Comments on: Rather nice looking old C&O camp (boarding) car sitting in the once sprawling C&O yard in St. Thomas. It has been suggested to me this could have been a Bunk, Kitchen & Diner car, an x-troop transport? When wandering the yard many years ago I could not help but notice that attractive green paint. And so grabbed this shot.

By: dhaisell

dhaisell — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 03:33:36 +0000

Is this the car that’s now the visitors’ centre at the entrance to Ridgetown?

By: Brundle

Brundle — Sun, 03 Apr 2022 20:18:33 +0000

The whole car looks to be well cared for, the wood running board appears to be still intact and beauty upright brake wheel too.

By: NiagaraMike11

NiagaraMike11 — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 20:30:21 +0000

I concur Rob, not an ex troop sleeper !

By: rsmith

rsmith — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 00:34:07 +0000

It’s not a troop transport car. Looks like an old outside-braced wood boxcar with steel sides added on the braces. You can see the braces along the frame. Lots of neat details!

By: awmooney

awmooney — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:36:46 +0000

Thanks, Paul. That about says what we need to know. Appreciate the input.

By: Paul O'Shell

Paul O'Shell — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 13:25:59 +0000

As the saying goes… ‘If I had a nickel for every night I spent in a boarding car, I’d be rich’. C&O X 40 brings back a lot of memories of my early years at CN living in old outside braced wood boxcars and converted passenger cars while working on extra gangs and other Engineering department maintenance crews in the late 1960′s and early 70′s. Camp cars as they were referred to in the US were known as boarding cars here in Canada. A BK&D car (bunk, kitchen & diner) offered accommodation for a single or multi-person crew, providing the self-described amenities along with a shower and sometimes a toilet. The propane cylinder visible through the wire mesh door is likely for the kitchen stove and hot water heater.