Non-Reading
Pennsylvania RailRoad Baggage Car #9051
Background & History
PRR Baggage Car 9051 represents a special place in history for the RCT&HS. While it served many roles for the MP&RE Committee, its real value is in it history of American rail Roading.
The Golden Spike Centennial Limited
1869, the golden spike was driven to celebrate the final completion of the railroad from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. One hundred years later, an event was planned to celebrate that great accomplishment. A train was assembled to travel to Promontory Point that included cars representing many of the east coast railroads. The cars carried passengers as well as special exhibits for display. On May 10th of 1969 this train left New York City in route to Ogden, Utah. Three of the baggage cars of the Penn Central Railroad (former PRR cars) were included in the train. Those baggage cars carried exhibits for public viewing at Promontory Point. Penn Central baggage car 9051 (former PRR 9051) was in the consist as Exhibit Car #3. To have such a historic car in our collection is truly a blessing.
PRR Baggage Car 9051 sits at Hamburg in use as a tool car as well as a refuge for MP&RE crew. The car served many roles over the years including an overnight resting place for volunteers.
(Photo courtesy Don Crabtree, Summer 2020)
Baggage car 9051 at The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum in Hamburg.
(Photo courtesty Don Crabtree)
The car was repainted in 2021. Plans call for the car to be lettered in its Golden Spike Centennial Limited paint scheme.