Howdy All-

I'm a volunteer at the Stewartstown Railroad - http://stewartstownrailroadcompany.com/ - and we're getting close to big train operations over a section of the line - one more set of ties to switch out, FRA inspections, training, etc.
We have three Reading coaches and one CNJ coach: 1303. Our CNJ coach is missing its trucks (I believe they were sold up to Jim Thorpe), and I was wondering if there are any trucks around to be found...

Thanks-

Mike

A pic of 1303...
https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... e=54EF2FB6

Have you tried contacting Black River & Western RR,they have a reading car
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=2279491

Also CNJ 1300 series sitting at PSE&G plant in milford NJ,this car belongs
to Green mountain RR as parts supply if I recall,was part of BR&W or URHS
not sure but both cars still in same locations for several years/decades

I believe the BR&W car at Lambertville is a CNJ 1300-series, not Reading. It has been stripped for parts and as noted, contacting the BR&W might be a good start.

The Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Lexington, KY, has an identical 1300-series in poor condition that they reportedly wish to dispose of.

Alan Maples

I asked one of the BGRM volunteers yesterday about the CNJ coach they aren't using. They haven't really decided yet what they will do yet, rumors have it that their L&N diner will be redone for stationary dining, and that the CNJ 1302 might end up as extra seating if it takes off. But it is worth a chance?

I also know that the former Carthage, Knightstown and Shirley operation has one (still in tattered PC paint!)

Edit: The BR&W car is a CNJ car from the looks of it. All the CNJ hallmarks are there and I don't see anything that would indicate Reading Co.

Just two random ideas:

Contact Steamtown, they have several derelict CNJ cars, maybe willing to part with one?

Perhaps the Arkansas & Missouri? I believe one of their cars damaged in October was a CNJ car.

Do know that I have no inside info or affiliation with either organization, just thinking out loud. Good luck!

The CK&S car is a New York Central MU coach. I have been told that the car is spoken for.

Alan Maples

Thanks for the leads guys - I'll follow up.

How much will a pair of these trucks weigh?

Those trucks should weigh about 33-34,000 lbs for a pair.

The 1300-series round roof CNJ coaches had a cast-frame, integral pedestal truck with roller bearings. The older clerestory roof CNJ coaches (900-1100 series) had different trucks, a bolted-pedestal type. The center plates may not be interchangeable and this is an important thing to check before chasing after a set of trucks. More work (changing the carbody center plate and side bearing arrangement) might be needed.

Howard P.

Howard's point is well made; passenger car trucks are not as interchangeable as freight car trucks and must be carefully matched to the car to ensure compatibility.

Alan Maples

While truck designs can be related to the car design, don't be sold on the idea that you can only use originals, either (unless you have very specific preservation reasons for doing so). With review of the bolster design and key dimensions, you could adapt any number of truck designs with varying degrees of fabrication necessary to make it work. Grapevine Vintage RR has heavyweight era commuter cars (former Lackawanna 4-axle heritage, as I recall) that ride quite nicely on more modern inside swing hanger lightweight GSC trucks. There are several other examples of heavyweights riding on much more modern trucks than they were built with, particularly when it comes to office cars.

Best,
Michael

The CNJ 1300 series trucks are nearly identical to the ex DL&W Mtr car Trucks. Both are Cast Steel with drop equalizer and 38" wheels, not 36" as on most passenger cars. These CNJ cars (30 total originally including 5 combines) were designed to be electrified and even had two sets of roof brackets for pantographs. Also they originally had corner step grabs for accessing the never installed pantograph hold down and grounding switch.
Possibly try and locate one of these cars for their trucks. Several of these ex DL&W Mtr cars may be near scrap by their owners due to underframe and roof deterioration. One note of caution is that you may need the carbody bolster and center plate for reuse on your 1300 series car.

It is interesting that at least 3/4's of the CNJ #1300's survivors belong to two companies: GMRC and R&N.

All,

Since we are on the subject of CNJ coaches, any info on converting the Sharon couplers to E type?

Thanks,

Scott

Also might want to contact the CMRR in Kingston NY. I think I remember they had two cars they were selling.

I don't remember what may have happened to them but when BR&W 321 (321 was a CNJ coach converted to a trailer for PRR 4666... "the red car") was scrapped in the early 2000s, the trucks may have been retained... I have a feeling they were not though... IIRC there was at least one wheelset with a high or sharp flange.

Rod Whitehead