Just wondering if anyone knows the story behind the Seaboard passenger or office car located downtown at the harbor in Fernandina Beach. It is the type with an open rear platform, and looks like it is being used as an office, perhaps by the adjacent tourism authority.

-- Tom Randall (tom.randall@delta-air.com), January 05, 2000

Answers

Ken Marsh sent me some additional information and corrections to the previous answer: The car was obtained by the Clinchfield from N&W in 1972 (not 1960) for excursion service and renamed White Oak after the general manager's farm in South Carolina, and numbered 114. It was renamed Blue Ridge following the firing of the general manager in 1979.

Rather than being sold to the Chamber of Commerce in 1966 it was likely 1986.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), January 07, 2000.

Tom,this question was asked back in Dec it is listed under passenger cars here is a copy of that question and answer.

A friend sent me an April 1999 photo of an office car lettered "SEABOARD" and named "FERNANDINA," on display at the ex-SAL Fernandina Beach depot. Can anyone supply details of this car's history, and who put it on display and when?

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), December 22, 1999

Answers

"Fernandina" is a Parlor-Obsevation car built by Pullman in January 1927. Original name was "Helena Modjeska" and served on the DL&W. Originally built as 26-parlor chair, 1 drawing room observation car. Sold in 1945 to Wabash RR. Modernized in 1954 and renamed "City of Lafayette". The"City" became the last regularly scheduled open-platform observation car in the US. It served on the CANNON BALL, BANNER BLUE and BLUE BIRD trains. N&W renamed it to "Lafayette" and converted it for use as a business-office car.

In 1960 it went to the Clinchfield and renamed "White Oak" Used on steam excursions and Santa Claus Special. When CRR became part of CSX the car went into service on the New Georgia Railroad and was renamed "Blue Ridge"

In 1966 it was acquired by Amelia Island-Fernandina Beach-Yulee Chamber of Commerce from CSX and moved to Fernandina Beach. It now serves as private offices for the local Chamber of Commerce and is not open to the general public.

This info is from a flyer publised by the Chamber in Fernandina Beach. There phone number is 904-261-3248.

Craig Strickland

-- Craig Strickland (ccstrick@esn.net), December 22, 1999.

-- Gary Riccio (g.riccio@worldnet.att.net), January 05, 2000.