Passenger Trains > Navy Inspection Car #118

The private business car “Navy Inspection #118” is leaving Newport News Va. today,
Saturday Jan 28, 2023, for most likely is final trip on Amtrak trains. 
This beautiful car has been generously donated, by its gracious owner, to the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
The first leg will be to Washington D.C. on the Northeast Regional train # 124, then departing
D.C. for New York City on Sunday evening.  
Monday, January 30th, will see the car depart for Pittsburgh, Pa. on the “Pennsylvanian”. 
 
Arrangements through local railroads with then complete the journey to Sugarcreek.
Be sure to look for Navy 118 to pass by, as it heads West to begin a new chapter of its
illustrious railroad career that started 109 years ago, 1914, on the Union Pacific Railroad.
More updates to follow.
 

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Interesting.  Didn't know that car was still Amtrak Certified.  

I wonder why the Age of Steam thought it would be a good addition to their collection.  I know they have been selling a few passenger cars that they don't have a long-term use for.

one time home shop move still allowed on amtrak?

dan Wrote:
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> one time home shop move still allowed on amtrak?

In the last 10 years or so that generally has not been permitted like say 15 to 20 years ago when you could still move a steam-heat/DC car deadhead one-way on Amtrak if it was going to a shop for rebuild.  But too many car owners took advantage of that when they really weren't going to a shop.  They just wanted a better, cheaper way to move a car a long distance than going freight.  So Amtrak pretty much quit allowing shop moves. 

a change in ownership maybe persuaded them?

Jerry Jo Jacobson joined the U.S. Army as his father had once done, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Of the many words used to describe Jerry Joe Jacobson, his most favorite was ‘paratrooper;’ more specifically, Sergeant Jacobson, parachute rigger, Company B, 407 PIR, 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army. He continued his military service with the U.S. Army Reserve, eventually rising to the rank of Captain. He was incredibly proud of his military service.

Not long after selling the Ohio Central, Mr. Jacobson made a $10 million donation to the Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia where a barracks has been named Jacobson Hall. Two of his sons attended the academy.

Among the steam locomotives and freight cars in the AOS collection are:
U.S. Army 2-8-0 #612
https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/army-2-8-0-no-612/
U.S. Navy 0-6-0T #4
https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/us-navy-0-6-0t-no-4-2/
USAX Flat Car #39502
https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/50-flat-car-usax-39502/
USAX Flat Car #38358
https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/54-flat-car-usax-38358/

Navy Inspection Car #118 will be in good hands and good company at AOS.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/23 16:57 by jberlin.

Thanks for the bio information.

Posted from Android

jberlin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jerry Jo Jacobson joined the U.S. Army as his
> father had once done, serving in the 82nd Airborne
> Division.
>
> Of the many words used to describe Jerry Joe
> Jacobson, his most favorite was ‘paratrooper;’
> more specifically, Sergeant Jacobson, parachute
> rigger, Company B, 407 PIR, 82nd Airborne
> Division, U.S. Army. He continued his military
> service with the U.S. Army Reserve, eventually
> rising to the rank of Captain. He was incredibly
> proud of his military service.
>
> Not long after selling the Ohio Central, Mr.
> Jacobson made a $10 million donation to the Fork
> Union Military Academy in Virginia where a
> barracks has been named Jacobson Hall. Two of his
> sons attended the academy.
>
> Among the steam locomotives and freight cars in
> the AOS collection are:
> U.S. Army 2-8-0 #612
> https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/army-2-8-0-no
> -612/
> U.S. Navy 0-6-0T #4
> https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/us-navy-0-6-0
> t-no-4-2/
> USAX Flat Car #39502
> https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/50-flat-car-u
> sax-39502/
> USAX Flat Car #38358
> https://www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/54-flat-car-u
> sax-38358/
>
> Navy Inspection Car #118 will be in good hands and
> good company at AOS.
>

All good points.  But, I don't think that car really ever had anything to do with the US Navy.  The long-time owner was a career government employee of some kind who liked owning and living aboard his private cars.  He owned 3 over the years that I am aware of.  He may well have been in the Navy, but I'm not sure.  I believe he simply named the car "Navy" or whatever, but I don't think the car was ever owned or used by the Navy.  So the connection is tenuous, as far as I know.  

Years ago, there was a picture of one of his cars (I don't think it was this car, but it may have been) in either Trains or Passenger Train Journal sitting on a spur in the Washington DC area with a government building in the background.  It said he was living on the car on that spur while on some assignment with the government.  Not a bad arrangement.  

The #118 has received its annual Amtrak inspection and has many more years of operation on Amtrak if that was the plan.
As for the owner, he was retired Navy of which he had great pride.
This was a way to honor  Navy Personnel  as well as display his Naval career.

I believe this car was formerly Union Pacific 118, which was rebuilt from a coach in1938.  It's last number on the UP was 120 when it was retired in 1970.  The original coach was built in 1914.