Ted wrote:

"Frederick was built by Jackson & Sharp in 1890 as coach #831, renumbered in 1909 to #873, rebuilt in 1910 to business car Frederick, renumbered in 1913 to #A-3, renumbered in 1925 to #103 (1st), renumbered in 1929 to #108, retired in 1942, the body was sold to unknown party in Welby, CO, and was later (when??) moved to Aspen and opened as the Parlor Car Restaurant. I did some searching, and couldn't find any indication that said restaurant is still in existence, so can anybody provide info on this car's current status/whereabouts, or has this car been scrapped? Thanks in advance!"

I'm a new member (joined just to reply to this) and earlier today saw something on a Japanese modeling forum, and I decided to research it. The Frederick still exists, but it's a long ways from Colorado.

http://www.japaneserailwaysociety.com/h ... d/fred.htm

The photo of the car in the framed document is a perfect match to the one at the Denver library.

http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/re ... 2/id/29918

That leaves the question of how it got to Japan. Aspen being a trendy place, my working theory is that a well-heeled Japanese visitor saw it there (perhaps with a "For Sale" sign), and had it shipped home. I'd like to think that the original intended purpose was not on a used car lot, although that location likely had a different function at the time the car was moved there. Perhaps there's a source in Aspen (local paper) who might know when it was removed?

This 1982 review in the NYT indicates it was still there then.

http://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/04/trave ... wanted=all


Charles

Hi Charles,

This is simply fascinating -- but it's certainly not the only piece of historic US rolling stock to somehow end up in Japan. (Rio Grande Southern caboose 0409 at Tokyo Disney is perhaps the most infamous example.)

I sent a Facebook message to a Japanese railfan friend of mine in the Tokyo area to ask if he knows anything about this car, or if it even still exists. I will let you know if this inquiry yields any new information.

-Philip Marshall

Thanks Philip -

I've written the Japan-side contact for the Japanese Railway Society to see if he can add anything.

I also identified and contacted the former owner of the former Parlor Car Restaurant in Aspen, thinking he likely sold the car, so would know something of it. He's listed as the owner thru 1991, so that gives a 6-year gap before it was photographed outside Tokyo.

I just love the net for researching mysteries ;-)

Charles

No information about the car I'm afraid. He suggested contacting the Japanese Railway Society directly, which you've already done.

-Philip Marshall

I'm not sure that will pan out either - I received this from their man in Japan.

"Thank you for your mail and efforts. I'll forward it to Hiroshi Naito,
the writer, who is a longstanding JRS member."

I was going to look on Google satellite view for used car lots, until I discovered just how
large Funabashi is. I've been trying searches using kanji, but haven't come up with successful phrasing yet. I think what we need is a railfan living nearby.

Charles