Rutland #260 to Operate at RMNE

Howard P. · **Posted:** Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:20 pm

This coming weekend, Saturday August 2 and Sunday August 3, we will have a very rare and special rail car operating on our passenger train, pulled by visiting steam locomotive Lehigh Valley Coal #126.

The car is Rutland #260, built in 1891 and in regular railroad service up in Vermont from 1891 until 2009-- the longest-serving passenger car in North America! Used for branchline passenger and milk trains by the Rutland Railway, it's now part of RMNE's historic rolling stock collection.

260 last operated behind steam power well over 30 years ago, at Steamtown in Vermont. This weekend's trips will be a rare opportunity to ride in this varnished wood gem, and listen as #126's steam whistle echoes off the Litchfield Hills!

This is the real thing, branchline railroading as it was in 1914!!

Reservations and tickets at our website http://www.rmne.org.

After these trips, #260 will go back into storage (wrapped) at our Thomaston Shop Yard. This will be the only operation of the car for the foreseeable future.

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Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2014 11:20 am

Isn't that beautiful?

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2014 1:16 pm

This is what a coach should look like.

dave

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

One of my best days on rails involves #260... that tale in a minute.

First, let us congratulate the Vermont Rail System and RMNE for coming up with a preservation plan for this car. The VRS has been very good about passing rolling stock into preservation and they deserve many kudos. I know it was hard for the VRS to send her off from her native habitat, but they made the right move.

Also, let us note that enough Rutland passenger stock exists to put together a train with baggage cars, combines and multiple types of coaches... even an office car... but most of these are in various states of decay... the majority in private ownership. #260 is the gem of the bunch.

Now, to that memorable day...

About 7 years ago the Rutland Railroad Historical Society was meeting in Brandon, VT (a quality group of gents if there ever was one). The VRS ran an all-Rutland train for us... RS-1 #405, coach #551 and combine #260.

On the ride north up the old RUT mainline to Charlottle (pronounced shar-lot, flatlander) I rode the RS-1. On the way back, I rode in #260, swaying to the rail joints (on the southern portion of the trip, welded rail was in place up north) and talking with a farmer who used to ship milk on the RUT. The weather was awful, but the experience was incredible and it is safe to say it will never happen again.

The coach and combine were retired. The jointed rail is due to go next year. There's talk of bridge replacement, too. #405 soldiers on but she's got no RUT stock to pull anymore.

That trip truly was the "last run" of a Rutland train on the main line... even if it was four decades after the RUT shut down.

Maybe when #405 goes to her "forever home" it will be at RMNE, too? Or maybe someone of wealth and taste will bring one of the other surviving RUT RS-1's back to New England? Who knows?

bpetit · **Posted:** Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:01 pm

That is one fine looking passenger car.