Goodbye ASTA P70's

rbd3985 · **Joined:** Thu May 28, 2009 3:35 pm **Posts:** 24

The Austin Steam Train Association in Cedar Park, TX has sold its venerable old and worn out Pennsylvania RR P-70FBR coach's. Monies from the sale will go to finishing their new concession car, getting their BRC C424 running, and continuing work on T&NO 786.

They departed McNeil, Texas this last weekend headed for Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Ricky
Austin, TX

midwest fred · **Joined:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:11 pm **Posts:** 59

Any idea who bought them?

PaulWWoodring · **Posted:** Tue Jul 19, 2016 12:38 pm

Those cars have truly been tourist railroad warriors. Before Austin, they were part of the last iteration of the GTW #4070 era Cuyahoga Valley Line train, mid to late 1980's to 1991 or so.

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

If Council Bluffs is the final destination, it might be that scrapyard north
of I-80 that has the frame and carbody of an exBN NW3 or NW5 perched on top of a box car.

midwest fred · **Joined:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:11 pm **Posts:** 59

Seems like a long way to rail (and a lot of money) just to take something to scrap.....

eze240 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:29 am **Posts:** 319

Anybody have a picture of the NW body?

Thomas Cornillie · **Joined:** Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:19 pm **Posts:** 272

According to my notes, these cars are the largest group, in the best condition, and closest to their revenue service configuration of surviving P70s. Aside from the single well preserved P70 in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, others are in need of significant restoration and/or have been modified for other uses.

I would be very happy to be corrected on this.

This thread mentions a group of P70s that were scrapped in New Jersey a few years back. The the cars that just left Austin was also mentioned.

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30018&p=146528&hilit=P70#p146528

rjenkins · **Posted:** Wed Jul 20, 2016 2:19 pm

eze240 wrote:

Anybody have a picture of the NW body?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopicture.aspx?id=91677

It's an NW5, ex-CBGR 994/COE 994/BN 994/GN 194. Pics of the carbody in its current state (as of 2011 anyway) are towards the bottom of the page. Does anyone know if it's still there?

midwest fred · **Joined:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:11 pm **Posts:** 59

The NW and an Alco S unit body are both there. Just north of I80/I29 easily visible on Google maps. They also have a string of misc cars across the back of their property line.

Txhighballer · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 am **Posts:** 773

It would be a shame if those cars are scrapped. It they are, maybe someone can salvage the brake valves, drawbars, titelock couplers and possibly the trucks.

rbd3985 · **Joined:** Thu May 28, 2009 3:35 pm **Posts:** 24

I was told that they were bought by a group in Iowa that wants to preserve PRR heritage and these cars were a perfect fit for them.

I highly doubt they are going to scrap. ASTA could have done that down here. These cars served ASTA well over the last 24 years.

Ricky
Austin, TX

midwest fred · **Joined:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:11 pm **Posts:** 59

Is there a name available for the group? Any contact info? I am in Omaha, but am from "PRR country..."

Lincoln Penn · **Joined:** Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:40 pm **Posts:** 841

rbd3985 wrote:

I was told that they were bought by a group in Iowa that wants to preserve PRR heritage and these cars were a perfect fit for them.

I highly doubt they are going to scrap. ASTA could have done that down here. These cars served ASTA well over the last 24 years.

Ricky
Austin, TX

Pardon my density, but considering how closely related anything PRR is to Iowa, that makes about as much sense as a museum in Delaware searching for SD&AE stuff.

There has to be more to it.

RDGRAILFAN · **Posted:** Fri Jul 22, 2016 10:27 pm

I asked ASTA and received the following answer"

ASTA’s veteran fleet of six Pennsylvania Railroad P70 steel coaches did indeed depart our railyard last week, bound for a new home in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The cars will be restored by their new owners.

Sincerely,

xxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Austin Steam Train Association

bbunge · **Posted:** Sat Jul 23, 2016 9:31 am

One can dream; that long range planning have these purchased, safely stored and restored to one day be tied behind PRR 5550. :-)