The 1977-1978 Chessie Steam Special

Equipment Roster of the Chessie Steam Special - Season One - 1977

*	*	This list is a work-in-progress -- and probably always will be. Any additions or corrections, please email.
*	LOCOMOTIVE	LOCOMOTIVE NOTES 1977
2101		Steam Locomotive 2101 was built in 1945 by the Reading Railroad in their shops using an older consolidation-type locomotive as its foundation. This new 4-8-4 was given the classification T-1 and was designed for heavy-duty freight and passenger service. 2101 was used by the railroad until 1955 and kept ready for excursion service until 1967 when it was finally retired. Rescued from the scrapper's torch, it pulled the American Freedom Train in 1975-1976. Then it was on to a successful run pulling the Chessie Steam Special in 1977-1978.
2101A		Water Tender/Tool Car 2101A. The 2101 locomotive had been running with an auxiliary water tender/tool car since the early days of the American Freedom Train in 1975. The extra tender continued to follow the locomotive throughout the run of the Chessie Steam Special. The tender originally came from a New York Central 4-8-2 Mohawk locomotive. According to Fritz Milhaupt's research, it came from L-3b #3042.
*	CARS	CAR NOTES 1977
33		CSS (Season One) Concessions Storage Car #33 was former American Freedom Train concessions storage car #20/33. Originally New York Central baggage #9133. This "Non-Revenue Support Car" was the property of Kaltenbach Concessions, the food and beverage concessionaire of the CSS. Generally the car was only on the train during ferry runs between origin cities.
PC-100		CSS (Season One) Power Car #PC-100 was C&O Power Car 100 and was originally C&O express car 209, built in 1937 by St. Louis Car Co. It was rebuilt into a power car in 1947. The power car contained generators to provide electricity to the passenger cars.
1	Photo Needed	CSS (S1) Dormitory Car #1 was West Virginia Railroad Maintenance Authority car number 89545. The car was former USAX 89545 an Army Maintenance Authority Ambulance car built in 1952 by St. Louis Car Co. During the first season, the car was lettered for the "150th Birthday of American Railroading", for the second season in 1978 this was changed to "151st".
2		CSS (S1) Baggage-Coach Car #2 was Delaware & Hudson baggage-coach #519. Ex-George Hart, exx-Reading Company 519, built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding in 1927. On the CSS, the coach section was configured as a 50-seat "tape recording room" for railfans who brought audio recorders.
3		CSS (S1) Coach Car #3 was Delaware & Hudson 76-seat coach #11. Formerly owned by George Hart, exx-Reading 4504 built in 1927 by Bethlehem Shipbuilders.
4	Photo Needed	CSS (S1) Coach Car #4 was Delaware & Hudson 54-seat coach #1549, a former Reading Company coach built about 1927 by Bethlehem Shipbuilders.
5		CSS (S1) Coach Car #5 belonged to James F. Hicks of Jim Thorpe, PA. The 78-seat car was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #992, built by ACF in 1926. Today the car is at the The Valley Railroad Company in Essex, CT as their #1002.
6	Photo Needed	CSS (S1) Coach Car #6 belonged to James F. Hicks of Jim Thorpe, PA. The 78-seat car was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #1000, built by ACF in 1926. Today the car is at the The Valley Railroad Company in Essex, CT as their #1000.
7		CSS (S1) Coach Car #7 was New Jersey Department of Transportation #1146. The 78-seat coach was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #1146, built by Standard Steel Car in 1925. Today, the car may reside at the Cass Scenic Railroad as #990 or #10 Romney. Can anyone confirm?
8		CSS (S1) Coach Car #8 was New Jersey Department of Transportation #1141. The 78-seat coach was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #1141, built by Standard Steel Car in 1925. Today, the car resides at the Cass Scenic Railroad as #960.
9		CSS (S1) Concessions Car #9 was Delaware & Hudson concessions car #56 TOWN OF STILLWATER. The car was former Denver & Rio Grande Western baggage car #1200 built by Pullman Standard in 1950 as part of a C&O order, but redirected to D&RGW. On the CSS this car was positioned mid-train to offer snacks and souvenirs to passengers.
10		CSS (S1) Coach Car #10 belonged to the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS. The 54-seat coach was former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #703.
11		CSS (S1) Coach Car #11 belonged to the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS. The 54-seat coach was former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #704.
12		CSS (S1) Coach Car #12 belonged to the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS. The 54-seat coach was former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #706. Built by Bethlehem in 1925 as #532, modernized and renumbered 706 in 1956. Today the car is used on the Buckingham Branch Railroad for NRHS Old Dominion Chapter excursion trains in Dillwyn, VA.
13		CSS (S1) Coach Car #13 belonged to Railroad Passenger Cars, Inc,. as their #8300. The 83-seat coach was ex- Long Island coach #2185, exx- Erie Lackawanna #1315, exxx- Delaware, Lackawanna & Western #315 built by ACF in 1949.
14		CSS (S1) Coach Car #14 belonged to Railroad Passenger Cars, Inc,. as their #8301. The 83-seat coach was ex- Long Island coach #2187, exx- Erie Lackawanna #1317, exxx- Delaware, Lackawanna & Western #317 built by Pullman Standard in 1949.
15		CSS (S1) Coach Car #15 belonged to Railroad Passenger Cars, Inc,. as their #8304. The 83-seat coach was ex- Long Island coach #2194, exx- Erie Lackawanna #1325, exxx- Delaware, Lackawanna & Western #325 built by Pullman Standard in 1949.
16		CSS (S1) Coach Car #16 belonged to Railroad Passenger Cars, Inc,. as their #6600. The 56-seat coach also had 8 seats configured as a lounge. The car was ex- Norfolk & Western #1829, exx- Wabash, exxx- Boston & Maine #4807 built by Pullman in 1947.
17		CSS (S1) Parlor Car #17 was High Iron Company #2936. Formerly the 26-seat car was ex- Delaware & Hudson 2936, exx- Indiana Railway Museum, 2936, exxx- Penn Central 2936, exxxx- New York Central 2936 built by Budd as a coach in 1947 and converted to a parlor car in 1977.
18		CSS (Season One) 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. Today, the car is named INDEPENDENCE and resides at American Railcar Industries HQ in St. Charles, MO.
*	MISC	MISC EQUIPMENT NOTES 1977
*	Photo Needed	New Jersey Department of Transportation coach #1095 was also procured, perhaps for parts. Ex-CNJ 1095, built by Standard Steel Car in 1924.

Equipment Roster of the Chessie Steam Special - Season Two - 1978

*	*	This list is a work-in-progress -- and probably always will be. Any additions or corrections, please email.
*	LOCOMOTIVE	LOCOMOTIVE NOTES 1978
2101		For the Second Season (S2) of the CSS, Steam Locomotive 2101 was extensively overhauled during the off season (winter of 1977-78) and returned to pull the train in the following spring, summer and fall. See more detail under Season One above.
2101A		For the Second Season (S2) of the CSS, Water Tender/Tool Car 2101A again went along for the ride. See above.
*	CARS	CAR NOTES 1978
PC-100		For the Second Season (S2) of the CSS, Power Car #PC-100 was again part of the standard consist. See above.
101		CSS (S2) Dormitory Car #101 belonged to NY-RRE as their 4 double bedroom/lounge Eugene Field, exx-Nord Photo Engineering 4DBR/sales office/photo processing lab SILVER MESSENGER, exxx-Frisco 14-roommette/4DBR 1456 EUGENE FIELD. Built in 1948 by Pullman Standard. Now at the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler, AZ once again as Frisco 1456. During the CSS, the car was left mostly silver with just a wide stripe of yellow across the window band -- and a thin stripe of orange across the side at bottom.
1	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Dormitory Car #1 was West Virginia Railroad Maintenance Authority car number 89545. The car was former USAX 89545 an Army Maintenance Authority Ambulance car built in 1952 by St. Louis Car Co. During the first season in 1977, the car was lettered for the "150th Birthday of American Railroading", for this second season it was changed to "151st".
2	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Baggage-Coach Car #2 was CSS (S1) #9 in the 1977 season. The car was reconfigured over the winter. Former Delaware & Hudson concessions car #56 "Town of Stillwater". The car was former Denver & Rio Grande Western baggage car #1200 built by Pullman Standard in 1950 as part of a C&O order, but redirected to D&RGW.
3		CSS (S2) Coach Car #3 was CSS (S1) #6 in the 1977 season. The car belonged to James F. Hicks of Jim Thorpe, PA. The 78-seat car was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #1000, built by ACF in 1926. Today the car is at the The Valley Railroad Company in Essex, CT as their #1000.
4	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #4 was CSS (S1) #3 in the 1977 season. Formerly owned by George F. Hart. The car was a Ex-Delaware & Hudson 76-seat coach #11. exx-Reading 4504 built in 1927 by Bethlehem Shipbuilders.
5	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #5 belonged to James F. Hicks of Jim Thorpe, PA. The 78-seat car was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #992, built by ACF in 1926. Today the car is at the The Valley Railroad Company in Essex, CT as their #1002.
6	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #6 was CSS (S1) #4 in the 1977 season. The car was Delaware & Hudson 54-seat coach #1549, a former Reading Company coach built about 1927 by Bethlehem Shipbuilders.
7		CSS (S2) Coach Car #7 was also CSS Season 1 #7. Same car, same number. See above.
8	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #8 was New Jersey Department of Transportation #1141. The 78-seat coach was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #1141, built by Standard Steel Car in 1925. Today, the car resides at the Cass Scenic Railroad as #960.
9	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #9 belonged to the Roanoke Chapter of the NRHS. The 58-seat open-window coach was their #1204 GEORGE N. KEICH". Ex-Southern Railway 1204.
10		CSS (S2) Coach Car #10 was New Jersey Department of Transportation #997. The 78-seat open-window coach was former Central Railroad of New Jersey #997, built by ACF in 1926. After the CSS the car was acquired by the State of West Virginia and their state-owned South Branch Valley Railroad. To Everett Railroad in Hollidaysburg PA in 2009.
11		CSS (S2) Concessions Car #11 belonged to Steam Special Souvenirs Ltd. The car was lettered "E.M. Frimbo", in the style of the famed New Yorker Magazine writer's own signature. The car was rebuilt in 1978 from Railroad Passenger Cars, Inc. 38-seat snack bar coach #3004. Ex-B&O 3004, exx-B&O 3580, exxx-B&O 5475. Built by Pullman in 1930.
12	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach/PA/First Aid Station Car #12 belonged to the Roanoke Chapter of the NRHS. The 56-seat coach/lounge was former Norfolk & Western #1210 JOHN M. HANCOCK. Ex-N&W 1827, exx-Wabash 1420, exxx-B&M 4803 BLACK BIRD built in 1947 by Pullman Standard.
13		CSS (S2) Coach Car #13 was CSS (S1) #16 in the 1977 season. The car belonged to Railroad Passenger Cars, Inc,. as their #6600. The 56-seat coach also had 8 seats configured as a lounge. The car was ex- Norfolk & Western #1829, exx- Wabash 1422, exxx- Boston & Maine #4805 ORIOLE built in 1947 by Pullman Standard.
14		CSS (S2) Coach Car #14 was a 56-seat AC coach/8-seat lounge owned by Railroad Passenger Cars, Inc. Former RRP #6601, Steelmet/N&W 1830, exx-Wabash 1423, exxx-B&M 4806 CHICKADEE built in 1947 by Pullman Standard.
15	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #15 was CSS (S1) #10 in the 1977 season. The car belonged to the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS. The 54-seat coach was former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #703.
16		CSS (S2) Coach Car #16 was CSS (S1) #11 in the 1977 season. The car belonged to the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS. The 54-seat coach was former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #704.
17	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #17 was CSS (S1) #12 in the 1977 season. The car belonged to the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS. The 54-seat coach was former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #706. Built by Bethlehem in 1925 as #532, modernized and renumbered 706 in 1956. Today the car is used on the Buckingham Branch Railroad for NRHS Old Dominion Chapter excursion trains in Dillwyn, VA.
18	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Coach Car #18 belonged to the Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS. The 54-seat coach was former Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac #705. Built by Bethlehem in 1925 and originally numbered 530. Modernized and renumbered 705 at Bryan Park Shops in 1956.
19	Photo Needed	CSS (S2) Open Air Car #19 was a private car named GLEN ONOKO leased from George F. Hart. Rebuilt in 1965-1975 from ex-Reading storage-mail car 1755, which in turn was rebuilt in 1960 from a 400-series combine.
20		CSS (S2) Parlor Car #20 was CSS (S1) #17 in the 1977 season of the CSS. The car was leased High Iron Company #2936. Formerly the 26-seat car was ex- Delaware & Hudson 2936, exx- Indiana Railway Museum, 2936, exxx- Penn Central 2936, exxxx- New York Central 2936 built by Budd as a coach in 1947 and converted to a parlor car in 1977.
21	Photo Needed	CSS (Second Season) Observation Car #21 was CSS (S1) #18 in the 1977 season. The car was leased 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. Today, the car is named INDEPENDENCE and resides at American Railcar Industries HQ in St. Charles, MO.
*	*	Acknowledgments
*	*	Research resources include: Alexander D. Mitchell IV, Aaron W. Farmer, Bob Rathke, Allan Bluman, Keith Muldowney, Mary Jayne & John Z. Rowe, Ross Rowland, Stephen Hart, Kevin P. Keefe, Roy Gabriel, William F. Howes, Jr, Russell T. Sharp, Thomas W. Dixon, Jr., Dr. Eugene L. Huddleston, Art Million, W. David Randall, C&O Historical Society, Jerry LaBoda's Passenger Car Photo Index, Tony Marchiando. Many thanks to all who have contributed to keeping track of the histories of the equipment of the 1977-1978 Chessie Steam Special!