Clinchfield #50 to Roll Again
Donation protected
Help save Carolina, Clinchfield, and Ohio Instruction Car 50
Originally built by the Pennsylvania Railroad as baggage/express car in the mid 1910's. It was later sold to the Clinchfield where it saw service on the Clinchfield’s passenger trains. In 1953, the car was rebuilt by the Clinchfield in its Erwin, Tennessee shops for use as a mobile classroom for training and instruction of railroad employees. It was a mobile classroom that allowed for meeting space and classroom space along the sparsely populated route through the Appalachians. Outfitted with a rear platform and sleeping quarters for the accompanying safety office or rules examiner, it also featured a projection booth for showing instructional films to those attending classes on board. Unlike most official use cars, which only saw use by railroad executives and senior management, this car was a part of life for hundreds of everyday railroaders that utilized this car for their rules tests and safety instruction over nearly 3 decades of use.
The car currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida adjacent to CSXT. Although it may not appear so, several items have been accomplished to date that will enable it to move on its own wheels to a more secure location that will enable its eventual restoration. Among these items are acquisition of more modern trucks from a sister PRR baggage car, roller bearing wheelsets for the newer trucks, acquisition of more modern brake valves, and arrangements for movement to live rail. As railcars are expensive to repair, especially on major components, some financial assistance would go a long way toward preservation of this working man’s railroad car. Items that remain to enable movement involve repair work on the newer trucks, transportation of the trucks to Jacksonville, and jacking and swapping of trucks. Once completed, this will enable the car to move in regular freight service to a brighter future closer to home.
For the cost of a Venti Latte at Starbucks, you can help secure Car 50’s future. Using crowd-funding we’re trying to raise $5,000 to complete the truck repairs to make car 50 roadworthy. Help by giving just 5 bucks to the project!
Originally built by the Pennsylvania Railroad as baggage/express car in the mid 1910's. It was later sold to the Clinchfield where it saw service on the Clinchfield’s passenger trains. In 1953, the car was rebuilt by the Clinchfield in its Erwin, Tennessee shops for use as a mobile classroom for training and instruction of railroad employees. It was a mobile classroom that allowed for meeting space and classroom space along the sparsely populated route through the Appalachians. Outfitted with a rear platform and sleeping quarters for the accompanying safety office or rules examiner, it also featured a projection booth for showing instructional films to those attending classes on board. Unlike most official use cars, which only saw use by railroad executives and senior management, this car was a part of life for hundreds of everyday railroaders that utilized this car for their rules tests and safety instruction over nearly 3 decades of use.
The car currently resides in Jacksonville, Florida adjacent to CSXT. Although it may not appear so, several items have been accomplished to date that will enable it to move on its own wheels to a more secure location that will enable its eventual restoration. Among these items are acquisition of more modern trucks from a sister PRR baggage car, roller bearing wheelsets for the newer trucks, acquisition of more modern brake valves, and arrangements for movement to live rail. As railcars are expensive to repair, especially on major components, some financial assistance would go a long way toward preservation of this working man’s railroad car. Items that remain to enable movement involve repair work on the newer trucks, transportation of the trucks to Jacksonville, and jacking and swapping of trucks. Once completed, this will enable the car to move in regular freight service to a brighter future closer to home.
For the cost of a Venti Latte at Starbucks, you can help secure Car 50’s future. Using crowd-funding we’re trying to raise $5,000 to complete the truck repairs to make car 50 roadworthy. Help by giving just 5 bucks to the project!
Organizer
Kevin Sprayberry
Organizer
Canton, GA
