Argent Lumber Co. No. 31 Narrow Gauge Hand Car—Sheffield Car Co.

M.C.R.R.’s No. 31 Narrow Gauge Hand Car was built by Sheffield Car Co. It is unknown if it was originally built for Argent Lumber Co., but that is where it was found. It was included in the purchase of Argent Nos. 2 & 6 and was rebuilt soon after delivery to Iowa. In 1993 it was shipped to California along with Coach 201 to be used in the production of CBS's Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  Set crews repainted it flat brown for use on the set.  Click here to see photos of it while being used to shoot Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  It has since been restored to its original appearance.

 

No. 1 Velocipede—Fairbanks, Morse & Co.

M.C.R.R.’s No. 1 Velocipede was built by Fairbanks, Morse & Co. sometime after June 1950 (no, this isn’t a typo—they really built them this late). The origin of this velocipede is unknown, and often gets mistaken for the much older Sheffield No. 3 telegraph velocipede that was included in the purchase of Argent Nos. 2 & 6. However, research has proved that it is in fact a different car. It was originally standard gauge, so it may have come from the nearby C.B.&Q.

 

 

Argent Lumber Co. Push Car—Kalamazoo Manufacturing Co.

M.C.R.R.’s push car was built by Kalamazoo Manufacturing Co. It is unknown if it was originally built for Argent Lumber Co., but that is where it was found. It was included in the purchase of Argent Nos. 2 & 6 and was rebuilt soon after delivery to Iowa. It has since been restored to its original appearance.