Transcription
OCTOBER 31, marked the retirement of a rolling veteran of Cotton Belt rails whose career dates back to the turn of the century, a veteran whose usefulness will not end under the cutting torch and hammer, but will continue in a somewhat more sedate role in the transportation 'Valhalla' of the Museum of Transport, St. Louis.
The transfer of title to the sturdy but outmoded wooden mail and express baggage car, took place in the classification yards of our railroad at Valley Junction, East St. Louis, when President H. J. McKenzie delivered the. title of SSW No. 71 to Dr. John Payne Roberts, President of the Museum, in a brief and unpretentious ceremony.
The 60-foot baggage car, constructed by the American Car & Foundry Company in 1904, cost approximately $8,000 to build. Its replacement by a modern all-steel car has been estimated to cost $45,000.
In excellent condition, the fine old car will serve not only as an historical exhibit but to house the stacks of the museum's rapidly growing library which numbers over 6,000 volumes on transportation.
Fostering interest in and promoting the study of the history of railroads and other forms of transportation, the famous museum presently occupies a five-acre tract of leased land on Barretts Road in St. Louis County. The museum corporation owns an adjoining 54-acres in anticipation of future development.
Present exhibits include a wide variety of ancient steam locomotives, horse-drawn and electric street cars of several vintages and types, a variety of electric interurban type cars, as well as rail cars and coaches of early design. The museum also boasts a few examples of gasoline powered 'horseless carriages.'
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CAPTION:
MAIL-BAGGAGE CAR No. 71, presented to Museum of Transport by Cotton Belt Railway October 31. In photo (I to r) are Walter W. Thompson, Vice-President and member of Museum's board of directors; Cotton Belt President H. J. McKenzie; and Dr. John Payne Roberts, President of Transportation Museum.
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CAPTION:
"HOOSIERLAND" business car No. 90, acquired by Museum from Monon Railroad, was previously owned by Southern Pacific until 1888. Construction date of car, now used as home for Dr. and Mrs. Roberts on Museum grounds, is unknown.
- Cotton Belt News