Newport, VT for restoration. That didn't happen and it wound up in Derby, Maine. Rumors had it heading to Arizona, that didn't happen. There has been hope she'll be back in anthracite country but for now, here she is: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=298230&nseq=2

Rob

Hey Rob, do you have a contact for where it is now? If that is a CNJ car I wonder is Steamtown would want it for their excursions instead of the red one?

That's a great idea Steve. In its present condition it would fit right in with the other derelicts on the dead line in Scranton.

Steve

Just some background, the red car, the Lehigh Valley 353, is privately owned.

Steamtown does own the Erie #3, which was roadworthy a while back and is now on display inside the museum. The took the car off line when the Valley car came to town. The Erie 3 does have roller bearing trucks under it now should she ever be pressed into service again.

Dave Crosby

I kind of wish you showed some inside pictures, of how bad the fire was. If this is the DL&W 99...then what's the DL&W car at the Arizona railroad museum? Which is in perfect condition. And who owns each? I don't think Steamtown should get this car. They have enough to deal with already. I think if you made a cash offer on many of the dead line cars. They'd sell them!
Where can I see a floor plan of this car?

As was recently used on another thread:

Loose Lips Sink Ships!

Good things might be happening soon.

I am heeding the loose lips sink ships advice.

Rob

"That's a great idea Steve. In its present condition it would fit right in with the other derelicts on the dead line in Scranton."

Nahhh. Behind a cold 4-8-4 in Port Clinton.

Is there some way we can have a discussion without going into the shortcomings of Steamtown, a cold 4-8-4, or puzzle piece K-4s?

This isn't the reason I have supported RYPN, I don't come here for this.

C'mon guys, we can do better.

Joshua

Steamtown is a National Park Service property as we all know and they can only de-acession to other Parks or non-profits. They can not sell to private parties.

This not just the government; this is in the Association Of Railway Museums Recommended Practices. More and more of the well run museums are following this kind of arrangement.

My Park ended up with apop corn wagon of all things. We sought out a pop corn museum (there really is such a thing) and sent it off to them. I have concluded that there is a museum for everything!

Ted Miles

From Richard Glueck's MM&A auction update, it sounds like #99 is still in Derby, ME and still for sale if anyone is interested.

Rob

You guys seem to have your finger in just about everything related to DL&W/EL rolling stock, don't you?

It is severely damaged by fire, mostly located at the ob end, but really just destroyed by wanton destruction throughout. It is for sale, but the owner is probably asking more than scrap value.

I've seen photos of the interior damage and it is quite extensive. It would take a bundle to restore it.

Al Holleuffer

Besides the DL&W 99 and the EL 3 that is/was at Steamtown, there is at least one other EL "business car" extant in operable, quite acceptable/presentable condition. The owners value their privacy, and I'm led to believe that the ELDCPS and the business car owners are well aware of each others' existence, but suffice it to say it wouldn't come cheap. The relevant question is, do they want to save a "time capsule," or rebuild a wreck to better-than-new, 21st-century-friendly condition? Big gobs of (mostly private, I'd assume) money either way......