The Salem and Hillsborough Railroad

Hillsborough, New Brunswick

History

This car was built in 1942 by the National Steel Car company on lot P-8693 as CN 9734, class MA-73-D. All six cars of this subclass were used on the Montreal - Halifax passenger trains. In 1973 car 9734 was renumbered CN 74993 for use as a storage car during car cleaning operations at the Moncton Coach Yard. The car was purchased by the S & H in 1985 and is one of the few remaining Railway Post Office cars in existence. It was slightly damaged in the fire of September 16, 1994. The doors and windows have been boarded up and metal paint applied for protection and it is presently stored in our engine shed.

This RPO car has three doors per side. From one end there is approximate 9.5 feet to the first door, that is 2'-10" wide. There are then 5 windows 2' -4" wide by 3 feet high. These have approximately 2' - 1" between them. The next door is also 2' - 10" wide. There is then approximately 9' - 2" to the last door, that is 4' - 0" wide. From this third door to the car end is approximately 9' - 6". The doors are 6' -0" high with approximately 10" below the door to the edge of the car body.