Thursday, October 2, 2014

Now arriving on Track 4...

The North Shore car arrived last week. Here it is!

Despite its flaws—including a bent pilot—I'm quite satisfied. After reviewing the CERA bulletins, I've determined that this is a model of the 737-776 series of cars as modernized, but not as a Silverliner. These cars were actually from two separate series built by two different manufacturers at different times, but having almost identical specifications. 737-751 were built by Pullman in 1928. The rest were produced by Standard in 1930. I haven't picked a series yet (although I'm leaning toward the Standard-built cars) but I do know that I will not be giving it the number of a preserved car. I like the concept of recreating and preserving (in a small way—no pun intended) something that was lost.

The car is missing a few things. This includes (but is not limited to) trucks, couplers, poles, and trolley hooks. Also, on one corner a small bracket seems to have been knocked off. I believe this is supposed to hold either flags or lanterns. The more learned will have to comment.

The hole is where the missing bracket is supposed to be.

A little known fact about these cars is that while being modernized, the trucks and poles were removed. The cars were then painted in a rather striking all-brass livery. The area around the shops was also home to an American species of roc that was long believed to have been mythical. (The "legend" of these giant birds were the inspiration for Baby Huey.) The birds have since gone extinct, but I have managed to locate a rare color photograph depicting this situation. The Smithsonian will no doubt be interested in my finding.

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