This afternoon NS set out three restored N & W passenger cars on the team track in Dover, Delaware. Not being properly educated in passenger equipment, I can’t tell you what kind they were. But they remind me of the cars I used to see in regular service back in the sixties. One was named “Pennsylvania” and another “Maryland”.
Can anyone shed light on why the were taken there and where they come from? [?]
Two choices that come to mind. Since they are N&W on NS lines they could be business cars. The other guess is they are private cars for or on charter. [2c]
Strictly a guess, but they are probably NS business cars. The state names and the fact that they are “restored” make it likely. After N&W and Southern merged, the ex-N&W people “won” the battle of which color the business-car fleet would use (along with the battle of which management team would run the show, if rumors are to be believed).
The “Roanoke Mafia” won that struggle, but in a “gentlemanly” way, goomba!
[
] CORRECTION: I made an error. They are marked NS, not N & W (sorry about that).
Today, they spread and rolled out stone over the whole area (best its ever looked). They also set up a pavillion and chairs. About 5:30 several autos were parked nearby. They must be preparing for some sort of ceremony, but no one I talked to knows anything about it.
Any ideas?
Were the cars heavyweight, painted tuscan red, and was at least one of them lacking windows? They might have been NS Exhibit Cars, which go around to various small-town celebrations and RR themed events during the summer.
I’ll bet it’s to kick off the start of the DelMarVa business unit .
As for N&W “winning” over the SOU in the merger, the current CEO is ex-SOU. He replace and ex- N&W guy. In another 10 years or so, there won’t be an “ex” of either road…
They could still very well be restored N & W passenger cars. The car #'s could tell the story one way or the other. If they are like NS diesels they will say in small letters which railroad they originally belonged too.
ANSWERS: not sure; yes; no.
Not familiar with what you are referring to, but it definitely looked like a private affair and not something for the general public. Could you explain about this business unit?
rrandb: I’m off work today (and trying to catch up on all the sleep I lost so far this week), but tomorrow I’ll try to take a closer look on my lunch break.
Thanks everyone for the info. Dover isn’t exactly a hot-bed of railroad activity, so this really caught my attention. [tup]
That’s the advantage of dealing with Southerners - they still shove the victim over the side of the boat with his feet in a bucket of concrete, but they’re courteous while doing so!
Yes, they are NS business cars. NS still has several of them.
Speaking of N&W passenger cars… What did NS do with all the excursion cars after they axed the excursion program.
They sold the cars to various buyers around the country.
Sold the cars off did they, I wasn’t sure what happened to them. Seems about right because David Goode was getting rid of anything that had historical significance at the time.