Built by Pressed Steel Car Co. in 1925, Bessemer & Lake Erie combine 23 is available free to any organization that will remove it from its present location at no cost to the present owners.

Built to NYC plans (even to NYC cast in the journal pedestals) the car served B&LE passenger operations until the early 1950s, after which it became dining car A200, used with the B&LE's business cars. Pennsylvania Trolley Museum obtained the car in 1964 to serve as their museum store and display area until buildings could be erected to serve that purpose. It is currently owned by the Canonsburg Chamber of Commerce, but inquiries should be directed to PTM's Executive Director Scott Becker at 724-228-9256 or email to sbecker@pa-trolley.org.

The car is located at the facilities of Pennsylvania Transformer Technology, Inc. in Canonsburg. You must have prior arrangements to inspect the car. It is equipped with solid bearings, so movement cannot be on its own wheels. The transformer company is prepared to aid by using their overhead crane facilities to load the car aboard highway trucks or railcars for removal. The providing of this loading service would be negotiated between any new owner and the transformer company.

The body of the car is in fair to good condition. Recently work on the car was performed as a donation by PTT, Inc. There are no seats in the car. PTM's interest in the car is that of finding a good home for it. Otherwise it may be subject to scrapping.

Undated photo from Trolley Museum days:

It looks rather similar to B&LE 25 at IRM, except the baggage door has been filled, and it looks like a small postal apartment fitted.

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

When converted to a sort of diner to accompany B&LE's business cars in the 1950s car 23 was modified in the process of becoming A200. The baggage door on the side opposite that shown was completely filled in and the door on the side shown reduced in size. That provided a modest kitchen facility in what had been the baggage section. It did not serve as an RPO at any time in its life SFAIK.

It very likely began life as a twin to the car at IRM, perhaps even in the same order.

In 1963 car A200 was replaced in its diner role by an air-conditioned car obtained from the EJ&E, releasing A200 for donation to PTM by B&LE in 1964.

Oops. I missed the diner reference. I was wondering why no hardware for the mail catcher arm... now I know. The single sided narrow door arrangement is pretty typical of other revenue diners... it Kept the loading door out of the public aisle. I wonder if this car's kitchen was the full width of the car, or if they partitioned off an aisle?

As diner A200 the car had some temporary (i.e., plywood) partitions in the former baggage area which separated the kitchen area from a passageway from the end door and side door into the former coach section. PTM removed all the plywood stuff plus what remained of the kitchen equipment, mostly just a sink and some shelving. Down in the sink drain we found a lovely engraved silver B&LE spoon, which I believe is still in our archives.

The coach section equipment consisted of a single long table with loose chairs along each side. The original rest room and equipment lockers at the vestabule end were untouched by the conversion.

B&LE always kept their business cars and A200 indoors in the steam roundhouse at Greenville, which accounts for the very good condition of the body of this car.

There is a tentative agreement for acquisition of this car by a Pennsylvania railroad.

More details once confirmed.