C&O Society Restoring Business Car

Restoration of a business car to operating condition by the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society is underway.

The group said it is restoring “Chessie 29,” which was used by the railroad executives during the mid-20th Century. 

The car is being restored in Clifton Forge, Virginia. It was donated to the society in 2019 by Al Barbour.

Built in 1950, the car was originally named New River Club. It received the Chessie 29 name in 1951 after mechanical work was done on it by C&O shops in Huntington, West Virginia.

The society said the car was used extensively by C&O President Walter Tuohy and hosted such dignitaries as President Dwight Eisenhower. 

Ex-N&W Business Car Being Restored, Will Run in Michigan

A former Norfolk & Western business car has been sent to Valparaiso, Indiana, for additional restoration work before moving to excursion service in Michigan.

N&W No. 300 was built in 1917 and had been stored inside a warehouse since 1991.

The car is expected to be pulled by Little River Railroad excursion trains out of Coldwater, Michigan, once the restoration efforts have been completed.