From our own Flimsies..........http://www.hagertypullman.com/A suitable acquisition target for the Friends of Steamtown, Friends of the RR Museum of Pa., or the like?Please note, they only want to TRANSFER TITLE. They don't appear to be asking $$.Dare we hope? Someone pinch us....... what's the catch?

It does seem almost too good to be true, especially if the photo is a recent one, indicating a current, as-is condition.Of course the real catch is the cost of transportation to a suitable new home and associated costs for storage and continued maintenance. I'd assume a car of this vintage would require indoor storage at a minimum, which just adds to the storage costs.This appears to be quite a worthwhile find, hopefully a suitable home can be found for it to rest for it's next 100+ years. Can there be very many NYO&W cars in existence, especially of this vintage ?

My vote would be for the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (RMPA)- as their conservation staff is among the best in preserving such cars. Likewise their facility has among the conditions for stabilizing such cars - as wood cars are rather sensitive to humidity and temperature changes. Given the condition and rarity of this car, its importance to the story of railroads in Pennsylvania, and the RMPA's reputation in the larger museum community, I think that it would be very possible for them to obtain outside funding from established donors to fund the acquision of the car.Tom Cornillie

The catch is that this car is actually not in Charleston itself -- it's on Sullivan's Island. It was delivered to Sullivan's Island by barge. It may be possible to truck it now, as the bridge to the island was improved after Hurricane Hugo. Moving the car is NOT going to be either cheap or easy, however.Here's a link to some very recent photos of the car, taken by one of SCRM's members who visited it recently:http://photobucket.com/albums/v329/Trainman-2/Pullman/?start=0SCRM has expressed an interest in the car. I understand that both RMPA and the B&O museum have expressed interest, as well. If the family decides in our favor, I'm sure as heck not going to turn it down -- however I'm not too worried about it coming to Rockton because we have a rather weak case. We want the move included in the donation, and we have no indoor storage for it. RMPA or Steamtown would be much better for the car. However, I'm honest enough to admit that I'd love to have it out of sheer greed.I understand that the roof needs a good bit of attention, but the car is otherwise complete. To be honest, this car is why I asked about the P-type brakes at Strasburg.

The condition where this would be a RRMPa target would be IF it could be ascertained that this, indeed, IS a NYO&W car. If it is, it's almost perfect for the collection: a RR that operated in Pa. but is little represented, an era that I don't believe the museum has covered insofar as a sleeper or other upper-class car , in spite of the 3-4 wooden late-1880s PRR cars they have (unless they ever get the PRR wooden obs away from Conway Scenic!)......... And there IS a NYO&W museum in Middletown, NY, by the way.........The photo album does make a much better case, and indeed it shows that this isn't "out of the blue", but that someone has actively looked at the car with an eye towards acquisition.Not to pick on the B&O Museum, but it's 1) not a B&O car (or is it? Do we know for sure?) and 2) would pretty much duplicate the Royal Blue car from the same era that they have.Perhaps another strategy would be for the RR Museum of Pa. to acquire and restore this presumed NYO&W car and then loan out one of its wooden cars for in-the-roundhouse display at Altoona.Of course, now we all have to huff and puff and blow Ophelia out to sea and away from Charleston/Sullivan's Island.........

Additionally, an execellent place for this car would be the Henry Ford Museum. Off hand, this is the only surviving car from Pullman's Detroit works. This is significant as railroad car building was one of Detroit's early industries and provided the skills and support industries that later facilitated the growth of the auto industy.Moreover, the car illustrates the construction and interior appointments of the late 19th century Pullman cars - of few survive intact. Likewise, it spent much of its time on the Detroit & Mackinac - as is edvidenced by the D&M castings on the trucks - and I would surmise that the car's current configuration reflects how it operated on the D&M more than any of its prior owners. Given the fact that the Henry Ford recently deaccessioned two restored D&M cars that now face an uncertain future - don't look for this to happen any time soon. Instead it will likely become another stop in the growing list of places to visit around the country where one can see Michigan's railroad heritage in museums. Tom Cornillie

Yup. I know the D&M bag went to New Jersey to become a "Lackawanna" tool display car (this car had a perfectly preserved interior baggage department that was JUNKED after being deaccessioned by Henry Ford).Any new news on the other car?TJ "Wish I had a @#$%^ warehouse to put these rare pieces in" GaffneyRailfan-Curator in the Marine Museum ;- )

Those of you who are longtime RYPN participants might remember this thread about the availability of a Pullman that emerged seemingly out of the blue.

Does anyone here know where it is now?