RMNE is restoring a 1923 CNR coach at our Thomaston facility. This car (5805) was built as a divided First and Second Class car, with leatherette (Panasote?) seats in Second Class, and cloth plush seats in First Class.

We have the leatherette figured out (a local material called Naugahyde), and we are interested in what others have done for the cloth plush material. 20 years ago, Constant Hopkins Co. supplied that stuff, but they are long gone. Does anyone have any suggestions for a "transportation grade" cloth material for walkover coach seats?

Thanks,

Howard P.

Theatre seat velour - now available in a polyester that will wear very nicely.

dave

Proper fabrics are available. The Western Railway Museum is currently recovering walkover seats in SN 1005 with an deep red all wool plush. We got the source of this material from the Mid- Continent Railway Museum.

The material was purchased from Arc Com. They have offices around the country. The material is 54 inches wide and cost about $100 per yard. It was identified by Arc Com as Angora Mohair. It is available in most any color. Our material was dyed to match a sample. Lead time was about 8 weeks.

Three Rivers Supply Company in West Homestead, PA, is another source for heavy duty commercial fabrics. I believe they were recommended to us by the folks at Strasburg. Our coaches haven't reached the upholstery stage, so we haven't purchased any material yet.

Alan Maples
Everett Railroad