Illinois Central car 3300 "Bamboo Grove"

PLATFORMCAR · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm **Posts:** 429

Thought a few members of the forum might find some current photographs of ex Illinois Central Railroad car 3300 "Bamboo Grove".... one time 54 seat bar lounge observation .. lot 6633 plan 7442 built for the City of Miami.

Photographs are in March 2014 and car is located in Ormond Beach Florida located at a condominium complex. A Southern heavyweight coach is also located on the property

Interesting placement for the car.

Dean Levin

Alan Walker · **Posted:** Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:28 pm

If the pool were a bit deeper, you'd be able to dive from it.

PLATFORMCAR · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm **Posts:** 429

a few more photographs

Dean Levin

PLATFORMCAR · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm **Posts:** 429

Southern coach in Ormond Beach Florida with Bamboo Grove

March 2014

Dean Levin

Topfuel · **Joined:** Sun Aug 29, 2004 4:49 pm **Posts:** 529

You made all that effort to see the car and presumably weren't able to get inside. That's too bad. I'm really curious about the interior. One wonders if the "not visible" 80% side of the car has been cut open like a can opener (ala the former Landsdownne MILW Skytops) or if the car is still pretty much intact. Let's hope for the latter.

I presume that your next post will read that eee has bought the car, evicted all the senior citizen bingo players, and that the car is already half way to Alamosa.

PLATFORMCAR · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm **Posts:** 429

A few interior photographs ... ( not taken by me ) but attached for study.

Interior photos can be found at within an article on modeling the car at Model Railroad Hobbyist on line magazine at http://mrhpub.com/2013-08-aug/land/#105

Given the placement of the car, and the fact it has no vestibule, I am under the impression that the car likely has a hole cut in the side so the car is accessible from the building

Dean Levin

Topfuel · **Joined:** Sun Aug 29, 2004 4:49 pm **Posts:** 529

Hey look! It's been "fully restored" inside.

Thanks for posting the interior shots, Dean.

Wow, that interior décor really is awful. Not exactly the original New Orleans flavor interior splendor it was built with. But certainly something we've all seen many times before. Oh well. The décor is all cosmetic anyway, and it's certainly great that the car survives. And based on these interior pictures, you're right that it must have a hole cut in the side for access to the building, but it must be a relatively small opening so that's also good news.

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Thu Mar 20, 2014 11:13 pm

Thanks for posting the photos, Dean!

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:20 am

The SOU coach looks similar to the one that was restored and entombed in the Smithsonian recently.

PLATFORMCAR · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm **Posts:** 429

for interior comparison

Dean

PLATFORMCAR · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm **Posts:** 429

"Novel mural route map " as indicated in post card above

Dean

eze240 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:29 am **Posts:** 319

I saw this car a few years ago, it does have a hole cut in the side and it had some rot problems in the sides and rear of the car.
It looks nice now though. I wonder if Ed Ellis has tried to buy it yet for his collection......

PLATFORMCAR · **Joined:** Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:22 pm **Posts:** 429

another view

Dean

sou2404 · **Joined:** Wed Jun 19, 2013 5:56 pm **Posts:** 20

Awesome photos Dean! Thanks for posting! Did you perhaps get a number for the Southern coach? I'm working on a list of surviving Southern heavyweight cars and didn't know this one was still around.

It could be from the 1200-1206 series like the 1200 at the Smithsonian, or it could be from another. Either way, it's a great find.

etalcos · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 9:39 pm

Dean's last postcard photo of the observation interior reminds me a lot of the "Mardi Gras" that Roanoke Chapter used to own. Gary???? ...and that may be one of the nicest pre-war Pullman bodies that I've seen lately, although I'm hearing good things about the "General Beuregard" (in private ownership at TNVR) of late.

As far as the Southern Coach goes, I'd bet on Southern 1003. There were at least 3 series of small window modernized heavyweights -- the 1000 to 1006, the low end 1200s (the high end 1200s were welded side, big picture windows), and there were some in the 1060s and 1070s.

ETA