KCS had 16 streamlined baggage cars, numbered 14-29, built by PS in 1960(70-79 later 20-29) and 1964(14-19). In 1974 cars 21, 23, 24, and 26 were sold to Amtrak to become 1086-1089. They later became company service cars and were renumbered 17077, 10092, 17074, and 17078 respectively. 10092 became an exhibit car named SOUTHERN BELLE. The others were put in work service . 10092 showed up a few years ago, after spending years in storage at Beech Grove, and was sold through Ozark Mountain Railcar to the Adrian & Blissfield Ry in Michigan. Anyone have access to disposition records of Amtrak work equipment? The other 12 cars(with the exception of 19) were painted white and put into KCS MOW service(bridge dept). 19 was kept at Pittsburg in original paint for years for some reason, then sent to Shreveport in late 70’s to get the MOW treatment. In 1993, 5 cars(15, 20, 22, 25, 27) were sold to the Great Smoky Mountain Ry in Dillsboro, NC and converted to open air coaches. 14 is sitting in the weeds at the back of the KCS yard in Leesville, LA where it has been for years. One car was made part of the current business train(numbered 19 and named HEAVENER(formerly named PORT ARTHUR). Don’t know where it had been hiding for years, but when it went into the shop a few years ago to be made part of the business train, it was numbered 19 and painted white, but the shop folks say the car was actually original baggage car 17. What happened to the other 5 cars? (16, 18, 19, 28, 29).
Hi! Welcome to the forum bud! as for youre’ question I hope that it get’s answered. BTW, my name is Justin.
After years, Amtrak finally replied last year and said they still own two of the cars, one is at Niles, MI(17074-behind the maintenance bldg) and one is at Wilmington, DE(17078-several hundred feet out in front of the engine shop), both probably used as storage. Anyone have pics of these cars? The third car was just reported by Amtrak as “sold”. Gregslaton@cs.com
Welcome:
Gregslaton 2001!
I do not know the number of the Baggage Car I am about to locate. The car is painted in the KCS ‘Belle’ paint scheme.
it is located in the SW quadrant of the intersection of “Lone Star Road” [200th Rd] and Ks Hwy 126 [4th St.}- Crawford County, Kansas-.
I think the owner of it is a fireworks supplier(?) at that location. Sign says: Jake’s Fireworks’
Hwy126 is the hwy parallel to US400 ( roughly 4 mi north of it.) and it runs from Pittsburg, Ks ]4th Street] to McCune, Ks.
Possibly, one of the Forum member in that area can check it out?
http://maps.google.com/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wl
Go to this link, and look; you can see part of one end of the KCS Baggage car on the Google Earth view (street view). It is behind a building with a bunch of storage trailers parked around it.