Car  11
Jan.25,2002
In  1976  the McDonalds Restaurant company donated a  ex-Missouri Pacific  business car #11  to the Hocking Valley.  The car had a nice heritage, among whom President Truman once rode.  "Car Eleven"  as it was known,  had a very plush interior requiring special environmental conditions.   This first set of photos shows the car as it arrived on the Hocking Valley from the West coast.

   *  Car 11  arrives on  the property ( Photo#1, Photo#2, Photo#3 )  and is switched
          out by  John Sayre, Charlie Frankie  with  Ross Ballard running the steam
          engine as  young visitors watch .
    *  an  interior view of the Dinning area's  ceiling,  the hallway  is to the right -  Aug.1976
    *  the  Steward's  Quarters   and  the rear of the car's  Lounge area

The car was painted and then officially presented to the HVSRy following a special charter trip on October 22, 1976.   The day before the train left Nelsonville for C&O's Parsons Yard.
   *  recently painted Car #11  is  pulled from the Engine House.
        The open air car is spotted on its track - Oct. 21, 1976
   *  engine #33 is prepared for the trip North.
   *  the  train  leaves  Logan  enroute  to Columbus for the  McDonald's  Special
   *  North of Logan, passing through the little community of  Enterprise

The following day, after dignitaries boarded, the McDonalds Special ran  from Columbus to Nelsonville.  On this trip Chessie System had a flagman on every public crossing!
   * the train set overnight at in Columbus; the next morning Ross Ballard "oils around"
   * This photo was taken from the caboose cupola, South of  Lancaster.
   * The train's arrival was greeted by the Nelsonville-York High School band.
   * Ray Krock president of  McDonalds Restaurant formally presents the car.
   * Jerry Ballard accepts the car on  behalf of the HVSRy.
   * Congressman Clairence Miller and his wife.

 The problem for the HVSRy was how do we use the car.   It couldn't  seat enough folks to be practical in revenue service,  since it was built as an office for one person and their staff.   When the car was put on display at the station it was damaged by the visitors ( like scratching the paneled walls with their car keys ).   Eventually it just became a  "hanger queen"  taking up one of the two engine house stalls.  Sometime in the mid 1980's  it was decided to sell the car.  Rumor had it going back to the West coast as a private car.