Bessemer & Lake Erie Passenger Cars

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

The recent post about the B&LE combine reminded me of some other B&LE coaches that I was curious about.

Back in the very early 1980's, probably '82 or '83, I was sent to look at some Bessemer & Lake Erie cars that were stored in Greenville, PA and were up for sale. The Mt Rainier Scenic RR considered acquiring them, but the cost of shipping them cross country was an issue.

The cars looked to be in nice shape, at least from a casual initial inspection. It's been a long time, but I seem to recall they were also pretty much "vintage", without a lot of conversions or modernization. I don't recall what the seats were for example, maybe cloth, but I do recall they weren't some modern vinyl seating or something that looked like it was out of a school bus.

There were 3 or 4 cars, including a combine or maybe it was a baggage car, but I think it was a combine. It would not have been the one that's currently available though, since the dates don't line up, it was still in Greenville in the early '80's. That said, the styling and color sure match up, so it was probably from the same era.

I think one car was a dining car and there was possibly an obs car as well? I think it had been used as a business train, though I don't recall there being a sleeper or office car in the consist. But then again, it's been a long time now...

Anyone recall what happened to those cars? The railroad had them up for bid, and was getting rid of them. We didn't bid on them due to the shipping but I'm guessing somebody local would have. Anyone know the details?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:05 am

To refresh folks' memories:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12975

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:15 am

IRM has B&LE 25, a sister to combine #23, discussed in another thread. IRM acquired the car from the EJ&E, who acquired the car from the B&LE in 1960.

The car at IRM is in very good shape, having undergone an extensive restoration in the 1990s.

Photos of it can be seen here:

http://www.irm.org/gallery/BLE25

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

To refresh folks' memories:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12975

Of a completely different discussion of a completely different car....

Meanwhile, does anyone have info on the cars I'm asking about? There were 3 or 4 cars, not one, still owned by the B&E in the 1980s, and while I don't know the exact vintage of the cars, I do know they weren't 1890's Wagners!