By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society announced Tuesday that it had purchased seven former New York Central passenger cars for use on its Indiana Rail Experience excursions. The cars were once part of NYC’s “Great Steel Fleet” of passenger cars and were built for use on the Empire State Express. The cars had been previously preserved and operated by the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in excursion service in New York. 

The Fort Wayne group, which operates Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 765 and has been expanding its popular Indiana Rail Experience excursion program on the Indiana Northeastern Railroad, said it will cost about $1.2 million to restore the entire train set. However, the cars are already road-worthy and were being interchanged with CSX Transportation for movement west on Tuesday. FWRHS hopes to put at least one car in service in 2024. A capital campaign has been launched at greatsteelfleet.org to raise the first $160,000 needed for that restoration. 

“This acquisition will ensure we have a dedicated fleet of our own equipment for both the Indiana Rail Experience and future steam excursions around the country and helps strengthen our business model,” said Joe Knapke, President of FWRHS. “Rochester’s care and stewardship in preserving this equipment through the years means that the cars will be enjoyed by thousands of people every year.” 

ABOVE: A Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society volunteer oversees the departure of seven former New York Central passenger cars from the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum siding on Tuesday morning. —Photo by Otto M. Vondrak. 

The streamlined Empire State Express operated between New York City, Detroit, and Cleveland, and each of the preserved cars debuted in the inaugural run on December 7th, 1941 – only hours before the infamous attack on Pearl Harbor. By the mid-1960s, they were rebuilt for commuter service. Six cars from the fleet were acquired by the Rochester Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1987 and made part of their growing museum collection where it was later joined by a railway post office car to complete the set. Refurbished by volunteers, the cars were used for a series of seasonal fall foliage excursions operated in the region through the 1990s and early 2000s, with the most recent trip taking place in 2019. 

“These cars were state of the art when introduced and are beautiful examples of innovative, stainless steel construction during a period of optimism and investment in passenger rail,” said Otto Vondrak, president of RGVRM. “These lightweight, stainless steel cars set the standard for a generation of the traveling public. The Budd Company built to these cars to last and they are destined for a bright future.”

Over the next several years, the cars will undergo modernization of their mechanical, heating, and electric systems and additional work will update restrooms and seating. Two cars are likely candidates for conversion into first class dining or parlor cars inspired by the New York Central’s original designs. The acquisition of the equipment was partially funded by a grant from the David A. Donoho Trust and the Central Indiana Foundation.

ABOVE: A pair of Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Alcos help the former New York Central passenger cars begin their journey to Indiana. Interestingly, lead unit LA&L C-430 433, was built as NYC 2056 in 1967. —Photo by Otto M. Vondrak. 

“Not many organizations have the resources to acquire, maintain, and operate a full seven-car passenger train, let alone one single car,” Vondrak said. “After a long career in preservation, RGVRM determined this train to be surplus to the museum’s collection. I’m proud of our museum’s accomplishments to preserve this historic train set, and our members are excited for its future. We can’t wait to see this classic streamliner operate with a powerful steam engine across the farmlands of the Midwest as they first did 82 years ago.”

Since 2022, FWRHS has purchased two former Pennsylvania Railroad coaches, completed restoration of a dining car and open air car, converted a former baggage car into a power car to provide electricity for its trains, and also acquired an unrestored Canadian Pacific dome-observation-lounge car. 

“With rising costs, limited availability, and logistical constraints, leasing even the best cars can make or break this business,” said Kelly Lynch, Vice President of the Fort Wayne Railroad. “We’ve gone from having no operating cars to a growing fleet in less than two years. As the Empire cars enter service over time, they will greatly expand our train sizes, capacity and variety of trips, which means donations toward restoring our fleet can double and triple the impact our trains have.” 

NYC 2566 – Built 1941 as 56-seat coach, rebuilt as 108-seat commuter coach in August 1966, became NYC 1703.

NYC 2567 – Built 1941 as 56-seat coach, rebuilt as 108-seat commuter coach in September 1966, became NYC 1711.

NYC 2568 – Built 1941 as 56-seat coach, rebuilt as 108-seat commuter coach in December 1966, became NYC 1700.

NYC 2571/”Hamilton Fish” – Built 1941 as 56-seat coach, rebuilt as 108-seat commuter coach in October 1966, became NYC 1705.

NYC 2572/”David B. Hill” – Built 1941 as 56-seat coach, rebuilt as 108-seat commuter coach in October 1966, became NYC 1707.

NYC 2578/”Charles Whitman” – Built 1941 as 56-seat coach, rebuilt as 108-seat commuter coach in November 1966, became NYC 1701.

NYC 5021/”Alonzo B. Cornell” – Built 1941 as Railway Post Office, to Penn Central in 1968 and renumbered 6500. 

Editor’s Note and Disclosure: Managing Editor Otto Vondrak is president of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum.