Re: Coach/Smoker #256 comes back home

D&RGW coach 256 is one of a kind and unique D&RGW narrow gauge passenger car because of its interior partition making one end the car a "smoker" and the other a "Ladies' Apartment". Also different from other D&RGW NG 38'4" coaches (like 284) is that the 256 has a modified duckbill clearstory in which the windows are paired instead of being evenly spaced. Another mystery is that sometime between Oct 1, 1902 to May 1, 1905 the car lenght was increased from 32' to 38'4"? Another mystery is when the duckbill roof was converted to a bullnose and the single pane windows were rebuilt as double pane as shown different from the folio? The interior ceiling shows evidents of the duckbill like 284,280 ect... I wonder if this car was painted tuscon red in the 1930s? Should be a great restoration if done right. Kind of looks like 256 is suffering from side sill and car side framing damage also resulting the roof to "sag" and "spread" It would be interesting to see if there are any "splices" under the exterior sheathing when and if this car gets restored to explain the origins of this smoker. I guess the Friends and the CATS are the premiere and most able carbody conservation and preservation organizations of historical D&RGW NG equipment close to Colorado.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2012 11:45PM by Jeff Ramsey.