> Greetings,

> If curiousity killed the cat, then I am the
> cat that will be killed. This is because I
> am curious of the existing business cars out
> there. I would like to compile a business
> car inventory.

> The problem lies in the distinction of a
> business car. What I have in mind is the
> "historic" business car (i.e., not
> the sleeper or coach some Joe converted into
> a rolling RV).

> I'd like to know original railroad, status
> (restored, for sale, derelict, etc.),
> location, date built, builder, etc.

> This is for the purposes of curiousity, but
> if it turns out to be a good list, perhaps
> Mr. Rob Davis would be interested in having
> this addition to the great AOTT.

> God Bless,
> Gerald Kopiasz

Gerald -

I believe Western Maryland Railway business car #203 is currently on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania at Strasburg. This is a steel heavyweight car built by Pullman in 1914.

The narration of the wonderful 1988 WB video tape "Allegheny Rails, vol. 2 The Western Maryland", says that sister car #204 was sold to a "Cumberland Contractor" and was being used as a vacation home near Deep Creek lake, Maryland. I can't verify that. Maybe someone else has more info on it?

Todd Mullens

Morgantown, WV


MullensTKMS@aol.com

Two former AT&SF short business cars are on the Fillmore & Western in Fillmore CA. ATSF 409 is owned by the F&W and in service, ATSF 428 is privatley owned and stored in Fillmore.

Jason Midyette

amjm@indra.com

> The body of ex-Colorado & California,
> ex-Nevada & California, ex-Central
> Pacific, Virginia & Truckee #10
> "Esmerelda" NG business car is at
> Orange Empire Railway Museum. It had been
> modified into a section foreman's home.
> Other business cars at OERM are:

The C&C #10 was built by the V&T Shops in Carson City; but, it was never owned by the V&T. When built it had a cupola because the officers on the C&C had liked riding in the cupola of a converted caboose. When SP rebuilt the car in c1902 they removed the cupola. The car was used at Keeler for engine or train crews. Then later was used as an outbuilding next to a railfan's swiming pool.

Brian Norden

bnorden49@earthlink.net

> The Savannah was originally Marco Polo and
> origianally carried that name when it was
> FDR's private car. It was renamed Savannah
> when sold to the C of G circa 1944. It had
> carried that name into its Southern Railway
> career. It was parked near the turntable at
> Washington Union Station when it was
> rehabbed at the Roanoke Shops of Norfolk
> Southern circa 1989, and had its original
> name restored.

> My wife and I had dinner on the car while
> still painted in Central of Georgia colors
> and named "Savannah" with then NS
> Sr. Vice President and former Kentucky
> Governor Edward T. "Ned"
> Breathitt, who was the source of my
> information. Now, what became of the Macon?

The Norfolk Southern has a C of G heavy weight car in their fleet in Altoona along with 12 or so Southern business cars from the 1920's. I acquired the Tennessee #8 in 2000 from them.
Don


roxb@earthlink.net

> Is that the truss-rodded car that's sheathed
> in unpainted aluminum?

That's the one. That plus the roof mounted air conditioners make for an odd looking car, but the interior is largely original, except for the kitchen. I believe the modifications and the exterior sheathing were done by the Pittsburg & Shawmut while the car was in thier ownership. We have the car up for sale since we very seldom use it.


AMaples@aol.com

Did Seaboard Air line have a business car by that name as well? Does it survive?

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

The Columbus & Greenville owns the King Cotton, a former IC business car. It has retained most of its 1912 appearance inside and out. For a long time it was kept at the Birmingham, AL Amtrak station.

Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society
tstuy@eldcps.org

Gerald,

I am somewhat ignorant on rolling stock. I hope someone can correct me if I am wrong on the following, or can provide more details.

There is a passenger car, which I think is an executive car, on display in Rosenburg, TX outside of Houston. According to my notes, it dates from the 1870s, and is now being used as the Rosenburg Railroad Museum.

I even have a photograph of it, but would have to do a considerable amount of digging to find it.

Can any other Texans chime in with more information?

-God Bless;
James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

> Greetings,

> If curiousity killed the cat, then I am the
> cat that will be killed. This is because I
> am curious of the existing business cars out
> there. I would like to compile a business
> car inventory.

> The problem lies in the distinction of a
> business car. What I have in mind is the
> "historic" business car (i.e., not
> the sleeper or coach some Joe converted into
> a rolling RV).

> I'd like to know original railroad, status
> (restored, for sale, derelict, etc.),
> location, date built, builder, etc.

> This is for the purposes of curiousity, but
> if it turns out to be a good list, perhaps
> Mr. Rob Davis would be interested in having
> this addition to the great AOTT.

> God Bless,
> Gerald Kopiasz


Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

Gerald,

Thought of another one; it came from some notes I wrote down during a conversation with a steam engine/railfan in LA. It is part of a page of industrial landmarks along the Gulf Coast I put together years ago for AOTT (remember, Rob?), I linked it below. The home page of material I put together for AOTT is at http://www.pernet.net/~james1/AOTT/; I need to rebuild my links to Rob's new website.

"The dismantled remains of an executive car were located at one time on Tank Farm Rd., app. 3 miles south of Lake Charles. The Mahagoney wood inserts were hand-carved by a man whose name appears on the inserts."

As close as it is, I have to have a chance to check it out. We are going through Lake Charles this Sunday, but as usual I will be on my way to somewhere else, and may not have time to check it out.

-God Bless
James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a


Industrial Landmarks in the Mid-South Region
james1@pernet.net

Yes, the car is former Canadian National #79 and was built in 1879 as a wooden coach. It was clad with steel plating sometime in the 1920's. I don't know who the manufacturer was. We also have some of the silver service set (it had a small dining room) and furniture that was used in the car.

It underwent an exterior restoration 5 years ago, but needs a lot more now. We have plans to build a cover for it, and then begin a total restoration inside and out.

Best Regards,

KES

> Gerald,

> I am somewhat ignorant on rolling stock. I
> hope someone can correct me if I am wrong on
> the following, or can provide more details.

> There is a passenger car, which I think is
> an executive car, on display in Rosenburg,
> TX outside of Houston. According to my
> notes, it dates from the 1870s, and is now
> being used as the Rosenburg Railroad Museum.

> I even have a photograph of it, but would
> have to do a considerable amount of digging
> to find it.

> Can any other Texans chime in with more
> information?

> -God Bless;
> James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


Museum Home Page
rrm@texas.net

The Erie R.R. # 3 I believe is at Scranton and tere is the Ex NKP business car in Lima , Ohio on display near the 779.

ryoungceo@yahoo.com

> The Columbus & Greenville owns the King
> Cotton, a former IC business car. It has
> retained most of its 1912 appearance inside
> and out. For a long time it was kept at the
> Birmingham, AL Amtrak station.

Was that its name on the IC? At IRM there's an IC sleeper named the King Cotton, and it seems strange a road would have two cars with the same name. According to my handy IRM roster, the sleeper is a 1942 Pullman, and evidently had no number.

PRR #3999 "Trenton" type Pb built in the 1880s resides at the NJ Museum of Transportation/Pine Creek RR. This all wood car is currently stored in doors. Interior is outstanding, exterior is poor.

> Nevada Northern No. 101 "Ely"
> (2nd) is currently in the good hands of the
> Illinois Railway Museum. This was the
> General Manager's car.

> Nevada Northern No. 100 (2nd), private car
> of Solomon Guggenheim, is privately owned
> and stored at the Ohi-Rail Minerva yards.

> Use the link below to my "NN Passenger
> Service" web pages for more infomation
> on these two examples of private varnish
> than you may either need or want to know.

> Cheers,
> Keith Albrandt

> "Prize collector of varnish equipment
> in the Far West, however, was the Nevada
> Northern, a rich copper-haul railroad once
> dominated by the Guggenheim interests."
> --Lucius Beebe


jrmay@njmt.org

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum has one business car included in our rolling stock at present, It is ex-B & O No. 98, built in 1917 by Pullman as part of a two car order. According to our information, Nos. 97 and 98 were built specifically as business cars. Use of the car is restricted to charters on Dixieland excursions. At present the car is in need of repairs to both the interior and exterior which we hope to complete sometime in the near future.

Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum
envlink@voyageronline.net

Jay Gould's personal car is on display in Jefferson, Texas, in good shape except sans trucks.

When Jefferson, Texas refused to let Jay Gould build through it, he declared the town would die off because if it. No doubt the irony of the situation did not escape the townspeople when they acquired it and put it on display.

It is under a cover in the historical district.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Industrial Landmarks in the Mid-South Region
james1@pernet.net