Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (MRSR) has acquired three historic ex-Reading Railroad passenger cars from the North Carolina Transportation Museum.
The passenger coaches, built between 1922 and 1927 by the Standard Steel Car Company and Bethlehem Car Company, will help enhance MRSR’s operations, offering visitors authentic steam-age experiences that honor the early Pacific Northwest logging industry, MRSR said in a news release.
“This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to expand the railroad’s fleet while preserving the rich heritage of steam-era railroading,” MRSR said in a news release. “The North Carolina Transportation Museum, known for its excellent preservation of historic rail equipment, determined that these passenger cars were not an ideal fit for their collection. Recognizing that these coaches could see a full restoration elsewhere, the museum chose to sell them at a reasonable price, ensuring their continued use in a setting that celebrates their steam-era significance.”