The Cape Charles (Va.) Historical Society & Museum is in possession of, among other rail equipment, the three ex-Southern Railway 36-foot (estimated) gondolas that were used as idler cars for loading the car float that formerly operated between Cape Charles (the very southern end, rail-wise, of the Delmarva Peninsula) and Little Creek (near Norfolk), Va. The cars are among rail equipment donated by the present custodians of the local-government-owned railroad; the yard trackage at Cape Charles (site of the car float loading slip) is being dismantled for redevelopment.

These cars have been identified as Southern Railway low side gons. Most were built by Pullman in the late 30s and early 40s. The two cars whose identities can be confirmed have trucks dated 9-38. They are SOU 958060 (first folder of pics) and SOU 958173 (second set of pics). The third (yellow) car has SOU Barber S-2 trucks and looks to have come out of work or wreck service. Tags are painted over. It has at least two different types of truck frames with at least three different dates - 6-44, 9-46 and 5-52.

The Museum intends to keep one of the gondolas, a rebuilt GP10, and other rolling stock for display, but the other two gons and an ex-military surplus flat were originally targeted for scrapping.

After my inquiries, the rail authority and Museum have generously postponed the scrapping plans for the time being, and the gondolas are now on a spare section of track near the Museum. In their own words, "There is no hurry to scrap them since they are out of the way now." But the onus is now upon any potential saviors to come forward. Any car would need to be claimed by a responsible organization willing to undertake relocation and preservation.

At my request, the Museum has posted photos of these cars for potential preservationists; links are below. These cars were in rough mechanical condition 20+ years ago and well dented, but have been regularly painted in one form or another. . They are short--the figure I was given was 36 feet.

If you have the November 2005 issue of Trains Magazine, you'll see them in action on page 61, as part of the last color slides I shot for any publication.

To Consider: Trucking them out should be easy, BUT you have either the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and its tolls to consider or the long way back through Salisbury and over the Bay Bridge at Annapolis, Md. If you want to ship by rail, figure on loading on the Delmarva Central around Hallwood, Pocomoke City, or Salisbury/Delmar. If you intend to use them as rolling stock, assume you're going to be rebuilding everything from the journals to the draft gear and couplers to the brakes. (Maybe you'll be lucky, but assume the worst.)

Potential homes could include the North Carolina Transportation Museum, the Va. Museum of Transportation, the South Carolina RR Museum, the Richmond RR Museum, or any museum with a Southern Railway focus. They could also serve as basic MOW for a "heritage" line or as part of any "vintage photo freight" roster.

The Cape Charles Museum welcomes expressions of interest, and would be willing to assist any potential saviors with further information, examination for pertinent information, arrangements for inspection or transport, etc. They have former railroad personnel to consult with, but should in no way be considered railroad-savvy.

Contact Museum executive director Kimberly Leake Denny for more information.
Please, serious inquiries ONLY. No curiosity seekers, please--I'm annoying her enough for all of us trying to get the necessary information from 2,000 miles away!

Three Google Drive folders of EXHAUSTIVE Photo documentation of each of three cars--probably enough for the worst river-counting modeler.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... 7p0JD0chgg

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... F7ybUg3S_X

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... RdwRJnDZox

Contact:
Kimberly Leake Denny
Executive Director, Cape Charles Historical Society
P.O. Box 11, 814 Randolph Avenue
Cape Charles, VA 23310
(757) 607-6483
(757) 331-1008

capecharlesmuseum@gmail.com

404 error on the links

Fixed. Thanks!