Reports from Strasburg RR indicate that old open-air car favorite "Hello, Dolly" is being thoroughly rebuilt this winter and will emerge from the shops as a new, transformed car unlike the old. And with red paint to match the rest of the train. RIP old girl.

> Reports from Strasburg RR indicate that old
> open-air car favorite "Hello,
> Dolly" is being thoroughly rebuilt this
> winter and will emerge from the shops as a
> new, transformed car unlike the old. And
> with red paint to match the rest of the
> train. RIP old girl.

Wow, there's a piece of my childohood gone! I admit this comes as a bit of a jolt.

Now that I'm old and snobbish I like vintage-looking consists, but when I was 11 years old and innocent I loved that car, loved riding in it--thought it was the smartest thing on wheels.

Gosh. Suddenly I feel a little ashamed and disloyal for having grown up to be such a vintage snob.



eledbetter@rypn.org

> Wow, there's a piece of my childohood gone!
> I admit this comes as a bit of a jolt.

> Now that I'm old and snobbish I like
> vintage-looking consists, but when I was 11
> years old and innocent I loved that car,
> loved riding in it--thought it was the
> smartest thing on wheels.

> Gosh. Suddenly I feel a little ashamed and
> disloyal for having grown up to be such a
> vintage snob.

Well....to be "vintage", should the coach be repainted in it's lighter yellow scheme with pinstrips and the blue stripped awnings and drumhead on the rear platform like in the film? Wasnt it rebuilt just for that movie work. I say keep her gaudy.....it attracts people to upgrade their tickets to ride the "Barbara Striesand" car.



mcc385@yahoo.com

How ironic??? Most of my life the Hello Dolly car has been around. My four year old daughter recently saw part of the movie. I told her we would ride on the car this spring.

Oh well....

-Alan Levy



alanl759@aol.com

Hello All

I second Erik's sentiments. Gaudy yes, but a favorite of mine. As an adult I still enjoyed a ride on it, yellow paint and all.

Maybe its just being rebuilt and might resemble its old self in some ways (crossing fingers). Who would have ever thought that we be taken aback by a tourist railroad becoing MORE realistic. Still it was truley a piece of tourist railroad history as it was.

I'm headed to Strasburg tommorrow anyway, maybe I'll try and peer through the windows...

Dave Crosby

bing@epix.net

The Dolly might have been considered retro fashion in a year or two! Gaudy lives on, in blue paint and smiley faces mostly. What we do ... to attract the masses.

Well, gaudy or not, it was time for a change. After numerous overhauls, her wood was all punky and her running gear is tired. Not a whole lot was done mechanically to fix Car 68 up for the movie, so the bird came home to roost.

She will retain her distinctive arches and popular rear-end platform. However, the "steps" and the open sides are already gone. Her sides have been reconstructed structurally and are awaiting the siding. She has received new letterboards and clerstory sides. Both trucks will be rebuilt with new wheelsets. She was re-wheeled in 1990, but the flanges and tread are marginal again.

I spent part of the day under her today, running some new piping and finishing her annual air work. My guess is that you will see her in May on the main timetable trains.

Steve

> Reports from Strasburg RR indicate that old
> open-air car favorite "Hello,
> Dolly" is being thoroughly rebuilt this
> winter and will emerge from the shops as a
> new, transformed car unlike the old. And
> with red paint to match the rest of the
> train. RIP old girl.


Strasburg Rail Road
ssweaver@paonline.com

Any links (or photos posted here) of Dolly before being rebuilt for the movie, and recently on the railroad at Strasburg?

Wesley

Wesley,

I don't know about "before" shots, but we'll certainly post some "after" shots when she is rolled out. All of the "before" shots that I can think of are hardcopy.

Steve


Strasburg Rail Road
ssweaver@paonline.com