The historic car, which is built mostly of wood, was once used on Chicago & North Western passenger trains to carry passengers’ luggage and small express freight shipments. The museum acquired it in 1964 and for a time was used to store spare parts for other trains at the museum. More recently, it was employed as a storeroom for the museum’s gift shop.
The baggage car is mechanically complete but the interior is partly removed — perfect for someone looking to create a unique shop, club room, or getaway. Another identical baggage car owned by the museum is being retained and is currently on public display as a historic artifact.
“This car may be surplus to our needs, but it has stuck around for 110 years so far and we are hoping that someone can provide it a good future so that it’s still around in another century,” says Paul Cronin, the museum’s General Manager for Collections.
Baggage car No. 1236 is being offered as-is, where-is at the museum’s property. Serious inquiries can be directed to Cronin, and the baggage car is available for inspection to any museum visitor. The museum is open daily until Sept. 16 and weekends through the end of October.
I have been in this car. The roof is OK, but the exterior needs a lot of work to make it usable.
Classy move to make it available to other organizations and to publicize it. A surprising number of organizations don’t grasp that, and then get annoyed that some people are upset about it when the news spreads after the fact.
As I recall, the exterior of this car is in need of some serious work. Whoever acquires it will have a big job on their hands to make it look good again.