<P>How many passengers cars built by the Wagner Palace Car Co. are still in existence today. I believe that there is a former NYC&HR/Rutland Combine somewhere in Vermont. Are there any others and where are they located? Thanks for any information.<br>




Heritage_ltd@msn.com

<P>A Wagner Palace Car is located at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont, under an attractive Victorian style shelter, with former Central Vermont 4-6-0 No. 220. The car's origins aren't entirely clear, but it is believed to have been built for the Governor of Vermont about 1899, as a gift from Mr. Webb, who was president of Wagner at the time, and had visions of becoming the state's governor himself. It is believed to have been built as a wooden car, later upgraded with a steel frame, ends, and sheathing. It apparently served first on the Rutland RR (of which Webb was also president), then became Car No. 86 on the Central Vermont. After retirement and purchase by the Museum in 1961, the name "Grand Isle" was painted on the side, which it apparently wore when on the Rutland. The car is in overall good condition, having been under cover for much of its life. On the CV, it sat under the brick trainshed in St. Albans (razed 1963), and has been under cover at the Museum since the mid-1970s. The track under it has sank a bit under the trucks and the museum plans to pull it back and correct the problem, perhaps this year. The locomotive is undergoing a slow but steady cosmetic ovehaul and stabilization by museum volunteers. Previous attempts at obtaining ISTEA funds for an operating overhaul were not successful. Before our beloved CV was sold to that awful scab company, the railroad actually paid me to work on the engine one day per week, the general manager being fond of steam and wanting an operational steam locomotive for promotional purposes.<br>




ryarger1@nycap.rr.com