RAILROADERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM SAVES HISTORIC P.R.R. B60b BAGGAGE CAR
[ALTOONA, PA, FEBRUARY 8—] Working with the Rail Excursion Management Corporation (RailExCo) and FMW Solutions, the Railroaders Memorial Museum (RMM) has acquired a historic Pennsylvania Railroad baggage car to support its eventual plans to operate K4 Class steam locomotive No. 1361, which is currently undergoing restoration to operation in Altoona.
“As part of our plan to restore and operate steam locomotive No. 1361 in rail tourism service, we’ve begun the creation of a rolling museum exhibit train that will travel with it. These cars will not only help us visually recreate a Pennsylvania Railroad passenger train, but host exhibits and educational displays that will bring railroad history to every community the locomotive visits,” explained Joe DeFrancesco, Executive Director of the RMM.
The baggage car, classified as a B60b model car, was built in the 1920s for use on the storied railroad. It was donated to the RMM by RailExCo, who had acquired it at auction from Amtrak in late 2022 to save it from being scrapped. The car had served at Amtrak’s Ivy City (Washington, D.C.) terminal as a maintenance-of-way car for many decades when it finally came up for auction in mid-2022.
“We knew the car had an important value as an artifact, and it was in good enough shape to be saved for future restoration,” said Auxier. “When searching for a new home, we reached out to FMW Solutions, and they connected the pieces with the RMM.”
Working alongside RailExCo and FMW, the RMM was able to assemble a plan to get the railcar moved out of DC and back to its former home in Altoona. Key to the plan was finding a practical place to store the car. Though plans call for it to be eventually be moved to the roundhouse in Altoona for restoration, a plan materialized to store the railcar on the Everett Railroad.
“When the Altoona Museum approached us about the opportunity to take delivery of the B60, we were happy to lend a hand, and some track space, to provide it a temporary home,” explained Everett Railroad President Alan Maples. “As with their other collaborators, the Everett Railroad is honored to play a small part in bolstering railroad preservation in Central Pennsylvania, and we value the chance to support this restoration project.”
The exact history of the baggage car is uncertain. It was built in the 1920s, though the original car number, thus the key identifier, is unknown. The car is presumed to be numbered PRR 9004, as documentation was found in car when arrived at Claysburg. It is evident that the PRR renumbered B60bs throughout their careers. In time, RMM will research to find original car numbers for both No. 9004 and the museum’s other B60b No. 9055 (presently on display at the museum).
“We are excited to see our fleet of rolling stock grow in order to support the K4 No.1361’s education program as well as its operation,” said DeFrancesco. “Above all, we are happy to have had the support of our donors, and a few industry partners, whose collaboration and vision enabled us a chance to save this historic railcar.”
Each exhibit car will tell the story of railroading as can be seen in the thematic displays at the museum’s interpretive center housed in the historic PRR Master Mechanic’s Office Building in downtown Altoona. Equipped with technology, displays, and interpretive text panels. The Railroaders Memorial Museum’s mission is to preserve the human element of railroading and celebrate the railroader’s contribution to the industry.
Each car will be inspected for structural, mechanical, and compliance standards. A work order will outline the scope of repairs and upgrades needing to be done. The cars will be overhauled in those respective areas, readied for exhibitory outfitting. A timeline for completion or cost estimates have yet to be determined.
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