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Historic Train Cars from Museum of Science and Industry Sell for $435,000

By Sam Cholke | October 6, 2015 5:39pm | Updated on October 6, 2015 5:44pm


The Mississippi is believed to have been the first train ever to operate in the American South. [Courtesy on Bonhams]

HYDE PARK — The Museum of Science and Industry raised $435,000 on Monday by auctioning five of its trains.

Bonhams auction house sold all five trains at an auction in San Francisco on Monday, bringing in substantially more than originally expected.

The Mississippi, believed to be the first locomotive to operate in the American South, brought in the most, selling for $200,000.

Unlike the four reproduction locomotives on the auction block, Bonhams had declined to speculate on the price the rare British-built train from 1834 could bring.

The auction house had conservatively estimated the four reproduction trains would bring in $117,000. At final auction, the four trains raised $235,000, with just the 1831 York locomotive selling for $110,000.

Kathleen McCarthy, director of collections for the museum, said before the auction that the trains were being sold to because the museum’s transportation exhibit was too focused on locomotive history in the early 19th century. She said the sale would raise money to conserve and expand the collection and make room on the museum floor for cars and motorcycles currently crowded out of the transportation exhibit.

The auction itself may be an indicator that Americans are more interested in cars than trains, with several cars going for sums vastly greater than the Mississippi train.

The highest selling item from the auction was a 1936 German Wanderer W25 K Roadster, complete with a swastika-emblazoned German Automobile Club medallion on its front grill, which fetched a reported $319,000.

A 1908 Rainier Model D with brass lanterns and headlamps sold for $253,000.

The two cars were part of a selection from private collections and were not associated with the Museum of Science and Industry.


The York replica was built as working locomotive and will now be sold.


The Archer Avenue horse-drawn trolley is the Museum of Science and Industry's second donation ever.


The John Stevens replica was displayed during the 1933 Century of Progress fair.


The Pennsylvania Railroad engine cab was among the items being auctioned off from the museum's collection.

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