| Built by the Edwards Motor Car Company of Sanford, North Carolina, in April of 1934 with construction number #184, #75 was Originally built for the Virginia & Carolina Southern Railroad of Hope Mills, North Carolina, as their #304. The gas powered, 20 ton motor car shuttled passengers across the Virginia & Carolina Southern's system from Hope Mills to Lumberton, North Carolina, until it was sold to the Gainesville Midland Railroad of Gainesville, Georgia and assigned a now unknown number. While working for the Gainesville Midland, the motor car was upgraded with a new Cummins Diesel Engine which increased power and reliability. Later, at an unknown date, the locomotive was sold to the Georgia Car & Locomotive Company which was a locomotive reselling business headquartered out of Atlanta, Georgia. On December 24, 1941, the locomotive was officially sold to the Chesapeake Western Railway of Elkton, Virginia, and shipped on March 3, 1942. Assigned number M-75 and later just number #75, the motor car was probably bought to replace what was left of the passenger business along the line originally taken care of by old #102. When passenger business finally dried up completely on the line in the late 1940's, the motor car was most likely retired and scrapped at the Elkton, Virginia, shops where this photograph was taken. Year is correct. Exact date is an estimate. |