Jamestown, Westfield & Northwestern
Car 312

A June 1936 photo from the Woodbury collection shows the car in Westfield.

Car 312 was the final of four cars (309-312) delivered to the Jamestown, Westfield & Northwestern Railroad in 1916 by the St. Louis Car Company. These cars were center entrance cars, unlike the 300-305 series which featured doors on each end. The center vestibule separated the coach section at one end from the smoking and baggage sections at the other.

Unlike its sister cars, 312 was an open end observation car, as can been seen by the photo above. It was the pride of the line and made two limited stop round-trips during the peak summer season. Around 1930 it was pulled from general service and was used primarily for special parties or when excess capacity was needed.

Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of Dave Mewhinney

The car had green glass upper windows and green leather seats.  In the 1920s the brass fittings inside and outside the car were plated in chrome.  During World War II a wooden bench was installed on the platform and the deck chairs were removed.

These three February 1940 photos from the John Woodbury collection show the car at the Mayville station, the tower at Mayville Junction, and at a substation along the line.

Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of Dave Mewhinney
This undated photo from the Donald B. O'Sickey collection shows Car 312 in Jamestown.
Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of Dave Mewhinney
This circa 1940 photo from the Dan Borgnis collection shows the interior of Car 312 looking toward the observation deck.
Photographer unknown. Photo courtesy of Dave Mewhinney
Photo by Harold Ahlstrom
Photo by Harold Ahlstrom

This photo shows the inside of the car looking toward the observation deck and the photo below shows the exterior of the observation deck.

Photo by Harold Ahlstrom

References