The Galveston Railroad Museum brings new life to the Milwaukee Road (Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Parul Railroad) stock car #105031. Restored historic railroad cars and the opportunity to immerse yourself and to experience the railroad is what makes this living history museum special. The restoration of the stock car is halfway to completion.
One of 486 of its class, the Milwaukee Road, built in 1928, sits among the rolling stock exhibits on the 5-acre railyard of the Galveston Railroad Museum. The 40-foot, 40-ton capacity car has a steel underframe, wood sides outside a Z-bar brace and wood ends. Single wooden sliding doors have measured openings that are 6 feet wide by 8.3 feet wide and the A-end has a small hatch near the top that was used for loading long pieces of lumber. It is the only stock car in the Museum’s extraordinary rolling stock collection.
The stock car was featured in the movie “Emperor of the North” starring actor Lee Marvin, Hobo A#1, who escaped from the burning car after being locked in. The charred car was purchased from the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern in 1978 who replaced the damaged floor and sides of the B end. The film also showed Hobo #1 and his pal going into the car via a roof hatch at one end, which was completely fabricated. Painted freight car color with white markings for the movie, the car weathered, and some repairs were made prior to the stock car joining the rolling stock at the Galveston Railroad Museum in 1981. The summer of 2000 board member and railroad historian Don Harper began restoration efforts and in 2002, members of the Northwest Crossing Model Railroad Club assisted with cleaning, priming and linseed oil application. In 2007 additional work was done to patch roof holes, replace the left side door and part of a missing board on the side. Hurricane Ike struck the Gulf Coast flooding the entire museum, taking a toll on the train depot as well as rolling stock.
Renewed interest in restoring the stock car was sparked by a $10,000 grant received to stabilize the car and develop a plan to bring it up to exhibition quality. The museum is seeking matching funds to facilitate the remaining work including floor removal and replacement, frame cleaning, rust inhibitor, painting, ballast, and lettering. The plan is to make the car an interactive experience by adding electricity, a sound system to bring to life cow and steer statutes to be placed in the car, and to add imitation straw bales. If you are interested in supporting our efforts to complete restoration of the stock car, please contact the museum. (409) 765-5700. The Galveston Railroad Museum, open daily, is a non-profit, 501c (3) organization and all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Help make the match. www.galvestonRRmuseum.org
