Nice job, but where is it?

http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?august03/08-14-03/milw2713_2003.jpg
ryarger@rypn.org

There is a car similar to this (if not the same car) at the French Lick, West Baden & Southern in French Link, IN.
> Nice job, but where is it?


Goose Creek Railroad
gcrrmch@aol.com

> There is a car similar to this (if not the
> same car) at the French Lick, West Baden
> & Southern in French Link, IN.
I believe the car in question is with the group at Montecello, IL.

colfaxrr@wwt.net

> I believe the car in question is with the
> group at Montecello, IL.

Herb,

Hate to disagree, but this looks like the car at the Union Depot Railroad Museum, a small static display museum located in the former CB&Q depot in Mendota, IL. The car is significant to the collection there because it is of the type used to provide passenger service on the MILW local that entered Mendota over trackage rights on the IC.

I saw this car a year or two ago, and it is nicely done. There is a bit of adaptive re-use in the interior; the car is available for parties, meetings, etc., and the bulkhead between the passenger and baggage compartments is now arranged to swing back against the car sides, thus opening the entire interior as one room. I believe that the original bulkhed was missing, removed when the car was in work service, so this bit of trickery was built into the newly constructed plywood replica bulkhead. Other than that and a heating plant installed in one of the toilet compartments, the car has been restored to its original appearance inside.

While not an operating museum, this little place is well worth the visit, they do a very good job of interperating the local railroad history. For more info, visit the link below.

Dennis Storzek

http://www.mendotamuseums.org/UDRR.htm

dstorzek@elnet.com

> Herb,

> Hate to disagree, but this looks like the
> car at the Union Depot Railroad Museum, a
> small static display museum located in the
> former CB&Q depot in Mendota, IL. The
> car is significant to the collection there
> because it is of the type used to provide
> passenger service on the MILW local that
> entered Mendota over trackage rights on the
> IC.

> I saw this car a year or two ago, and it is
> nicely done. There is a bit of adaptive
> re-use in the interior; the car is available
> for parties, meetings, etc., and the
> bulkhead between the passenger and baggage
> compartments is now arranged to swing back
> against the car sides, thus opening the
> entire interior as one room. I believe that
> the original bulkhed was missing, removed
> when the car was in work service, so this
> bit of trickery was built into the newly
> constructed plywood replica bulkhead. Other
> than that and a heating plant installed in
> one of the toilet compartments, the car has
> been restored to its original appearance
> inside.

> While not an operating museum, this little
> place is well worth the visit, they do a
> very good job of interperating the local
> railroad history. For more info, visit the
> link below.

> Dennis Storzek

This car is coupled to an "in restoration" former SP diner which spent some time on the Cadillac and Lake Cities. CB&Q O1a 2-8-2 #4978 is displayed there along with a wooden Burlington waycar. I came through Mendota a week ago tonight and with her headlight lit and the cab lights on, #4978 makes for very nice "eye candy". The folks at Mendota have not tried to collect everything available and the wisdom of their selectiveness is evident in the condition of the few piece that they display. We'll stop right next to the museum to water #261 this summer enroute from Chicago to Rock Island.

Don C.

http://www.261.com
milw261@sbcglobal.net

>Thanks Dennis,I stand corrected. At least I got the M..n ..t correct. Do I get to spin the wheel again or can I buy a vowel?