Does anybody know if ex-Lehigh Valley RR Pullman-built parlor-lounge car named "Black Diamond" formerly used on the "Black Diamond Express" still resides in Cooperstown, NY? It used to be stored at a winery in NY in the 1970s and later stored at the Rahway Valley RR in NJ. A news item about the car appeared in Railpace in 1988 and mentioned that the car had (at that time) been moved to the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley. What condition is it in and are there any plans to restore it?

This car is the sister to the Pullman-built ex-LV "White Diamond," which is preserved at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg.

K.R. Bell
RR Museum of PA

It sure is Kurt! Its been stripped in the inside, Rahaway used it for an office, and so does NYSW. Still in very faded Cornell Red and lettered Rahway Valley.

Joshua

joshua@joshuakblay.com

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My pleasure Kurt. What of the car in Strasburg? Condition? Do you have a picture handy?

Joshua

I don't have a picture handy but can update you on its status. Restoration began on this car in the earl 90's when all of the historic interior furnishings and furniture were removed for safe keeping. Interior rebuilding began at that time but was halted when the Curator (and head of restoration) Ben Kline passed away. Then it was discovered that the wooden C&PA snowplow needed serious attention, and all work on the LVRR car grounded to a halt and shifted to the plow. Recently we've been trying to put the car on the National Register and have been pursuing federal funding to do additional interior work. Currently the car sits in storage on the south side of the museum, in grey primer it received back in 1987.

> My pleasure Kurt. What of the car in
> Strasburg? Condition? Do you have a picture
> handy?

> Joshua