FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rescue of Historic McKeen Motor Car Company Railcar from St. Helena

St. Helena, California – February 12, 2025 – The McKeen Motor Car Company Historical Society is pleased to announce the successful rescue of a rare railcar, marking a major achievement in railway preservation.

This railcar, built by the innovative McKeen Motor Car Company under the leadership of William McKeen Jr. and the authority of Union Pacific CEO E.H. Harriman, is one of only three remaining trailer cars from the manufacturer. It is the sole surviving vehicle from the company with the Southern Pacific Railroad, its largest customer. McKeen’s revolutionary designs featured an aerodynamic, all-steel construction—uncommon for its time—and were early examples of alternative propulsion (Gasoline Mechanical Drive) concepts in railroad travel.

Originally purchased/built by Southern Pacific on February 13, 1909, this railcar was the eighth of ten trailer cars acquired by the railroad, forming part of the final batch of three. After a restoration in the Sacramento Car Shops, it was sold to the San Francisco, Napa & Calistoga Railroad, on February 28, 1927, to become Car #55. After its retirement in 1938, the car was purchased by Wyatt Ensminger and moved to his property in St. Helena in two halves, welded back together, and repurposed as a shed.

Over time, the railcar suffered modifications, including sandblasting by the Southern Pacific, which removed much of its original McKeen paint. However, traces of a Southern Pacific repaint, possibly from the 1920s or 1930s, still remain. Despite its long exposure to the elements, the structural integrity of the car made the recent rescue feasible.

The rescue, which took place from February 5 to 7, 2025, involved carefully lifting the railcar from its resting place and preparing it for transport. Due to the missing original steel frame, an internal wood structure was installed to stabilize the car for relocation. The railcar, which originally weighed 27,000lbs and measured 31 feet in length, was designed to be lightweight for use behind a 55-foot McKeen motor car—one of which is also in the Historical Society’s collection.

“This is an important piece of history in many regards, including early aerodynamic design, early alternative propulsion, and early all-steel construction for a car body,” said Madison Kirkman, CEO of the McKeen Motor Car Company Historical Society. “We are thankful to everyone who supported this endeavor and helped us preserve a piece of our rich railroad heritage.”

The McKeen Motor Car Company Historical Society continues to raise funds to cover the costs of Acquiring, Studying, and Preserving this rare trailer car. Donations can be made at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/rescue-a-southern-pacific-rr-mckeen-railcar.

For more information and to support our efforts, please visit: www.McKeenCar.com.