by NJT4272
Since moving to Bucks County in Pennsylvania in 2007, one of the comforting relics of home (which was Middlesex Co., NJ) was the truly amazing presence of Raritan River RR box car #100 at the Quakertown, PA train station.
Purchased by the Quakertown Train Station Historical Society for storage purposes, it had sat for much of its post-RRRR life on Conrail property in Lancaster, PA.
RRRR 100 was a non-interchange box car that served home rail customers. Somehow it survived Conrail and finally came to rest in Quakertown.
About 2 months ago, I was sad to see that the car had finally been sanded down and sprayed an unremarkable coat of 'rustoleum' primer red. The original Raritan River markings were gone. Considering it was purchased for storage and that we're in Pennsylvania, I figured the heritage and livery of the car would be considered quite unremarkable to a group of Pennsylvania railroad preservationists.
The other day, to my shock, amazement, relief, and joy...... as I drove past the station, I noticed fresh, bright white lettering had been applied to the car. Making a sudden, certainly illegal U-turn, I drove up to the car to find a wonderful sight............ professionally applied, historically accurate Raritan River lettering! The owners had begun restoring the car to its original appearance!
Three cheers for the Quakertown Train Station Historical Society for preserving this particularly rare piece of New Jersey railroad history. I think it would be quite nice of those concerned to send the organization a heart-felt note of thanks for their efforts. I'm certainly going to stop in at their next monthly meeting to thank them personally. For those associated with Tri-State Railway Historical Society, I think it would be quite fitting for a representative to contact the group, considering that Tri-State is restoring RRRR caboose #10 in Whippany.
Purchased by the Quakertown Train Station Historical Society for storage purposes, it had sat for much of its post-RRRR life on Conrail property in Lancaster, PA.
RRRR 100 was a non-interchange box car that served home rail customers. Somehow it survived Conrail and finally came to rest in Quakertown.
About 2 months ago, I was sad to see that the car had finally been sanded down and sprayed an unremarkable coat of 'rustoleum' primer red. The original Raritan River markings were gone. Considering it was purchased for storage and that we're in Pennsylvania, I figured the heritage and livery of the car would be considered quite unremarkable to a group of Pennsylvania railroad preservationists.
The other day, to my shock, amazement, relief, and joy...... as I drove past the station, I noticed fresh, bright white lettering had been applied to the car. Making a sudden, certainly illegal U-turn, I drove up to the car to find a wonderful sight............ professionally applied, historically accurate Raritan River lettering! The owners had begun restoring the car to its original appearance!
Three cheers for the Quakertown Train Station Historical Society for preserving this particularly rare piece of New Jersey railroad history. I think it would be quite nice of those concerned to send the organization a heart-felt note of thanks for their efforts. I'm certainly going to stop in at their next monthly meeting to thank them personally. For those associated with Tri-State Railway Historical Society, I think it would be quite fitting for a representative to contact the group, considering that Tri-State is restoring RRRR caboose #10 in Whippany.
"I'll keep pulling on the towpath. You keep floatin' on the river. Yeah, 'til the day is done. Keep on keepin' on the low road, Chesapeake and Ohio....."
- Neil Fallon. CLUTCH. "The Elephant Riders"
- Neil Fallon. CLUTCH. "The Elephant Riders"
