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Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad 857

A streamlined Budd-built coach from 1947 in TVRM’s collection

Built by the Budd Company in Philadelphia in 1947, Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad 857 is a 52-seat lightweight coach that reflects the streamlined passenger rail era. Today, it remains part of Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum’s preserved collection, helping tell the story of mid-century rail travel and the equipment that carried passengers across the Southeast.

This 52 seat lightweight coach was constructed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1947 by the Budd Company for the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. It was used primarily in New York-Florida service in such trains as the “Silver Meteor,” the “Havana Special,” and the “West Coast Champion” until the 1970s, when it was sold to Amtrak. Amtrak sold the 857 in 1984 to the Bluewater Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in Saginaw, Michigan. They operated the car for several years until transferring ownership to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in 2011.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Car: Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad 857

Car Type: Coach

Operators: Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, Amtrak, Bluewater Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum

Builder: Budd Company

Date Built: 1947

Number of Seats: 52

Paint Scheme: None

Lettered: Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac

Status: Operational

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