Penn Central's Martha Washington

This passenger car (now home to a travel agency) is preserved in McKeesport, PA, just a few miles downriver from Pittsburgh. Situated about 2 blocks from the old Baltimore & Ohio main line (nos CSX), this car is on its own track perpendicular to Lysle Blvd.

According to the excellent Penn Central Passenger Car Directory, put out by the PCRRHS, The Martha Washington, a parlor-telephone-bar-lounge-observation-car, was built originally for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1952 as Car #7127 by Budd. The other car in class POC85C, Benjamin Franklin was #7126. She is 85 feet long, weighs 127,400 pounds, and rides on 2E-P15 trucks.

These are a few photos that I shot a few weeks ago. She doesn't look too bad for sitting out in the elements for the past 25 years. The interior of this car has been gutted for office space. I'm not complaining one bit. It's probably one of the last PC-era passenger cars still in existence.

Back to McKeesport pix

This is a close-up of the letterboards. I'm not sure why the car name boards are red, and the letterboards are black. Can anyone fill me in here?

I tried to fit the entire car in the frame, but it was quite difficult. Since the last time I was here, the grounds have been cleaned up. This area used to be paved, but it has a nice, brick effect now.

Close-up of the Martha Washington car name. The 'All Aboard' lettering was not on the car originally, but was added after PC sold the car.

Looking in the vestibule, we see a PC-applied car numberboard. Right above that, is a Delta Airlines decal.

Here, we can see the traffic light, and crude ramp added by the travel agency. Hiding behind the pine tree is a railroad crossing sign. I was surprised that this car still had diaphragms on both ends!
I'm not sure why the numberboards on this car are red. I'm assuming that PC didn't replace them, and just left the PRR-style boards.

This trust plate is to the left of the door, mounted on the roof.

You don't see signs in this style anymore. This one has reflective glass beads on it. Most modern signs use reflective paint.

Also on display is this nicely-preseved baggage cart. While I was changing the batteries in my camera, I got to see a drunk guy talk to a fire hydrant!

	This is a close-up of the letterboards. I'm not sure why the car name boards are red, and the letterboards are black. Can anyone fill me in here?
	I tried to fit the entire car in the frame, but it was quite difficult. Since the last time I was here, the grounds have been cleaned up. This area used to be paved, but it has a nice, brick effect now.
	Close-up of the Martha Washington car name. The 'All Aboard' lettering was not on the car originally, but was added after PC sold the car.
	Looking in the vestibule, we see a PC-applied car numberboard. Right above that, is a Delta Airlines decal.
	Here, we can see the traffic light, and crude ramp added by the travel agency. Hiding behind the pine tree is a railroad crossing sign. I was surprised that this car still had diaphragms on both ends!
	I'm not sure why the numberboards on this car are red. I'm assuming that PC didn't replace them, and just left the PRR-style boards.
	This trust plate is to the left of the door, mounted on the roof.
	You don't see signs in this style anymore. This one has reflective glass beads on it. Most modern signs use reflective paint.
	Also on display is this nicely-preseved baggage cart. While I was changing the batteries in my camera, I got to see a drunk guy talk to a fire hydrant!