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Business Car Roster

Source:
This list was compiled by Ed Lewnard and originally appeared in The Hoosier Line, Volume 21, Number 1. February 2002.



Car #
Built By
Aquired
Retired
Reason
Cost
Length
Heat
Lighting
Weight
30 (1)
New Albany
6-1886
03-09-07
Fire
49' 9"
03-09-07
02-14-36
Retired
$3,850
55' 5"
Steam
Gas Elect.
70,400
60
07-1884
08-27-1948
Retired
$4,500
58' 11'
Steam
Electric
80,150
90
07-1882
09-03-48
Museum
$13,500
78' 9"
Steam
Electric
85,500
200
10-28-04
08-10-06
Sold
1
1925
10-08-1962
Museum
77' 3"
Steam
Electric
175,300
2
1953
07-31-1971
Sold
83' 3"
Steam
Electric
192,560
3
09-06-1962
10-29-1968
Lease L&N
83' 4"
Steam
Electric
204,500

Business Car #1


Monon Business Car #1. Left: Picture taken at French Lick. Right: location unknown.

 


(Click on image to see full size.)

 

  Business car #1, built in 1925, was aquired in 1946 from the Tennesse Central Railroad, where she
  wore the number 100. This car had a complete kitchen, dining room, two staterooms, section room
  and an observation room. The car currrently is on display at the, although she is no longer in
  Monon colors. The picture was taken May 3, 1963 at Hammond, Indiana.



Bob Boggs, of Salem, Indiana, poses on the platform of Monon Business Car 1
at French Lick, Indiana.
Bob was a winner in Monon's Centennial Essay Contest.
The story was documented in The Hoosier Line Volume 22, Number 1.

  

  Left: Another view of Business Car #1 from Ken Weller.
  Right:
 
 
Business Car #1 at the Green Bay Railway Museum in 1968.
The car was still wearing Monon livery.
Tim Swan photo.

Above: Business Car #1 at Hammond, Indiana. 1963.


July 2005 Images Business Car #1

Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society Members and Max Foltz traveled to Green Bay and brought back these images of former Monon Business Car #1.

 

  

Left and Right: Looking down the sides.

  

  Left:  Looking at the end platform.
  Right:  Thanks for sharing the pictures Max.

 

Business Car #2...The Lynne



(Click on image to see full size.)

The Lynne was aquired by the Monon in 1953. Named after Lynne Chambers, Warren Brown's granddaughter. Originally built by Pullman Standard in 1924, the car was rebuilt from the Pullman Great Spirit. The Lynne was a premier business car, complete with a kitchen, dining room, drawing room, two compartments and a large observation room. The car was retired in 1971 and sold to Brown Inc., of Michigan City. Business Car #2 was on Brown Inc. property in Porter County Indiana. The Brown Family donated the car to the Monon Railroad Historicl-Technical Society, Inc. where it was restored and was used on the Spirit Of Jasper Dinner Train and occasionally a special excursion on the French Lick Scenic Railway.

Above: The Pullman car Great Spirit.

It was located about a mile south of U.S. Highway 20 in Burns Harbor, Indiana on the Brown company property.
The car was opened for the MRH-TS 1997 and 2006 Convention Bus Tours.

Below: The Lynne, circa May 2004 at Brown Inc., Burns Harbor, IN.

      

Below: The Lynne, at French Lick, IN.

Before and after a fresh paint job.

    


It is now located at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, IN and in the future will be available to ride on it again.

    



More on the Story of "THE LYNNE" #2 including pictures and video clips

 

Business Car #3

 

Business Car #3 as The Survivor. Photo is circa 1997. Built in 1926 by American Car & Foundry as the Japauldon for F. W. Woolworth family. Most often used by Barbara Hutton. Reputed to be courtship car of Barbara Hutton and Cary Grant. Interior is rare golden heart oak. Privately owned until 1941, then Baltimore & Ohio business car 902, Monon 3, and Louisville & Nashville 350. Returned to private service in 1982. It is currently owned by Dante Stephensen.

 

   

 

 

Business Car #90

Business car #90 was purchased from the Southern Pacific Railway and rebuilt at Lafayette in 1906. There is also evidence that #90 was rebuilt in 1916. The car was probably lengthened and steel sheathed. Air conditioning was added in 1936. The car was moved to the National Museum of Transport in St. Louis in 1949. The initial agreement stated that the museum was to lease the car and Dr. John Payne Roberts, the President of the Museum would reside in the car. A popular legend was that #90 was one of the cars at the 1869 golden spike ceremony when it was the property of the Union Pacific. Data on inventory sheets do not show a build date, but it is estimated at 1887.

The car is currently is in a sad state. Visitors are no longer permitted access
to the car and it has been moved away from public view.


(Click on image to see full size.)

  

Left, Right and Below: Business Car #90 in better days at National Museum of Transport in St. Louis.
Tim Swan photographs. .

 




MONON Equipment Still Existing Map by Nathan Miles link:   
 
Information is from this MRH-TS Society, the Railroad Preservation Index and the RR Picture Archives sites.
Web page plotted by Nathan Miles.


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