Hello all,
I am starting to plan the long process of restoring a former D&RGW narrow gauge motorcar, number 383. This car was built for the Rio Grande, in the 1960's to the best of my knowledge. Its Fairmont model designation is ST-2 z36. It is evident that over the years it has undergone modifications. In addition as it sits it is missing many pieces, making a thorough documentation of its mechanical condition when it last ran difficult, to say nothing of figuring out how it appeared before modifications over the years.
So here is where I could use help. I have no pictures of the car when in use on the Grande. There are a decent amount of photographs of motorcars on the Grande, but I have personally found none of this car model. It is an oddball on the D&RGW from what I can tell. It is larger than the two seat cars used to patrol on the D&S, but smaller than the large gang cars. Does anyone out there have in their collections pictures of this particular car or another of its model type in operation on the Grande? Or would anyone know of a book with this car or cars of the same model in use on the Grande? The car was last used on the D&S in the 80's and possibly early 90's from what I have been told by people who ran the car there. The car as I was told wasn't a favorite on the D&S. It was eventually taken out of service for an overhaul that apparently never happened and it was sold to me as a parted out hulk years ago. Restoration will be a long, drawn out and expensive proposition, and I would like to restore it as authentically as possible to a time in its history yet to be determined. Having been involved in railroad preservation for a long time I have every intention on doing this as historically accurate as possible.
Thanks to everyone for reading this, hopefully someone has something that will help!
