Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 Rail Car, Gas-powered rail car at Kentucky Railway Museum, United States.
The Frankfort and Cincinnati Model 55 is a gasoline-powered rail car designed to carry passengers between towns in Kentucky. It features a four-cylinder engine that powered the vehicle for several decades of regional service.
This rail car was built in 1927 by the Brill Company of Philadelphia and served communities across Kentucky for over two decades. It ceased operations in 1952 as regional passenger services gradually declined.
The red-painted rail car earned the nickname 'The Cardinal' after Kentucky's state bird and became a familiar sight for travelers in the region. This name reflects the connection between local identity and everyday transportation.
You can view this rail car at the Kentucky Railway Museum alongside other historic railway equipment. The museum grounds are best visited in dry weather, as pathways can become muddy after rain.
This is one of the rarest examples of its kind in North America and the only known specimen in the southeastern United States. Its scarcity makes it a valuable window into an early railway technology that has nearly disappeared.
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