RPO No. 494

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Hello freinds,

I'm building the CofG RPO #494 and know this car was used in the Man O' War and was painted for that train,but without shadow lining.What I need to know is did this car run in the IC paint later on in it's life time and did it ride on lightweight trucks?

Mike

-- Michael Stamey (southeastmodels@aol.com), September 20, 2002

Answers

This afternoon I checked out 494 at Hallsboro Yard near Richmond. This car has 4 wheel trucks, which we feel for sure are original. Each truck has large center leaf springs with single coil spings near each wheel. The wheel cylinders are truck mounted and each unit has friction bearings. I popped the cover open on one of the bearing housings and the 'brass' looked to be in excellent condition....the oil soaked packing was nestled up against the base of it. Clearly stenciled on the side of each truck is "RPKD ATL 6-19-68". Obviously, this was the last time the bearings were packed in preperation for the move from Atlanta to Richmond when Southern donated 494 (and several other cars) to the Old Dominion Chapter.

-- Greg Hodges (ghodges@smpsfa.com), September 21, 2002.

I will try to check out the trucks on RPO 494 this weekend. Greg Hodges Richmond, VA.

-- Greg Hodges (ghodges@smpsfa.com), September 20, 2002.

Russell Underwood sent along some notes and a photo of 494 that a friend of his made last year. I added Russell's material to the entry for 494 in the Survivors List.

Ron. Wright

-- Ron. Wright (ron@cofg.org), September 20, 2002.


CofGa RPO No. 494 was (and still is) painted Pullman green with dulux gold (off-yellow) Illinois Central-style CofGa roadname. To my knowledge, however, it was never painted in the orange and brown IC paint.

In the late 50s/early 60s, a good number of the Central's baggage and RPO cars were in express service throughout the eastern part of the country. Many of the cars received the Pullman green paint with IC- style CofGa roadname.

Our next CofGa passenger car decal set will include this lettering.

Allen Tuten

-- Allen Tuten (allen@cofg.org), September 20, 2002.


Mike,

The online Survivors List contains an entry for RPO number 494. According to the entry, Illinois Central-style 'Central of Georgia' lettering is still in good condition, so the answer to your question about running in IC paint seems to be that it did.

Unfortunately, the entry does not contain truck details.

Old Dominion Chapter of the NRHS owns the car. It is located at their Hallsboro restoration and storage yard in Richmond, Virginia. Maybe someone from the area can check the trucks for you.

Link to RPO 494 in Survivors List

-----
Ron. Wright
Web Site Manager,
The Central of Georgia Railway Historical Society
ron@cofg.org
http://www.cofg.org

-- Ron. Wright (ron@cofg.org), September 20, 2002.



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