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I was exploring recently on some roads in an industrial area of Columbia, and I came upon a discovery, two lightweight passenger cars, on a spur just past the State paper. You can see the cars clearly from Key Road. I was wondering if anyone knows about them, or why they are there.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Wouldn't happen to be a couple of private cars for luxury charter from South Carolina's Lancaster & Chester would they?
amtrak92 Member # 14343
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I don't think so, because I have been on those, and these are both smooth side, and one has a red stripe, and the other a blue, both have faded paint. The doors are open. The glass is in bad shape
palmland Member # 4344
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Sounds like something for the L&C, as David mentioned - maybe going there for rehab. Or maybe something for the SC RR museum in Winnsboro?
amtrak92 Member # 14343
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Yeah, they were over on a spur by some old heavyweights that are there because of the games. But these cars look to bad to be with the carolina cars. They could be with the L&C but wouldn't they be in Lancaster then, because they have a lot of places to keep them there. They might belong with the museum, but it is odd to keep it far away from where you would want it
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Lest we forget, the Lancaster and Chester once had a "Vice-President-Unveiling". One such occupant of that office was none other than Gypsy Rose Lee.
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Thanks for that great link, GBN. In a prior life, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Gedney and staff. It was clear the L&C is everything a short line railroad should be: customer focused, minimum bureaucracy, and very cost efficient.
As you may know, they still have a thriving business segment with private railcar restoration and charter. The manager of their passenger operations was babysitting one of the cars on the recently discussed AAPRCO train. Their normal charter operation starts in Charlotte. No passengers are permitted on the L&C/NS positioning move from Lancaster to Charlotte.
amtrak92 Member # 14343
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Yeah, due to insurance between those two points. The L&C is a very good short line. I met the train master, and he was willing to let me ride on one of the trains down the main line, but after that I was sick, so I couldn't do it. The reason they don't leave out of Columbia is because the guy who is in charge of the cars, doesn't trust the CSX crews with his cars. He only trusts certain crews with his cars.
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