I know Mr. Levin reads this forum so I might have a question for him.... I was speaking with a person from a short/tourist line here in the area of Kansas and we were discussing an old Pennsylvania RR business car that used to reside here in Wichita, KS. It was on the west side of town and had been a part of a restaurant operation that had long since went bankrupt. I remember it as a four axle car (b-b trucks) although it appeared to be a heavyweight car. Not a full 85' car, this car disappeared several years ago (but I did manage to get pictures of it in the late 80's) and I never knew what happened to it. I had thought it probably had been scrapped on site, the guy I was speaking to thought it was the #120 that is now safe and in fine shape back east. Does anyone know if that is the case? Thanks for any info you might have. I'd love to hear that someone saved it....

wichita_rails@msn.com

The car in Kansas was the 180, aka PHILADELPHIA. It was at a restaurant near the airport on the west side of town and I believe there was a bankruptcy or some other financial misfortune. When we heard of the situation, after recently buying the 120, Eric and I flew to KAnsas and with the help of a very decent local rail preservation personality, made an offer for the car. The offer languished for many a month and then someone started to cut the car. My friend in Kansas called me and we were able to buy the trucks out from under the car and the rear platform railing as parts for a rainy day for the 120. In essence the 180 became an organ donor for the 120. The rest of the car was scrapped in place.

We also bought the 7507 (I believe to be the Quaker City) from aerson in Louisiana inorder to get another spare set of trucks. We donated that car to the Indiana National Guard at Camp Atterbury, where it is being converted into a museum car documenting the life of W.W. Atterbury.

The Car 90 (Delaware) was at the Coach Inn in Fort Washington PA, and we tried to acquire that hulk but the really moronic owner of the hotel wasn't interested at any price and sold the hulk and two others to a demolision contractor who dismantled water towers. we were able to salvage one truck from that car.

The idea was to assemble sufficient spare parts to insure the survivability of the 120.

With the E-8 program, we have purchased a spare NOSE from NRE in Chicago along with a spare pilot. We also bought a spare pilot and all the other parts from NS's Altoona Inventory.

Eric is pleased to report that last weeks trip to CLearfield and Baltimore via Sand Patch was by far the most successful trip from a mechanical standpoint. No defects and a perfect run. I should also say that AMTRAK, NS, RJ Corman and CSX handled the entire operation professionally and with a great amount of skill.

If you rode or had the opportunity to chase or watch us, we sure hope you had an enjoyable time.

For your interest, the 120 went from Geoge Pins, to Mr. Bert Smith of Jacksonville FL, to Mr. Joel Mitchell of New Orleans from whom we acquired the car.

The 120, and the Warrior Ridge (our new buffet, parlor, lounge car) will be on the Rear of this Sunday's "Royal BLue" Excursion from the B&O Museum to Philadelphia hauled by the E units.
If you want to ride contact Mark Eyer at Eyer@epix.net.

I hope this answers the questions,


v-scarpitti@worldnet.att.net

Bennett,

Do you know if the business car "Altoona" ever make it into privately owned hands?

Scott

> The car in Kansas was the 180, aka
> PHILADELPHIA. It was at a restaurant near
> the airport on the west side of town and I
> believe there was a bankruptcy or some other
> financial misfortune. When we heard of the
> situation, after recently buying the 120,
> Eric and I flew to KAnsas and with the help
> of a very decent local rail preservation
> personality, made an offer for the car. The
> offer languished for many a month and then
> someone started to cut the car. My friend in
> Kansas called me and we were able to buy the
> trucks out from under the car and the rear
> platform railing as parts for a rainy day
> for the 120. In essence the 180 became an
> organ donor for the 120. The rest of the car
> was scrapped in place.

> We also bought the 7507 (I believe to be the
> Quaker City) from aerson in Louisiana
> inorder to get another spare set of trucks.
> We donated that car to the Indiana National
> Guard at Camp Atterbury, where it is being
> converted into a museum car documenting the
> life of W.W. Atterbury.

> The Car 90 (Delaware) was at the Coach Inn
> in Fort Washington PA, and we tried to
> acquire that hulk but the really moronic
> owner of the hotel wasn't interested at any
> price and sold the hulk and two others to a
> demolision contractor who dismantled water
> towers. we were able to salvage one truck
> from that car.

> The idea was to assemble sufficient spare
> parts to insure the survivability of the
> 120.

> With the E-8 program, we have purchased a
> spare NOSE from NRE in Chicago along with a
> spare pilot. We also bought a spare pilot
> and all the other parts from NS's Altoona
> Inventory.

> Eric is pleased to report that last weeks
> trip to CLearfield and Baltimore via Sand
> Patch was by far the most successful trip
> from a mechanical standpoint. No defects and
> a perfect run. I should also say that
> AMTRAK, NS, RJ Corman and CSX handled the
> entire operation professionally and with a
> great amount of skill.

> If you rode or had the opportunity to chase
> or watch us, we sure hope you had an
> enjoyable time.

> For your interest, the 120 went from Geoge
> Pins, to Mr. Bert Smith of Jacksonville FL,
> to Mr. Joel Mitchell of New Orleans from
> whom we acquired the car.

> The 120, and the Warrior Ridge (our new
> buffet, parlor, lounge car) will be on the
> Rear of this Sunday's "Royal BLue"
> Excursion from the B&O Museum to
> Philadelphia hauled by the E units.
> If you want to ride contact Mark Eyer at
> Eyer@epix.net.

> I hope this answers the questions,


cessvw@cs.com

Supplementing my earlier question - I believe the number for the "Altoona" was 7526.

Thanks

> The car in Kansas was the 180, aka
> PHILADELPHIA. It was at a restaurant near
> the airport on the west side of town and I
> believe there was a bankruptcy or some other
> financial misfortune. When we heard of the
> situation, after recently buying the 120,
> Eric and I flew to KAnsas and with the help
> of a very decent local rail preservation
> personality, made an offer for the car. The
> offer languished for many a month and then
> someone started to cut the car. My friend in
> Kansas called me and we were able to buy the
> trucks out from under the car and the rear
> platform railing as parts for a rainy day
> for the 120. In essence the 180 became an
> organ donor for the 120. The rest of the car
> was scrapped in place.

> We also bought the 7507 (I believe to be the
> Quaker City) from aerson in Louisiana
> inorder to get another spare set of trucks.
> We donated that car to the Indiana National
> Guard at Camp Atterbury, where it is being
> converted into a museum car documenting the
> life of W.W. Atterbury.

> The Car 90 (Delaware) was at the Coach Inn
> in Fort Washington PA, and we tried to
> acquire that hulk but the really moronic
> owner of the hotel wasn't interested at any
> price and sold the hulk and two others to a
> demolision contractor who dismantled water
> towers. we were able to salvage one truck
> from that car.

> The idea was to assemble sufficient spare
> parts to insure the survivability of the
> 120.

> With the E-8 program, we have purchased a
> spare NOSE from NRE in Chicago along with a
> spare pilot. We also bought a spare pilot
> and all the other parts from NS's Altoona
> Inventory.

> Eric is pleased to report that last weeks
> trip to CLearfield and Baltimore via Sand
> Patch was by far the most successful trip
> from a mechanical standpoint. No defects and
> a perfect run. I should also say that
> AMTRAK, NS, RJ Corman and CSX handled the
> entire operation professionally and with a
> great amount of skill.

> If you rode or had the opportunity to chase
> or watch us, we sure hope you had an
> enjoyable time.

> For your interest, the 120 went from Geoge
> Pins, to Mr. Bert Smith of Jacksonville FL,
> to Mr. Joel Mitchell of New Orleans from
> whom we acquired the car.

> The 120, and the Warrior Ridge (our new
> buffet, parlor, lounge car) will be on the
> Rear of this Sunday's "Royal BLue"
> Excursion from the B&O Museum to
> Philadelphia hauled by the E units.
> If you want to ride contact Mark Eyer at
> Eyer@epix.net.

> I hope this answers the questions,


cessvw@cs.com

> Supplementing my earlier question - I
> believe the number for the
> "Altoona" was 7526.

> Thanks

Bennett, thanks for the answer, this answers a question that I've had for quite a while. Your efforts in preserving Pennsy history are much appreciated by many of us, more than you'll ever know..... I was too young to really know the PRR (first thing I really remember was the failed PennCentral) and your work with the E units and the Pennsy passenger equipment are outstanding to say the least. Thanks for taking the time to answer my posting!

Dan in Wichita

wichita_rails@msn.com