Rail Development Corp. buys 20 coaches

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:11 pm

From today's Trains Newswire:

PITTSBURGH - Rail Development Corporation, owner of the Iowa Interstate Railroad and two Chinese class QJ 2-10-2-steam locomotives, has acquired 20 coaches formerly used in Montreal commuter-train service.

The cars, built by Canadian Car & Foundry in 1953 for CP and used in Montreal commuter service to Rigaud and Blainville, Quebec. They were acquired by Montreal's AMT/STCUM in 1982 and kept their 800-series CP numbers. The cars were converted to head end power in 1990.

Full details at the Trains Newswire website, for registered users only:

http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=1010

Howard P. · **Posted:** Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:56 pm

NOW we're talking!!!!!!

Those are GREAT cars for steam operations--- modern (comparatively), high-capacity, and open-window.

This should be real interesting.

johnacraft · **Joined:** Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:53 pm **Posts:** 660

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

From today's Trains Newswire:

PITTSBURGH - Rail Development Corporation, owner of the Iowa Interstate Railroad and two Chinese class QJ 2-10-2-steam locomotives, has acquired 20 coaches formerly used in Montreal commuter-train service.

Does anyone know if this is a very recent purchase? I was under the impression that Henry "owned" 20+ Canadian coaches already (since at least the spring). Is this the same group of coaches, or does this bring his total to 40+?

Thanks.

JAC

Heavenrich · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:07 am **Posts:** 630

I think there are a couple at the SC RR Museum. The only RR coaches in the south with storm windows !

While these coaches have high density seating, they don't have rest rooms.

Bob H

softwerkslex · **Posted:** Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:14 am

Heavenrich wrote:

I think there are a couple at the SC RR Museum. The only RR coaches in the south with storm windows !
Bob H

Sorry to contradict you. Storm windows existed on heavyweight coaches that had been retrofitted with air conditioning. The Birmingham museum (NRHS?) has a coach with these, L&N I believe. I rode in it at the museum. Without them, the condensate wreaked havoc with the wooden window sash and clouded the windows.

johnny winkler · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 9:39 am **Posts:** 106

Surely they will not put these coaches in any kind of excursion service without restrooms.Would they?

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:24 pm

These must be the ones I saw ready to leave Taschereau Yard the other day. I note several are now missing from the Canada Allied Diesel yard that we pass by next to Rte. 20, so they must be the same ones. There are still several stored at Canada Allied Diesel (with trucks intact, but not sitting on rails), but maybe they'll be leaving also.

Howard P. · **Posted:** Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:41 pm

The cars at SC RM are the CN Montreal electric MU trailers, as I recall.

It's pretty easy to add rest room partitions and a retention tank/toilet assemby to these cars.

Dave · **Posted:** Fri Oct 27, 2006 8:00 am

Regaged and sent to Malawi, a hole in the floor is all they need.

dave