Car #100 – Clinchfield Railroad

Home » Car #100 – Clinchfield Railroad

Clinchfield Railroad
CSX Blue RIdge Subdivision

The CSX Blue Ridge Subdivision, the old Clinchfield line south of Erwin is now reopen after the extensive damage from Hurricane Helene. The first revenue freight train ran on September 21st, and two coal trains followed on September 25th. Ribbon cutting photo by Mark Loewe. . Use this link to see Designs in Orbit’s exceptional video updates with drone footage. Also, Train Chaser Elliot provides wonderful coverage.  Click here to read about the monumental CSX rebuilding efforts on Clinchfield.org. In the weeks ahead we will add much more content chronicling the events of the past year.

Clinchfield Railroad’s Car #100

For more than a century, Clinchfield Car 100 has been a timeless icon for the Clinchfield Railroad, from its beginnings as a passenger coach to its role as a comfortable business car for Clinchfield executives and their guests.

Clinchfield Railroad Car 100

Origins with the Atlantic Coast Line

Clinchfield Car 100 began its life in 1911, not on the Appalachian rails of the Clinchfield, but with the Atlantic Coast Line (ACL). Built by the Pullman Company, the car initially served as a standard coach. Its first major transformation came in 1932, when the ACL rebuilt it into a full dining car named the “Orlando,” putting it into service on its premier long-distance routes. The car provided meals to travelers along the Eastern Seaboard between the Northeast and South Florida, a symbol of the comfort and elegance of early 20th-century rail travel.

Life as the Clinchfield’s Office Car

The next chapter began in 1951, when the Clinchfield Railroad purchased the aging diner to replace its own obsolete business car. The car was moved to the Clinchfield’s shops in Erwin, Tennessee, where it underwent a two-year, ground-up overhaul under the supervision of Chief Mechanical Officer P.O. Likens.

Clinchfield Car #100

Renumbered and rechristened Car 100, the 82-foot-long car was transformed into an opulent office car for the railroad’s president. The new interior featured three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and a dining area designed to entertain important guests and officials. Beyond its use for business meetings, Car 100 quickly gained a new and celebrated purpose: serving as the official car for Santa Claus on the annual Clinchfield Santa Train.

For decades, Car 100 was a crucial part of the legendary Santa Train, which delivered gifts and holiday cheer to children in communities along the Clinchfield route. In addition to its seasonal role, the car was used by railroad management to host customers and dignitaries, and it led excursion trains on special trips.

A timely rescue by the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and Museum

With the consolidation of the American railroad industry, Clinchfield Car 100’s service life came to an end. After the Clinchfield Railroad was absorbed into the Seaboard System Railroad, the car was retired in 1983. It passed through several private owners and fell into disrepair, seemingly destined for the scrapyard.

However, the story of Car 100 was not over. In 2013, the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum purchased the car, saving it from destruction. The society undertook a meticulous restoration, returning the car to its former glory and its classic green Clinchfield livery.

A return to the rails

The restoration, completed in 2017, brought Car 100 back to mainline operational status. Its most celebrated return was in 2019, when, after a 35-year absence, it once again served as Santa’s official car on the CSX Santa Train, a direct descendant of the Clinchfield’s original.

Today, Clinchfield Car 100 is a prized piece of the WVRHS’s fleet. It regularly participates in excursions and events, serving as a tangible connection to the past and a teaching tool for future generations of rail fans. Its story is a wonderful reminder of how historical preservation can save important artifacts and ensure that the legacy of a bygone era continues to roll down the tracks.

‘100 tons and rode like a cloud’ by Ron Flanary

Clinchfield Railroad Car 100

“In Spartanburg, SC in February 1978, a Clinchfield A-B-A set of F-units is running around the train before heading back north to Erwin. I spent some time riding in the lounge section of CRR Car 100 going back home. The car (rebuilt in Erwin from an old ACL diner, and with sides made of sheet steel) weighed 100 tons and rode like a cloud on roller-bearing six-wheel trucks. The car was saved and is now in the collection of the Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society in Jonesborough, Tenn. The empty yard reflects the Clinchfield’s efficiency: cars were interchanged in both directions several times a day, but the dwell time was brief.”

For more information on Car 100

The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society and Museum maintains and leases car 100, as well as other passenger and freight cars. They also preserved and maintain the Chuckey Depot as a railroad museum in Jonesborough TN. Click here for more info on the WVRHS.

Clinchfield.org Sources and Resources

The following are excellent resources for those of you wanting to explore and learn more about the Clinchfield Railroad. These sources of information also serve as reference and historical materials for Clinchfield.org. Much of the content on the website is verified across multiple sources.

Clinchfield Railroad

Contact Us at Clinchfield.org

Would enjoy hearing from you if you have questions, suggestions, edits, or content that you are willing to share. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have similar interests in the Clinchfield or Model Railroads.

Go back

Your message has been sent

3Cs Websites

Appalachian-Railroads.org | Clinchfield.org | Southern-Railroads.org