Need some help on identifying the type of car, manufacturer and date for a wooden passenger car body our museum recently received. Careful removal of paint on the letterboard revealed that the car was from the Northern Pacific and numerous spots inside confirm that the number was 950. The car appears to originally have had 9 double windows and a small window on the side we've uncovered but subsequent remodelling has just left the openings. WE need photos for restoration for the windows and dates for the car. It was originally lighted by carbide ceiling lights and never converted to electricity.
It is 67' long and has closed vestibules. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Herb Sakalucks
Colfax RR Museum

colfaxrr@wwt.net

There is a Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association with a website. You might ask them for information.

A decade ago one of their members published a "Preliminary Edition" of "Passenger Cars of the Northern Pacific Railway: An All-time Roster: 1870-1970." From that roster here is some information:

2nd 950 1st Class Coach
builder: Pullman 6/02
length 60-0 [probably body length not including vestibules]
retired and body sold 5/1940

The first 950 was a buffet-observation built in 1900 and renumbered in 2/01.

Brian Norden

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association
bnorden49@earthlink.net

> There is a Northern Pacific Railway
> Historical Association with a website. You
> might ask them for information.

> A decade ago one of their members published
> a "Preliminary Edition" of
> "Passenger Cars of the Northern Pacific
> Railway: An All-time Roster:
> 1870-1970." From that roster here is
> some information:

> 2nd 950 1st Class Coach
> builder: Pullman 6/02
> length 60-0 [probably body length not
> including vestibules]
> retired and body sold 5/1940

> The first 950 was a buffet-observation built
> in 1900 and renumbered in 2/01.

> Brian Norden

By any chance, is this the NP car that was located at the Kettle Moraine Railway in North Lake, Wisconsin? If not, does anyone know if that Northern Pacific car is still there in North Lake or where it is currently located?

Thanks!

Les Beckman (HVRM)

midlandblb@cs.com

This is not the Kettle Moraine car.Not sure on that one. I was there about 4 weeks ago but too dark to see much and was more interested in the old GN car they had for parts that we are getting to redo an old mail car that we also just received. There was a car stored in the back area of the shop but couldn't make out which one it was. Herb

colfaxrr@wwt.net

Les,

I think NP coach #1923 ended up going with the W&OV #1 and the Rock Island coach to Black River Falls, WI for display, along with an L&N business car moved from Baraboo, WI. I'm still searching for information on this display train being assembled by Hoffman Construction of Black River Falls.

Boyd


bowens@rypn.org

> Les,

> I think NP coach #1923 ended up going with
> the W&OV #1 and the Rock Island coach to
> Black River Falls, WI for display, along
> with an L&N business car moved from
> Baraboo, WI. I'm still searching for
> information on this display train being
> assembled by Hoffman Construction of Black
> River Falls.

> Boyd

Boyd:

Thanks for the info. Keep us posted as to what you find out.

Les

midlandblb@cs.com

Oops, turns out I was wrong. I'm don't know which other passenger car went to Black River Falls, but it turns out it wasn't the NP #1923. The link below describes the new life of #1923 in Oconomowoc, WI.
It's disguised as a Wisconsin Central car now, which is part of what caused my error in information initially, also somehow I had the Oconomowoc car listed as a business car for some reason.

Boyd


Railroad car has rebirth

bowens@rypn.org

I think I have finally solved the mystery of the "other" car that went to Black River Falls, WI from the Kettle Moraine. When the W&OV #1 was moved from KM, it was reported in multiple forums that it was accompanied by two cars. Examination of information from the move reveals that the move consisted of three flatbed semi-trucks, one with the #1, one with the Rock Island coach, and one with the #1's tender. I think the "other car" was actually W&OV #1's tender!
So, what is in Black River Falls on display should be just the W&OV #1 (with tender!), the wood Rock Island coach, and the heavyweight L&N business car from Baraboo, WI.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

I can confirm that the equipment at BRF are the two cars and the loco and tender you mentioned. The Hoffman's were very generous in sending us an extra door that was the result of their beautiful remodeling effort on the L&N car. Herb

colfaxrr@wwt.net