The self propelled motor car contrasts very nicely with the surroundiings in Strasburg. Nice catch. The motor car is used, I believe when there are not enough passengers to justify a steam engine and consist. As for the motor car - it has quite an interesting history. It was built at the LO&S shops in 1915. The LO&S was part of a proposed Peach Bottom System line to connect Philadelphia to the Broad Top Mountain coal fields. The line was built in two parts, one that became the recently defunct Ma and Pa line and the other, the LO&S line which was at one time sold to a group hoping to connect it to the B&O with hopes of giving that railroad a direct route to Lancaster, PA (imagine that). PRR was a fiercly competitive company and thwarted those plans. Interestingly, the motor car began it's life as a narrow guage engine.
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Missed seeing you at Railfan Weekend, but it sure looks like you had a very productive weekend. Greats shot!
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Nick, that has to be my favorite spot on the line. Pick the right time of day (as you did) and the lighting is really nice. To add to Mitch's comments, it is my understanding that at one point, the LOS Motor Car ran at the Wolfeboro Railroad in New Hampshire and later, at the Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts. The Wolfeboro Railroad is now defunct. The National Park in Lowell is very much alive and using a fleet of electric trolleys today.
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Simple, effective, bucolic feel.
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A pretty shot Nick.
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Beautiful, a perfect shot. One would almost expect Mister Rogers to be seen in the background. Ding ding!
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This motor-car has long been one of my favorite pieces of rail equipment. If you're interested, here's a little of its more "modern" history. As an earlier commented stated, it was built by the L.O. &S. around 1885, originally as an un-pwered combine car. From the LO&S, it went north to the Adirondack Mountains region of New York State, having been acquired by the Grasse River Railroad, (GRRR) which operated from 1915 to 1957, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Emporium Lumber Co. The GRRR operated a very casual passenger service from Cranberry Lake NY to a connection with the New York Central at Childwold Station, NY on NYC's line to/from Lake Placid. Good B&W photos of the motor car on the GRRR can be found at www.fjgrr.org/ginospage/GRRR/motive.html It is no small miracle that this wood bodied car survived 2 major fires which struck the GRRR. One of which destroyed their engine house, and several steam locomotives, and another just after WWII that destroyed much of the lumber mill complex. When the GRRR shut down in 1957, the car was stored "abandoned" on the poperty. Somehow the car made its way to Strasburg, where I remember seeing it during the late 1960s painted a somewhat "gaudy" pale green, and yellow. From Strasburg it went to the Wolfeboro RR (WRR)in New Hampshire . I worked as a volunteer at Wolfeboro 1972-73 and do not recall seing the car there. However, postcards dated 1974 show it operating on the WRR in a dull "boxcar red" paint scheme. When Wolfaboro shut down, the car made its way back to Strasburg, where THANKS to their excellent shop forces, it is probably in the best condition of its entire life. Having outlived the collapse of all of its previous owners, this unique car truly has the proverbial "nine lives".
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I appreciate all the interest generated by this photo. Thanks to all who added to the discussion of this car's unique past.
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An amazingly fine piece of work! 5 stars! The color and composition is so fine.
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