Passenger
Reading Company Baggage Car, Class BAA, #1715
Background & History
On March 17, 1998, Reading Baggage Car #1715 was placed on rail in our collection. The car which began life as a “combine” (combined passenger coach and baggage car) was built for the Reading by Standard Steel in 1925. Originally thought to be one of the concession cars used on the famous “Reading Rambles” steam excursions of the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, some doubt has been raised regarding that theory. In its later years, it was used on the Quakertown & Eastern Railway in eastern Pa, and then the southwest Virginia Scenic Railroad. It later settled at the North Carolina Transportation Museum (NCTM) in Spencer NC.
At Leesport yard, April 2003.
(Photo courtesy Mike Shirk)
Restoration work at Hamburg 2015.
(Photo courtesy Don Crabtree)
RCT&HS purchased car 1715 from NCTM in 1994, but due to the age of the car, it could not be moved on its own wheels. The car was finally moved on a TTX flat car, with its wheels in an accompanying gondola. Local crane contractor Dickinson Crane unloaded the car and with the help of RCT&HS volunteers, the car was sat on its own wheels. The car was stabilized with a coat of primer paint while at Leesport. The car was moved to Hamburg along with the rest of the RCT&HS collection when the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum was formed.
Some restoration work was performed at Hamburg but the car has yet to be completed. The inside of the car remains set up as a concession car. Its most recent trip was for an ice cream special run to Shoemakersville.
Model Photo Courtesy Bethlehem Car Works