Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley 504
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Dave's Electric Railroads |
Built in:1906 by Cincinnati Car Company (ord#315)
Out-of-service/Retired:1932
Type of car:interurban (baggage-coach-parlor-buffet-solarium)
Current Owner:Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois)
Car History by Frank Hicks
Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley 504
The "Talisman" is an example of one of the most plush and attractive types of parlor car built, Cincinnati's 1906 cars built for the FW&WV and for Union Traction. This car packed many features into its 62' length - a baggage compartment at the front with coach section; following it were washrooms and a small buffet compartment; behind that was a parlor section, capped off with a solarium rear platform with full-height curved-glass observation windows. Unfortunately, the luxury travel envisioned did not materialize and the car was rebuilt for coach service. Retired in 1932, the body became a house in rural Mongo, Indiana. There it remained until acquired by IRM in 1991, after which a quarter-million dollar restoration program commenced. The car's body and exterior were completely restored, but the project stopped before interior and electrical work were completed.
Ownership History:Fort Wayne & Wabash Valley #504 1906-1920 / Indiana Service Corporation #354 1920-1930 / Indiana Railroad #354 1930-1932 / Illinois Railway Museum(Union, Illinois) 1991-present
Facts and Figures
| Status:displayed inoperable | Gauge:4'8.5" |
| Construction:wood | Roof type:RR | Ended:SE |
| Length:61'6" | Width:8'11" | Weight:83000# |
| #Seats:48 | #Wheels/Conf.:8 (B-B) | Total HP:400 |
| Trucks:MCB | Brakes:AMM [(M15)] | Compressor:D2-EG |
| Motors:[WH 121 (4)] | Voltage (if not 600DC): |
Notes
"Talisman"
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