CHESTERTON, Ind. — The group that has preserved a former Norfolk & Western business car is now seeking to save and restore former N&W sleeping car Hollins College.
The N&W Business Car 300 Preservation Society says it is working with Norfolk Southern, the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, and the Morristown & Erie Railway to preserve the car, the last surviving intact N&W 12-roomette, 4-double-bedroom sleeper. It was built by American Car & Foundry in 1950 for the Wabash as the Western Sunset and became part of the N&W fleet in 1964. It was assigned to business train service and renamed Hollins College in 1972, was sold by Norfolk Southern to Royal Rail in 1987 and sold again to the Morristown & Erie in the early 2000s. It has suffered significant vandalism while stored at the M&E.
Society President Bryan Lalevee said in a press release that along with being the last car of its kind, “the fact that is was used in business train service with our Business Car 300 makes this rescue mission a perfect fit for our organization.”
The organization estimates it will take three to five years and $250,000 to restore the car to operation; the Hoosier Valley museum has agreed to serve as the home base for the restoration project, and NS has donated $10,000 toward the initial fundraising goal of $47,000 to purchase and move the car.
“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Norfolk Southern for this generous gift,” Lalevee said, “and for partnering with us as we set our sights on saving this unique piece of N&W history.”
More on the N&W Business Car 300 Preservation Society is available at its website; for more information on Hollis College effort, or to donate, visit this page.
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