In Searsport, Maine, on Route 1. The location is a seasonal shop called "The Ice Cream Station", a nice little place built in the plan of a railroad station, but a new construction, rather than a preserved building. The ice cream parlor sits along the MM&A tracks, but faces the road.

This car has been wintering in the parking lot, a fugitive from the dissolving Belfast and Moosehead Lake. I am told the old gas car is not going to stay here, but she's doing a lovely job of sinking into the parking lot! It began life on the Maine Central, and later was converted to work train service. Eventually, It went to the B&ML, including its original trucks. The trucks are not in evidence here. The car is being refitted as a residence, complete with wiring and wastewater plumbing. The doors are sealed and caulked shut. Unfortunately, the cribbing on which it sits has damage the draft gear box. I imagine it'll become someone's camp. Kind of sad, it might have been a worthwhile addition as an operative piece on the Downeast Scenic Railroad, in Ellsworth.



Anybody know more about her?

According to Keilty's book, the car is Ingersoll-Rand demonstrator OE600, built in 1933 with a St Louis Car body. It was sold to the Maine Central in 1935 and renumbered 901. It is listed as being retired in 1949. Truly a rare find, even if the original engine and electrical equipment are long gone. That big engine room contained 2 Ingersoll-Rand 300hp diesel engines as used in Alco-GE-IR switchers.
It is listed as weighing 110 tons! and originally had an A1A power truck.

The car was completely gutted at some point - there were no mechanicals left of any kind, as well as the drive train/traction motors removed. I think at one time it had been either a gift shop or a snack bar at Belfast.

While I'll agree that a vintage (and authentic) gas-electric might have been nice to have on the Downeast, this car was way, way, gone.

Yes, the original trucks were under it, albeit without traction motors, while on the rails. Where the trucks are today, I have no idea. Note also, the frame is straight. There appears to be little or no sill rot. Probably a static exhibit would be the best use for the car, but owing to what has been written in commentary to my original post, I'd say this is an extraordinary find for a museum.

Hi Dick,
The gentleman who owns this car is the same man who has moved in most of our equipment. He does have the trucks, as far as I know. The damaged draft gear has been like that since I've been around it and the BML I think may have received the car that way. When the car was moved from Belfast to Unity(hard to believe, but it's been 10 years) I helped with that move. If you look in Bill Robertson's book "Maine Central Diesel Locomotives", you'll see a diagram of that car showing the 2 diesel engines in it. Must have been quiet to operate! I guess back in the day, Maine Central was more of a "sound" operation.
LF

Leverett: What do you know of it's quality as a restorable rail vehicle? Not that I'm suggesting that precious funds be diverted from the DESRy for this purpose, but would she handle a rebuild? Are there significant components still with her? I used to see her on a siding in Fairfield, dead, and part of a work train consist, in pretty muc the condition she remains in today!

It's generally regarded that the remaining doodlebugs that the Sperry Rail Services have converted to their use have undergone too many modifications to restore to their original condition. I've always wondered about the possibility of using the trucks, motors, engines and other components of a SRS car to restore an original doodlebug carbody such as this one. Granted that it wouldn't be a historical restoration, but it seems like it'd be a better fate than what this car is facing.