N-C-O passenger cars moved to preservation location

The new Nevada-California-Oregon Railway preservation society has aquired and moved NCO cars #22 and #72.

It was a long three days watching the professionals pickup and move both passenger cars #22 and #72 here in Alturas. Lots of excitement and positivity was had by all watching, and the occasional moments of nervousness as the cars lifted off the ground, swaying and shifting their weight. In the end, a great feeling of accomplishment by the Board of Directors of the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway having successfully saved both cars for future preservation.

Baggage Mail Car #72 and Mail Express Car #22 are now safely stored here in Alturas. This is the first time since these cars were placed on the ground nearly a century ago that both are now under a roof and properly blocked to level the bodies of these cars. Research on these cars has begun, and preservation work will begin in 2021 with the creation of a historical research committee to assist in needed work.

We would like to thank Keith Stotts, owner of Stotts & Sons from Anderson, who carefully and diligently moved both cars for us. Keith, and his sons, were quite patient with all of us as the crowd of folks gathered to watch their work. It’s not every day, here in Alturas, you get to watch an old narrow-gauge passenger car get moved and paraded through town!

A personal thank you is given to June Roberts, original owner of Baggage and Mail Car #72. June, and her family, were great stewards of the passenger car over the decades, ensuring weathering to the car was minimal and saving many of the unique pieces that had come from #72. We’d also like to thank the City of Alturas for donating Mail Express Car #22 to the N-C-O Ry. Their generous contribution will lead the preservation of this rare N-C-O built car.

For more info and photos, please go to [www.ncory.org]

CAR HISTORIES

Mail Express Car 22
Built in 1891 at the N-C-O Ry shops in Reno, Nevada as combine #4. Rebuilt into a Mail Express car in 1892 and renumbered #22. The car was used as a Post Office for the railway until end of service in 1928. It was put on the ground in Wendel and later moved and built into a home. Previous attempts to preserve the car resulted in it being brought to Alturas in the late nineties where it sat outside until acquired by the historical society.

Baggage-Mail Car 72
Built in 1897 by the St. Charles Car Works for the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad of Colorado. Purchased by the N-C-O Ry in 1915 and used until the end of service in 1928. The body was sold in 1929 and placed on the ground of a residence in Alturas where it sat until acquired by the historical society.

photos by Eugene Vicknair, VP - NCORy
1 - NCO 22 was a relatively easy move, as it had been stored outside on the site where the cars are now located, but are now INSIDE a building. Several near details survive on the NCO built car, including a mail slot for dropping letters directly into the car, several of the colored clestory glass panels and various woodworking details.
2 - NCO 72 was more of a challenge. Here, the Stotts and Sons crew secure the front dolly that will allow them to trailer the car to the storage site. This was hours after the task of beginning to seperate the car from the sheds constructed next to it had begun.
3 - The major issue was found to be some metal bars that formed the coupler pocket had been left on the car and a concrete foundation for a shed poured around them! A jackhammer was required. (The foundation is currently being repaired.)
4 - The St. Charles Car Company door plate is still in place.
5 - The NCO 72 has sat at the location behind the house for an estimated 92 years. Here it is seen crossing the original NCO right of way for the first time since its retirement. In the background, behind the stop sign, can be seen the NCO Alturas passenger depot, today beautifully preserved and maintained by the Alturas Garden Club.










Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/2020 11:21PM by DezignGuy.