After reading the flimsies on the above subject I got to thinking ...which phase of this cars life was the most historically significant? Would it be better to leave it in its present configuration or do a major reconstruction back to IRR376 ????

May she go to a good home!

Thank you Don Ross for the nice picture


lamontdc@adelphia.net

> Personally, I think that the RPO configuration restoration, while probably expensive, would be the most appropriate. There are many complete line cars in trolley museum collections (IRM has 3) while the only heavy duty interurban RPO car that I know of (as opposed to city streetcars or country trolleys) ie the PE, formerly Portland, Eugene & Eastern carbody at Orange Empire.

As an example, the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is planning to restore Red Arrow line car 07 to its original box motor appearance, as we have Pittsburgh Railways M210 which is a purpose built line car. We also have a Philadelphia sweeper which we converted to a line car and used for 20 years before M210 becam available. This car is for sale.


artschwartz@sprintmail.com

"...the only heavy duty interurban RPO car that I know of (as opposed to city streetcars or country trolleys) ie the PE, formerly Portland, Eugene & Eastern carbody at Orange Empire."

There's also Texas Electric #360 on display in Plano at the Interurban Museum, as well as Mount Hood Railway & Power #1191 (pictured below) at the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society.

Ignoring for the moment the question of whether the 1100 "should" be restored to IRR days, I would ask whether it "could." Is all of that 600v electrical equipment that would have to be replaced even available? Does anyone know for sure what the interior looked like - what the colors were, or the layout? Would it really be possible to backdate and restore the car - or would it be more of a non-historical bastardization done in the spirit of "best guess"? Just something to think about.

Frank Hicks

Preserved North American Electric Railway Cars

F-Hicks@wiu.edu

Our P&W 401 was built as a box motor, but P&W never really had much parcel service.

It became their line and emergency car (P&W is a third-rail line but that needs maintained too)

Later when steel 402 came, 401 became tow car for the "pickle train" which treated the third-rail in winter. We intend to keep it as is, since that was it's most significant duty.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

>I didn't say it would be easy. However, there appears to be a fair amount of documentation on the car as an RPO, including a floor plan in one of the older CERA bulletins. Electrical equipment can be obtained or made, if necessary, and is only necessary if an operating car is desired.

Do any of the cars that you mention have fully equipped RPO sections?

By the way, the Mount Hood car in the picture appears to be a box motor, with no evidence of an RPO section. It may have had one at one time.

artschwartz@sprintmail.com

Hi,

Don't forget, South Shore Line bought a total 3(!) RPO's from Indiana Railway. Two were converted to freight trailers and hauled newspapers for years.

According to a letter in :
http://www.railwaymuseums.org/RMQ_Feature.htm

"SSL 503, ex-Indiana Railroad baggage trailer is in Scottsburg, IN at a former Indiana Railroad shop facility. It is on freight car trucks, as someone else already had taken the trucks when the car was at Michigan City."

SSL 504 is at IRM.

So, all three survive.

Rather than tearing apart the line car, leave it be as SSL 1100. It looks great.

Instead, SSL 503 could use be returned to the RPO condition.

And heck, SSL 504 could be backdated to the original condition.

I'll donate $10. Anyone else?

Charles



bg23338@binghamton.edu

Ok,

I did five minutes of websearching and found the little buggers.

Here the Scottsburg RPO.

http://greatscottindiana.org/places_of_interest.htm

Now, who has got a good recent photo of South Shore Line 504 at IRM?

Charles



bg23338@binghamton.edu

Here's one I took in June. It's hard getting a good picture inside those carbarns.

> Ok,

> I did five minutes of websearching and found
> the little buggers.

> Here the Scottsburg RPO.

>
> http://greatscottindiana.org/places_of_interest.htm

> Now, who has got a good recent photo of
> South Shore Line 504 at IRM?

> Charles


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