Jackson & Sharp Passenger Cars

Growing up riding the Durango & Silverton railroad, I have become quite accustom to the "Golden" paint scheme that the passenger cars have. I was excited when I learned that I could get models of these. Some History of the Jackson & Sharp Car Company.

Jackson & Sharp had its beginning in April 1863 at Wilmington, Delaware as a partnership of Job H. Jackson (1833-1901) and Jacob F. Sharp (ca. 1815-1888). Jackson had quit school at an early age and worked as a tinsmith and mechanic. Sharp had worked as a carpenter and bridge-builder before taking a job in 1840 at the Halan & Hollingsworth car plant.

Jackson & Sharp built the first narrow gauge cars in this country for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway in 1871. In the following years, Jackson & Sharp were to build a good many cars for this railroad. They would produce more than 400 narrow gauge passenger cars by 1876.

Denver & Rio Grande narrow gauge Coach Denver built 1871 by Jackson & Sharp. Too narrow (7' wide) for the usual two seats on each side of a center aisle, this car had two seats on one side and one on the other. The arrangement was switched at the middle of the car to “maintain balance.”

Information from http://www.midcontinent.org/rollingstock/builders/jacksonsharp1.htm

Bachmann has done a good job recreating these cars. They come ready to roll out of the package and have lights inside.

Baggage Car (Needs more decals)

Combine Car #211

Passenger Car #284

Passenger Car #290

Passenger Car #307

Ready to roll

Bachmann only sells #284 as a single passenger car. I wanted more passenger cars but different numbered cars. I was able to find #290 and #307 on eBay that come from set that Bachmann sells. (This is also how I got my D&RGW engine #138)

The Jackson & Sharp cars are a classic sign of the D&RGW and a great addtion for a Rio Grande model railroad.