Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665
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L&N #665 ( the yellow car behind C&O #2716 steam locomotive
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Location | 136 S. Main St., New Haven, Kentucky |
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| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | American Car and Foundry Company |
| Architectural style | Railroad Car |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001343 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1997 |
The Louisville and Nashville Combine Car Number 665 is a special train car with a long history. It is also known as the "Jim Crow Car". This historic railcar is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can find it today at the Kentucky Railway Museum in New Haven, Kentucky.
Contents
Building a Historic Train Car
This unique train car was built in 1913. The American Car and Foundry Company made it in Jeffersonville, Indiana. The Louisville and Nashville Railroad designed it especially for their needs.
The car was first called number 865. Later, its number was changed to 665. It traveled on many different train lines. These included the Maysville, Glasgow, and Springfield branches of the L&N railroad.
What is a Combine Car?
A combine car is a type of train car. It combines different sections for passengers and baggage. Car 665 is about 77.5 feet long and 9.66 feet wide. It weighs around 104,300 pounds.
Inside, it has a central area for baggage. This section separates two passenger areas. Each passenger section had its own cast-iron stove for heat. There was also a bathroom in each section.
The "Jim Crow Car" Story
Car Number 665 got its nickname, the "Jim Crow Car," because of Jim Crow laws. These were laws in the United States before 1965. They made it legal to have separate facilities for different groups of people. This was often called "separate but equal."
A specific law from May 24, 1892, was called the Separate Coach Law. This law said that train passenger cars had to be separated. In 1919, the L&N railroad had to follow a law. This law required them to have a separate coach for African American passengers.
This car is very special because it is the only preserved train car of its kind. It is a two-wood-side steel car. Only two such cars were ever made.
A New Home at the Museum
In 1958, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad gave Car Number 665 to the Kentucky Railway Museum. It found a new home there.
Connection to The General
Car Number 665 also played a part in another famous train's history. In 1962, the historic locomotive The General was being fixed up. The General is famous from the Great Locomotive Chase.
The Combine Car was connected to The General to test its repairs. During these trips, the Combine Car held many items. These items were related to the Great Locomotive Chase. Passengers could admire them while riding.
