The last known WWII-era Railroad Hospital Car departs Louisville, KY on October 18 for its new home at the Historic RailPark & Train Museum in Bowling Green, KY.  Built for the US Army in 1945, Hospital Car #89456 operated as part of an Ambulance Train that transported wounded soldiers.  The Korean Conflict was the last use of Ambulance Trains whose history dates back to the Civil War.

Placed at the Naval Ordnance Station in Louisville, KY, in 1971 for use as munitions storage, the railcar will be restored and made available for public viewing as part of the guided tour at the Historic RailPark & Train Museum.

“We’re extremely humbled and honored to have this rare artifact of medical, military and railroad history at our site”, states Sharon Tabor, Executive Director.  “Only four of the two hundred original railcars are known to remain in existence, and none of the original medical equipment remains with this particular car.  The interior furnishings were distributed among Louisville medical and charitable organizations in the early 1970s. We’re hoping some of the equipment may eventually surface and the owners will make it available to us to add to the exhibit in Bowling Green.”

With assistance from MCF House Movers of Petersburg, IN, and McCord Heavy Haulers from Nashville, TN, the Hospital Car is scheduled to leave Louisville about 10AM, travel along I-65S, and arrive at approximately 12PM CT in Bowling Green.

The railcar should first be available for interior tours around Veterans’ Day 2011 as a special open house is planned for that day to honor our nation’s Veterans.  For additional information, please contact Sharon Tabor at 270-745-7317.