MU's GALORE !!

Catskill Mountain has three. 701 in service, 702 is under renovation, and a third is in "cold storage' pending renovation:

Former NJT 4321 - now CMRR 701, a real beauty of a job:

Exterior
http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... ntain%20RR

Interior:
http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... ntain%20RR

Former NJT 4332, soon to be CMRR 702. Crews are now renovating the interior fixtures of the car.

Exterior:
http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... ntain%20RR

Interior:
http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... ntain%20RR

...and NJT 4322 down in West Hurley, future to be determined:

http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?pho ... ntain%20RR

Some really neat and historic shots of DL&W MU's taken in 1933!!

http://photoswest.org:8080/cgi-bin/cw_c ... +8225+12+0

Neat bit of trivia - the first run of these cars in 1930 was piloted by none other than Thomas Edison, just about a year before he died.

Tad -

Probably has become trivia as the years have past.

For their first 20-25 years of service the MU's weren't called MU's as much as they were called Edison Cars.

And he piloted the 1st run between Montclair and Hoboken. There's a rather famous photo of Tom on the track #1 platform at the old Lackawanna Plaza terminal in Montclair posed next to an MU set with Lackawanna execs and local dignitaries marking the occasion ( in 1931 AIR, no ? ).

Anyone know how many of the "Edison Cars" survive with their original straw (rattan) seats intact?? During the last years NJT ran them, most of the cars that retained the wicker seats were the 3500 series motor coaches. I realize most of these cars were probably scrapped, but there must be some "survivors" still around working for tourist lines or museums (excluding the open vestibule Boonton Cars)...

Thanks!

Oh, yeah, there are quite a few around with the rattan seats. But EL also redid many with a vinyl, too.

henry -

But EL also redid many with a vinyl, too.

I can vividly recall my Dad preferring to ride the wicker seats of the Lackawanna MU's over the vinyl seats found in the Erie Stillwells....particularly in the Summer.

As neither cars had a/c, the MU's were somewhat cooler....although the downside was one often gained a checkerboard pattern on the back of one's dress white shirt !

I remember when the fans were installed in the MU's in the 50's. Still had to open the windows to get a breeze! Wyatt Earp cars didn't get the fans as I recall.

Every month, or so, these guys have MU trailers for sale. Got about six, right now.......
http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/coaches.htm

GOLDEN-ARM wrote:Every month, or so, these guys have MU trailers for sale. Got about six, right now.......
http://www.ozarkmountainrailcar.com/coaches.htm

If I could afford it I would! Not only that, but what does M&E or other shortline railroads in NJ charge per month/week just to keep passenger cars on their property??

MY GOODNESS....look at them new toilet seats !

Where's that 'MU Toilet' thread gone to ???

Much thanks for that link GA !!

Your welcome! Depends on where you store it, how much stuff is already there, and if you are going to work on it, while there. Going to let your sponsoring road use it? This might weigh in your favor, as well. The M&E was very kind to railfans, and the rates they had for equipment at Whippany, while I was there. With Ben gone, no idea what the "new regime" would say, or charge you. You will most likely find, the charge for moving the car is more than you paid to buy it, IF you can get someone to move it for you.

The Reading & Northern has about 10-12 former MU trailer cars. I'll be riding in them behind the #425 come this July.

Question, anyone know when the blue & orange vinyl seats were installed to replace the brown rattan? I realize some cars still had the rattan up until the end in 84, but I remember many cars with blue, orange/tan, and even green seats. Were these seats replaced during the EL or Conrail era?? Did any of the cars have red burgandy seats, or were these installed by the tourist railroads that bought them??

Thanks in advance!

Are these cars the most preserved historic rail car out there? I don't seen any MP54s in this amount in tourist operations.
Does having being in service to the mid 1980s have anything to do with it?

Work -

Are these cars the most preserved historic rail car out there? I don't seen any MP54s in this amount in tourist operations.
Does having being in service to the mid 1980s have anything to do with it?

Good observation.

I think the answers are yes and yes. Dozens of the MU trailers went OOS and on the 'For Sale' market in 1984 and were grabbed in bunches.