1. Collinsville Inn - restoration and revival –
The story of the Collinsville Inn by
James W. (Jim) Lilly,
DCNRHS Project Manager ©

2. DCNRHS Digital Resources
About US
a not-for-profit all volunteer organization founded in 1944 in the District of Columbia.
Our purpose is to expand the public appreciation of railroads and their history through education and preservation.
Operate a railroad library in base of former PRR Bowie Tower
Own and operate three Amtrak qualified former PRR passengers cars:
Dover Harbor
Franklin Inn
Collinsville Inn
DCNRHS Digital Resources
railroadlibrary.org
doverharbor.com
washingtonterminal.org

3. Top photo by Mary Ries

4. Diagram courtesy PRRT&HS
Sometimes it just takes dreamers and doers…
Collinsville Inn is a former Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) passenger car, No. 8254, built by the Budd Company in 1949 as a 21-Roomette (one bed per room) sleeper.
Built according to plan number 9513 and diagram number 289 in lot number 9967, Collinsville Inn had 41-NP-11 trucks and was painted in Tuscan red livery with gold lettering and a black roof.
Pennsylvania RR ‘Train Talks’, Feb. 1950
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes – We do not hold rights to picture or roomette description.

5. Budd Company Advertisement

6. Dallas, TX in regular PRR Service as a sleeper
Photo before April 1963

7. Source: 1949 PRR Timetable via discuss.amtraktrains.com
Inn series cars manufactured by:
The Budd Company – Lot PS21B - 50
American Car and Foundry – Lot PS21A - 7
Pullman-Standard – Lot PS21C - 2
Lot PS21B Dimensions
Length: 85' 0“ - Width: 10" 0“ - Height: 13' 6“
Assigned to service on all major cities of PRR
Source: 1949 PRR Timetable via discuss.amtraktrains.com

8. Source: Official Guide of the Railway September 1954
1954 Pittsburgher Schedule
Departure Time
Station
10:00 PM
Pittsburgh
10:12 PM
East Pittsburgh
11:00 PM
Latrobe
12:50 AM
Altoona
03:15 AM
Harrisburg
04:50 AM
Philadelphia
05:20 AM
North Philadelphia
05:50 AM
Trenton
06:40 AM
Newark
07:00 AM
New York Penn Station (arrival)
Source: Official Guide of the Railway September 1954

9. PRR P-70 Coach – Jersey City, NJ 1957
Satin stainless steel finish, with Scotchlite PRR decal at each end, and number board with white numerals on Toludine Red background.
Photo from: Bob Coolidge web site:
PRR P-70 Coach – Jersey City, NJ 1957
Source unknown - For Educational and Illustrative Purposes – We do not hold rights to picture

10. Beaver Falls Inn at Altoona Shops being prepped for conversion – 1963
Satin stainless steel finish, with Scotchlite PRR decal at each end, and number board with white numerals on Toludine Red background.
Photo from: Bob Coolidge web site:
Beaver Falls Inn at Altoona Shops being prepped for conversion – 1963
From November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy (PRR employee magazine)
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes

11. Work on windows, bulkheads, and doors at Altoona, PA – 1963
Satin stainless steel finish, with Scotchlite PRR decal at each end, and number board with white numerals on Toludine Red background.
Photo from: Bob Coolidge web site:
Work on windows, bulkheads, and doors at Altoona, PA – 1963
From November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy (PRR employee magazine)
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes

12. Diagram courtesy PRRT&HS
No – 1547 were 64 seat coaches with 12 seat lounge
No – 1549 were 64 seat coaches with a 6 seat lounge with a snack bar
New Livery: stainless, PRR keystones at each end, car numbers but no names
Collinsville Inn was No. 1508
Designated P85L Coach by PRR
Added 50 stainless steel coaches more than doubling their NEC stainless steel fleet to 89.
64 passengers in reclining coach seats; 12 in separate smoking lounge (total of 3,800 passengers!)
Attractive décor of blue, pink and grey.
Cost: $70,000 per car
Cars started in service on October 9, 1963
Diagram courtesy PRRT&HS

13. In Service Interior View –Post-rebuild car, date, and location unknown
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
In Service Interior View –Post-rebuild car, date, and location unknown
From November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy (PRR employee magazine)
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes

14. Lock Haven Inn No. 1525 – Source, Date, and Location Unknown
CONVERSION TO COACHES
Satin stainless steel finish, with Scotchlite PRR decal at each end, and number board with white numerals on Toludine Red background.
Photo from: Bob Coolidge web site:
Lock Haven Inn No – Source, Date, and Location Unknown
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes – We do not hold rights to picture

15. Advertisement from April 1964 PRR Timetable
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the second World's Fair to be held at Flushing Meadows Park in the Borough of Queens, New York in the 20th century. It opened on April 21, 1964 for two six-month seasons concluding on October 21, 1965.

16. PRR 1524 in Army-Navy Football Special at Philadelphia, 11/28/1964
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
PRR 1524 in Army-Navy Football Special at Philadelphia, 11/28/1964
Bob Coolidge web site: 
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes – We do not hold rights to picture

17. Photo by Frank A. Phillips, Jr. – Collection of Bruce a.Phillips
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Sister car Salem Inn (Penn Central No. 1510) at New Haven, Connecticut in 1976.
Photo by Frank A. Phillips, Jr. – Collection of Bruce a.Phillips

18. Commuter Service

19. SEMTA No. 903 at Detroit 10/5/1981 with Inn Cars
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
SEMTA No. 903 at Detroit 10/5/1981 with Inn Cars
Doug Kroll from: 
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes – We do not hold rights to picture

20. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Collinsville Inn at Poughkeepsie, New York September Notice it is in SEMTA livery but has a Metro-North logo applied as it has just been acquired by the latter. photo courtesy of J. M. Laboda Collection

21. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Collinsville Inn at Poughkeepsie, New York September Notice it is in SEMTA livery but has a Metro-North logo applied as it has just been acquired by the latter. photo courtesy of J. M. Laboda Collection

22. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Sister Car Franklin Inn in service at Baltimore – 1999 Photo by David Olsen

23. Collinsville Inn Floorplan after Rebuild
MARC No. 148
40 year inspection and truck rebuild
Amtrak Qualified Car
82 Seats, plus a wheel chair seat and bench
No restroom
ADA Compliant Vestibule Door
2 Stage Heat
Rebuild by Transportation & Transit Associates, Hornell NY
Completed May 12, 1994
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Collinsville Inn Floorplan after Rebuild

24. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
MARC train at Savage, MD, May 1995 with Inn Cars –photo by W. Hakkarinen

25. Inn Cars in Storage at Brunswick, MD
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Inn Cars in Storage at Brunswick, MD

26. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
DCNRHS Chief Mechanical Officer Bernie Gallagher and MARC Representative Courtney Shenkle inspect the Collinsville Inn at Brunswick, Maryland on December 14, Damage from vandals is clearly visible on the side of the car.

27. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
A work in Progress…. Carnegie Inn (left) and Franklin Inn (right) sit on the siding next to CSX's main line as Amtrak's Eastbound Capitol Limited passes them at Brunswick, Maryland on June 27, 2009.

28. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Map source: mtnsub.org
For Educational and Illustrative Purposes – We do not hold rights to map

29. Franklin Inn after Restoration
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Franklin Inn after Restoration

30. On the Deadline at WMSR – July 17, 2011
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
On the Deadline at WMSR – July 17, 2011

31. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Collinsville Inn was named 2012 Trains Preservation Award Winner in November 2012 in Montreal, CA - $10,000 grant

32. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Right: DCNRHS' Chief Mechanical Officer Bernie Gallagher boards Collinsville Inn for an inspection at Ridgeley April 5, Left: Collinsville Inn waiting for restoration at Ridgeley – Bottom: Truck after repair

33. New Amtrak requirements meant major unanticipated expenses that sidetracked the project and left us with a real dilemma.
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen

34. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Nickel Plate Berkshire No. 765 provides the answer… but could we be ready in just four months?

35. Getting the window band ready for paint
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Getting the window band ready for paint

36. Exterior ready for decals
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Exterior ready for decals

37. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Lettering installed by a local sign shop to our specifications with layout assistance from The Juniata Terminal Company

38. Refurbished wheel sets
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Refurbished wheel sets

39. Our volunteers got to work too… there was a lot to do.
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Our volunteers got to work too… there was a lot to do.

40. The seats were a huge challenge…
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
The seats were a huge challenge…

41. If these seats could talk imagine the stories
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
If these seats could talk imagine the stories

42. Cleaning the interior and fine tuning the seats…
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Cleaning the interior and fine tuning the seats…

43. Laying on a shelf replacing a circulating fan…
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Laying on a shelf replacing a circulating fan…

44. “Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Attention to detail…

45. Safety tools and posters procured and installed by our volunteers
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Safety tools and posters procured and installed by our volunteers

46. Livery complete sans black undercarriage – March 31st
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Livery complete sans black undercarriage – March 31st

47. Sign affixed to each side of the car…
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Sign affixed to each side of the car…

48. Return to home rails – May 30, 2015
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Return to home rails – May 30, 2015

49. First Trip - Lynchburg, VA – June 2, 2015 – Photo by Garland Harper
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
First Trip - Lynchburg, VA – June 2, 2015 – Photo by Garland Harper

50. Aboard the first revenue run – June 13, 2015 – Photo by Mary Ries
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Aboard the first revenue run – June 13, 2015 – Photo by Mary Ries

51. Petersburg, Virginia – June 13, 2015 – Photo by Mary Ries

52. Walton Junction, VA – July 4, 2015 – Photo by Alex Mayes
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Walton Junction, VA – July 4, 2015 – Photo by Alex Mayes

53. Sandusky, Ohio – July 22, 2015 – Photo by Richard Marchi
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Sandusky, Ohio – July 22, 2015 – Photo by Richard Marchi

54. Glen Onoko, PA – August 22, 2015 – Photo by Stephen Bradley
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Glen Onoko, PA – August 22, 2015 – Photo by Stephen Bradley

55. Scranton, Pennsylvania September 4, 2015 – Photo by Stephen Bradley
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Scranton, Pennsylvania September 4, 2015 – Photo by Stephen Bradley

56. At Ivy City, Washington, D.C. October 11, 2015
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
At Ivy City, Washington, D.C. October 11, 2015

57. Piedmont and Northern - October 21, 2015 – Photo by Jim Fetchero
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Piedmont and Northern - October 21, 2015 – Photo by Jim Fetchero

58. “Frankie” and “Collie” at Lynchburg, Virginia – May 28, 2016
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
“Frankie” and “Collie” at Lynchburg, Virginia – May 28, 2016

59. Collinsville Inn at Independence, Ohio – September 8, 2018
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
Collinsville Inn at Independence, Ohio – September 8, 2018

60. Volunteers were the keystone of our success.
“Conductor George J. Lowry finds that his patrons enjoy riding the PRR’s modern coaches.”
November-December 1963 issue of The Pennsy
Collection of Bill Hakkarinen
These cars don’t make money. Everything we take in goes to keeping them on the road. The keys to our success include determination and donors, but volunteers are the keystone.

61. Book Full color, 45 pages, hard bound, published in 2016 $40.00
All proceeds go to DCNRHS Programs
Available after the presentation

62. QUESTIONS?

63. THE END View of First Street Tunnel in Washington, D.C. from
Vestibule of Collinsville Inn

64. Credits Kevin Tankersley
Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society
Julien Wolfe
Uncredited photos and emphemera by or from Collection of the Author
Photo by Wayne Alberts