Chicago & North Western 8676

Baggage-Express

Chicago & North Western 8676 is a heavyweight Railway Express Agency car, later converted to maintenance-of-way use. It is currently stored at Jackson Street. The photo shows it in the shop being outfitted for parts storage.

A good 1959 in-service picture may be found on page seven of "Chicago & North Western Passenger Train Equipment" by Patrick C. Dorin. It's most note-worthy features are a near-featureless roof line (a smooth-welded clerestory, with no visible joints, rivets, or overhangs - only the occasional ventilator,) it's short length (63' 11",) and lack of buffer plates or diaphragms. Also note there is no electrical system, and the floor is extremely thick. The paint job was very simple - basic dip Pullman Green. Below the belt rail, between the baggage doors were the only markings: "RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY" "C&NW" "8676" (These markings still exist today, showing through the maintenance-of-way red. It was one of a series of 74 such cars owned by the North Western, numbered 8603 - 8676.

The Railway Express Agency played the same role as today's UPS and FedEX. A good resource on the company seems to be "Model Railroading's Guide to the Railway Express: An Overview" by V. S. Roseman.

At this writing, the builder and date built are unfortunately not known to the author.

After retirement from REA service, it was transferred to Maintenance of Way. It was painted mineral red and renumbered X300100. Several windows were rather slopily cut in the side, an oil-fired heater installed, and an interior partition wall.

MTM acquired in it 1984. Stored for several years, it has recently been moved to Jackson Street, and is being outfitted as a parts storage car.

Another photo of the 8676

Broad-side of 8676 in its Maintenance of Way appearance.