1940 DSS&A/Soo Motor Car for Sale
Front of motor car, showing stenciled "Soo Line" and "R1"
FOR SALE - Duluth South Shore & Atlantic (DSS&A)/Soo Line Fairmont M19-D motor car, complete, but with some significant rebuilding by the railroad. The Fairmont build sheet (click here to see it) for the car reveals that it was shipped from Fairmont, Minnesota to the DSS&A storekeeper at Marquette, Michigan on June 11, 1940 via the Milwaukee Road. The model ODB engine in it was shipped to Marquette on March 31, 1950 via the Omaha Road (click here to see the engine build sheet). Given the new engine and unconventional replacement of the box over the engine, it appears that the car had been involved in an accident and required repair. The South Shore, being frugal, used existing materials at hand and made them fit. The car made it into Soo Line ownership in 1961, as "Soo Line" and "R1" are stenciled on the front of it. It then sat in a barn outside Marquette for more than 30 years, emerging two years ago. Fortunately, the builders plate for both the car and the engine were there, allowing me to determine it's history. A Fairmont sales brochure for this car shows how it looked originally (click here to see the brochure).
This car is a significant
restoration project. However, the ODB engine and carburetor have already been
professionally rebuilt and painted. Also, to
help in the restoration the following parts come with it:
4 good used fenders
2 good used step plates
4 good used wheels
1 new drive belt
2 new floor panels
4 new brakes liners and shoes
1 good used gas tank
2 new wooden lift handles
1 new Pontiac wooden coil
2 good used tool boxes
Then there are the two Fairmont build sheets, Fairmont sales brochure and Fairmont manual. A couple of Soo Line timetables also.
This is the only known DSS&A motor car in existence, a genuine railroad artifact now 63 years old. Price is $2,000 firm.
Jeremy Winkworth,
Plainwell, Michigan
Ph: 269-388-5058
Last Edited 06 April, 2003