The CEO of the Reading & Northern, Mr. Andrew Muller, Jr. owns a vintage open-platform private passenger car, RBMN Car-1, "Black Diamond".

From markings found on the car, it was at one time A.& W.P. #100.

We are seeking any historical background, such as builders info (when & where), ownership over the years, etc, also any historic photos of the car.

It is known that the car was built for Jay Gould's daughter, Helen Miller Gould.

It is a wood car with truss rods, steel sheet metal exterior added at some point.

The interior is in excellent condition, including the stained glass.

The car was acquired from "The Station" restaurant complex in Wilkes-Barre, Pa, in 1996.

Anyone know more of the car's history ??

Thank You.

Steve Gilbert,
Director, Passenger Operations
RBMN RR.

Probably not what you're looking for, but here's an interesting narrative of A&WP 100's role in the movement of a four-section Ringling Borthers circus train in the 1940s

http://csxatlanta.com/news/circus_circles_the_city.htm

Circus Circles the City
eledbetter@rypn.org

Mr. Gilbert,

Please contact me regarding your question. I do have some drawings that should be of interest regarding the WofA/A&WP Office Car 100.

Andrew Waldo
Old Alabama Rails
Montgomery, Alabama

Old Alabama Rails
andrewwaldo@mchsi.com

This was posted to the Georgia RR - West Point Route List at Yahoo Groups:

Information I have been able to dig up while composing my book on the West
Point Route indicates that the 100 was built by American Car & Foundry (ACF)
at some unknown date (possibly for Helen Gould) and rebuilt in 1902 with the
forward platform replaced with a vestibule. The car was purchased second-had
by the A&WP-WofA (each owned a half interest in the vehicle) in 1908, and the
steel underframe and sheathing were applied in 1921. The car was
air-condition at a much later date (unknown to me) and was sold on November
3, 1970. As the Georgia RR shared management with the West Point Route after
1913, the car also saw use on the Georgia RR, particularly in the years
between 1936 and 1955, when the GaRR had no business car of its own.

Bob Hanson


GA-WPR@YahooGroups
jmlabofda@msn.com