A Look at New York Central 43

Beautiful car, Bill. It's refreshing to see these cars restored to original esthetics and finishes...right down to the signature floor coverings. What a treat to spend time in these cars, it would never become tiresome for this rider, that's for certain. I look forward to all your rail adventure diaries, please keep them coming. Thanks for posting.

Another outrageous slice of Budd built excellence!  I have the Shoreham Shops HO version from back in the '90s.  Of course nothing can touch the real car.  When Red Lion and NYCS got together, great things happened.

Beautiful........thank u for the pics and the story.

Peter

Outstanding, a piece of the Central's rich passenger service history.

Excellent pictures, thank you again for posting.

Out of curiosity, have you ever ridden a heavyweight open platform observation car?

--Reed

Reed, yes I have ridden an open platform observation. In August, 2002 Dover Harbor and open platform observation MKT 403 traveled together cross country to the NRHS Convention in Williams, Arizona. At the time, Amtrak was running MHC cars behind the passenger consist. We went on the Capitol Limited to Chicago, and then the California Zephyr to Emeryville. MHC's were behind all the way to Denver. At Denver, one MHC had to be switched out, and the conductor came to us and asked if we wished to be positioned on the rear, behind the MHC's. The problem was the MHCs did not have HEP pass-through, so if we did that, we'd have to rely on generator power for AC, lights, etc. We wondered if the generator would handle the load across the Nevada desert. Did we want scenery or assured comfort? What would YOU choose? Of course we chose scenery, and I have some wonderful shots from the open platform. Yes, the AC did fail leaving Nevada, but we didn't care.

We then went down to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight, on the rear. We were on the rear of the special convention train behind ATSF 3751 from Los Angeles to Williams, but BNSF did not allow anyone but the train conductor on the platform.  Still got nice photos out the window, though.

Attached is one photo I have handy of the cars in Chicago. The two Pullman green cars were very attractive together. I have many more, better, photos, but they are prints. I didn't have digital at the time. If there is interest, I can scan the some of the best of them and post in the next week or so, since I'm off work Monday for the Columbus Day Holiday.

Found a better view in Chicago, more sun on the cars.

Thank you B&O Bill!  Would love to see more of this trip (any PV trip really), time permitting. 

Not familiar with the term MHC cars.  Were these the "mail & express" boxcars that Amtrak LD trains carried for a few years?  I think you made the right call regarding the HEP vs. being on the end. 

I've been fascinated by the open platform cars since I was a kid reading the Beebe books.  The photos of the Limiteds with the tail signs and well-dressed riders sitting in chairs on the platform really got to me.  Hope to get the chance to ride someday. 

--Reed

Reed, MHC = Material handling car.  Here's a photo of one on the rear of a train in Mystic, CT some years ago. There were several on the rear of #5 when we rode and one was left at Denver.

Perhaps others on here know what they carried.

they did a wonderful job on her. thanks for sharing.