Chessie Steam Special CSS (Season One) leased Observation Car #18 was High Iron Company #200, formerly named SPLENDID SPIRIT (in American Freedom Train colors from 1973-1977), and BROTHERS TWO before that. The car was ex- Penn Central business car #7, exx- New York Central business car #7 built by Pullman in 1926. Image: William F. Howes, Jr at the dedication of the train at the B&O Railroad Museum 4/30/1977. |
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Today, the car is named INDEPENDENCE and resides at American Railcar Industries HQ in St. Charles, MO. Image: Aaron W. Farmer |
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The CSS was dedicated April 30, 1977 at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore. Miss Ann Carroll broke a bottle containing water from the Chesapeake Bay and the Ohio River over the knuckle on the CSS observation car. Miss Carroll was a descendant of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, MD, who had participated in laying the First Stone for the B&O Railway on July 4, 1828 and was a signatory of the Declaration of Independence. His name is also associated with the Cardinal's Train of 1926. Image: William F. Howes, Jr. |
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The CSS drumhead from the tail of the observation car, photographed during the first season, It was designed by Franklyn J. Carr, Chessie System Director of visual Media & Design. Image: Randall C. Aldrich, courtesy of William F. Howes, Jr. |
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| Image: John Taylor |  |
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| Image: John Taylor |  |
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Headed down the line in the summer of '77. Image: Aaron W. Farmer |
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Image: Melvin Bernero, Aug 1977 |
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