Antique Railcar For Sale?

Allan · **Posted:** Mon Aug 05, 2002 3:16 pm

The following is the text from an ad for an "Antique Railcar": (See the link for the actual ad, and pictures.)

Anyway, the question is, does anyone know if the information on this car is correct? And, isn't $25,000 a lot of money just for the wood body of a car, even if it may be historically important?

"An antique railcar believed to have been built in the 1860's era is now available for sale. The car is reported to be Car #3, of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company Gravity Railroad. The D&H CC Gravity RR operated in the 1800's and extended from Valley Junction, PA, through the rail yard at Carbondale, PA and on to the canal basin at Homesdale, PA. The gravity railroad and the canal served as a major coal outlet for the region during the period. The owner has investigated several points offering credence as to the car's historical past. The car is approximately 22 ft. long, with the roof being some 24 ft. in length. The car is without trucks and platforms. Cherry wood has been found under the interior paint. The wooden exterior is painted, and the car has rounded, top plate glass windows. Location: Pennsylvania
Price: $25,000 Owner Financing May Be Available."

"Antique Railcar" Ad
ddg14@msn.com

Tom Gears · **Posted:** Mon Aug 05, 2002 5:25 pm

That car had been for sale forever. This stuff needs to be priced to sell or it will sit. The best thing is if the owner faces fact that it will never sell and makes a donation. Figure the only equipment that will sell is something that can make money, this will nevern make anyone a dime so that leaves museums and we all know how flush with cash most museums are.

Tom Gears

Forgotten Delaware's Jackson and Sharp Pages
tgears1@comcast.net

Dave Crosby · **Posted:** Tue Aug 06, 2002 2:53 pm

Hey All..

This thing was listed on the DF Barnhart site for as long as I can remember. In a way these things are "a dime a dozen" around here. Many were constructed originally as gravity railroad passenger cars and some were eventually converted to steam cars. Serveral communities have nice preserved examples of them, while a few more have been incorporated into buildings, houses, resteraunts over time. $25,000 would be alot to ask for a complete one, let alone a hacked up version which looks alot more like a circus trailer today.

if you want to take a look at a complete one, check this link, I'm also attempting to attach a picture below...

http://www.geocities.com/scrantontrains/misc.html

DF Barnhart ad

Allan · **Posted:** Wed Aug 07, 2002 12:26 pm

Thanks, didn't know that so many of those cars existed. The price is definately very high. No wonder it's been listed for so long. At that price, It will probably never be sold.

Thanks for the link. That's a nice looking car in Scranton. Too bad it has to be caged up like a zoo animal though...

Allan

http://www.geocities.com/scrantontrains/misc.html

ddg14@msn.com

James Hefner · **Posted:** Wed Aug 07, 2002 12:35 pm

> Thanks for the link. That's a nice looking
> car in Scranton. Too bad it has to be caged
> up like a zoo animal though...

To keep the "zoo animals" out, not in. :(

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

Randall Hicks · **Posted:** Wed Aug 07, 2002 4:50 pm

> Thanks for the link. That's a nice looking
> car in Scranton. Too bad it has to be caged
> up like a zoo animal though...

The one in Hawley is nicely displayed under a roof in a park near the center of town, as I recall (or at least it was, twenty years ago. Hope it's being maintained.)

When you see one in person, these gravity cars are tiny by modern standards - they almost look like they were designed for use by ten year olds. I guess everybody really was shorter back in the 19th century?

Rob Davis · **Posted:** Thu Aug 08, 2002 10:58 am

Allan,

Nay Aug Park has been through a very, very sad period of decline which is starting to be reversed. While the display may not be the best, it is actually one of the few positive stories.

The once proud park, complete with amuseuments and a zoo, has suffered a decades-long slide that saw animal rights abuses and the typical city park problems.

Money is apparently headed for the mine display.

When the DL&W offered the city a 4-8-4 Pocono, the city accepted provided the DL&W trucked it up to the park. The DL&W declined.

Rob

> Thanks, didn't know that so many of those
> cars existed. The price is definately very
> high. No wonder it's been listed for so
> long. At that price, It will probably never
> be sold.

> Thanks for the link. That's a nice looking
> car in Scranton. Too bad it has to be caged
> up like a zoo animal though...

> Allan

trains@robertjohndavis.com

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2018 12:01 am

OVER SIXTEEN YEARS LATER!!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/blakely150th/p ... =3&theater

Quote:

“Blakely Borough's newest resident D&H gravity rail passenger car #3 built in 1867. The car was recently donated by the family of the late Rodney Brown of Carbondale . A restoration project is being planned for 2019. A Committee will be forming soon. If interested in assisting please contact the Borough office."

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

That's awesome news. It's amazing how many of these are still around after so, so many years.

lmckay175 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2018 2:31 pm

How many of these things survive anyway?

DLSGM · **Posted:** Sat Dec 22, 2018 4:14 pm

There is one in the museum in Honesdale.

6-18003 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 17, 2010 9:31 am **Posts:** 728

Including the PCC cars there are 16 or 17 surviving, some are worse than others and I do not know if any have left the earth over the past few years. The open air car in Waymart is more of a recreation but was built from the remains of a real car.

https://archive.org/details/GravityCars ... rRobertFJr