Here is a restoration photo taken last week. I thought it might be fun for people to guess at what it is and what is going on.

Looks like the ceiling/roof of an old clestory roof passenger car that has been modernized. The roof supports look a little rotted.

Has the roof surface been taken off for rebuilding of the substructure?

Might have to do that soon to a passenger car in Portola. Sounds like a relaly fun job.

Eugene

Eugene

You are correct! This is Erie Lackawanna dining car 741. It was modernized in the Erie's Susquehanna, PA shops in 1949. Initially, all of the modernized roof was removed and replaced. The original roof was then exposed and look poor. It has now been removed and will be replaced. The view in the photo is from the kitchen looking towards the dining section of the car.

Does anyone know where someone can make a donation to this worthy cause? My little one is named Phoebe (why yes, after Phoebe Snow), and I think it would be a neat thing to help with this.

TJG

Tim's outfit is the Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society. You will like what they are doing, T.J...

http://www.eldcps.org/

Erik,

Thanks for the kind words. Here are a few more recent photos:

A couple more shots of taking the original roof off.



The new roof is taking shape. The air conditioning vents were fabricated from scratch and replicate the originals. The hole is where the unique "turtleback" part of the roof needs to be installed.

Tim,
great idea! attempting to put together an entire EL passenger train..
any future plans for locomotives?
(are there any surviving original EL E-units anywhere?)

Scot

On that same note ---
Isn't there a Phoebe Snow blunt-end observation car out there as well? Not sure if those were used on the "Lake Cities", but might be a nice addition.
I have to say ---- THIS type of project not only makes sense, but seems to have two things most "pie-in-the sky" restoration projects don't:

1.) A defined set of goals that are DOABLE
2.) A very organized, well financed, and admirable way of achieving those
goals.

The closest thing I can think of it to it is the collection at Cranbrook. Sadly, I fear it may be too late to recreate many of these trains.......

Now if I could only convince GTW fans of need to recreate "The Maple Leaf"; on second thought, "The Mohawk" might be more practical. ;- )

Any future plans for locomotives?
Our initial intention is to contract with the Delaware-Lackawanna to pull our cars. My feeling is that passengers inside these cars will be more interested in the experience than what is pulling them. Also, locomotive maintenance will take a lot of effort and money that are going into the cars right now. Maybe somewhere down the road we can do it. There are a fair number of E units out there.

(are there any surviving original EL E-units anywhere?)
Just one, ex-EL 833, owned by Bennett Levin in its Conrail 4022 appearance.

Isn't there a Phoebe Snow blunt-end observation car out there as well? Not sure if those were used on the "Lake Cities", but might be a nice addition.
BOTH of the Tavern-Lounge cars still exist. They are owned by Metro-North and are used on inspection trains. Recently they were used on a M-N sponsored fantrip. They have been back to Hoboken for inspection trips over the M-N line to Port Jervis. They were not used on the Lake Cities, but are still historic and distinctive.

I have to say ---- THIS type of project not only makes sense, but seems to have two things most "pie-in-the sky" restoration projects don't:
1.) A defined set of goals that are DOABLE
2.) A very organized, well financed, and admirable way of achieving those
goals.

Also, the most memorable section of DL&W/EL passenger service is in public ownership - Scranton to the Delaware Water Gap via the Poconos. Our future passengers can ride and dine in the original equipment on the original line.