A Cabin Car's Journey - Part I

Over the past six years, John Pfaltz and other members of the NRHS Rivanna Chapter lovingly restored PRR Cabin Car 477768 at a spur in Red Hill, Virginia.  In January 2014, the cabin car made a glorious return to Pennsylvania to become part of the Colebrookdale Railroad Preservation Trust in Boyertown.  The images and video links in the three-part sequence below capture some of the trip, as well as events in Virginia and Pennsylvania prior to and after the transfer.


The Farewell Ceremony at Red Hill, VA, and the departure for Lynchburg, VA

Photos from the Ceremony on Dec. 19, 2013

 A group of some of the Rivanna Chapter members who restored the Cabin Car 

Photo by Susan Thomas

 

Another group of some of the Rivanna Chapter members who restored the Cabin Car 

Photo by Dale Diacont

 

Dignitaries from Boyertown, Charlottesville, and the Rivanna Chapter exchange greetings

Photo by Ann Harrod

 

Colebrookdale RR and Rivanna Chapter personnel team together 

for a ceremonial push of the Cabin Car 

Photo by Wayland Moore

 

Charles Haddad (Boyertown Rotary) presents history books

to John Pfaltz and Roger Lehmann (Boyertown Lions) looks on 

Photo by Ann Harrod

 

 

The southbound departure for Lynchburg on Jan. 13, 2014

NS crew prepares for switching as the Cabin Car is

pulled from the spur in Red Hill onto the NS mainline

Photo by John Pfaltz

 

The Cabin Car's Journey is continued in Part II below.

 



A Cabin Car's Journey - Part II

Lynchburg, VA to Pottstown, PA

After the Cabin Car left Red Hill, VA it first went south to Lynchburg, VA.  In Lynchburg it was switched to an NS northbound train.  Pictures taken in Lynchburg, Red Hill, and PA are below, but we have none from northern VA or MD.  We believe that the Cabin Car was in both Allentown and Reading, PA, on its way to the interchange with the Colebrookdale RR in Pottstown, PA.

PRR Day in Lynchburg
 On Jan. 13, during its southbound trip to Lynchburg, the Cabin Car passed the northbound NS Heritage locomotive above (pictured here by the Lynchburg, Kemper Street station)
Photo by Garland Harper

 

 

The Cabin Car in its intended position on the consist

Photo by Garland Harper

Two links below lead to videos made by Travis Koshko on January 14.  The first shows the northbound NS train with the Cabin Car on the trestle over the James River in Lynchburg.  The second was taken in Red Hill as PRR 477768 passed by her former home for the final time.  In the silence ending the second video - share in the joy, pride, and sadness of those who restored her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrVmrBd_t_A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IkeVZuSzq4

 Near Temple, PA on Jan. 15

Photo by Jason Schutter

 Near Birdsboro, PA on Jan. 16

Photo by Todd Strickler

 

A Cabin Car's Journey is continued in Part III below.

A Cabin Car's Journey - Part III

Boyertown , PA - January 17, 2014 

Triumphant arrival in Boyertown on Jan. 17

 

Boyertown and Colebrookdale RR dignitaries and families 

John Pfaltz (center) receives recognition from Charles Haddad (left, Rotary)
 and Roger Lehmann (right, Lions)

Three photos above all from Colebrookdale RR

 

Boyertown after January 17

A cold night on Jan. 23

Photo by Leonard F. Shaner, Jr.

 

Cabin car boosts spirits and fund raising on Feb. 7

Photo by Colebrookdale RR

 

Beautiful Lady - We brought you back to your prime and returned you to your homeland. Go forth and make us proud again.          

- John Pfaltz and the NRHS Rivanna Chapter

 

Thanks to Norfolk Southern (www.nscorp.com) and their many employees who were involved in safely and quickly moving PRR 477768 from Virginia to Pennsylvania.

 

For more information on the Rivanna Chapter and the National Railway Historical Society check:
http://nrhs.com/ and http://nrhs.com/chapters/Rivanna

Keep up with the progress of the Colebrookdale RR at:

https://www.facebook.com/colebrookdalerailroad and http://www.colebrookdalerailroad.org/