BEST FRIEND of CHARLESTON MODELS
MODEL PRESENTED TO PASSENGERS IN 1927
LIONEL LIMITED EDITION 2005 and 2007
MODEL AT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE
MODEL ON DISPLAY AT THE CHARLESTON MUSEUM
MODEL ON DISPLAY AT THE BRANCHVILLE SC MUSEUM
MODEL ON DISPLAY AT AUGUSTA RICHLAND COUNTY MUSEUM
2005 BEST FRIEND CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
MODELS IN PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
MODEL MADE FROM SODA CANS
MODEL MADE OF PAPER
LIONS CLUB PIN 1984
Models of the Best Friend of Charleston have long been of interest to the Charleston Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. Special interest has been given to the paperweight of the replica that was presented to the first passengers of the locomotive when the replica, built in 1929, made its first trip. The Chapter has been contacted over the years by owners of the paper weight, wanting information about it. Since there was never a record of the names of the passengers in 1929, the information herein represents the beginning of such a record. This information will be updated as new details are available.
PAPER WEIGHT OF REPLICA PRESENTED TO PASSENGERS IN 1927 . . .
…………………………………………
Accompanying the paper weight presentation was a card that read:
Southern Railway System
is sending with its compliments
a paper weight replica of its
first locomotive to
Captain and Mrs. John M. LeCato
and ventures to hope that they
will honour it with a place
on their desk.
Fairfax Harrison
President
Washington, D. C.
May 16, 1927
“ 7, 1929
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…The paper weight specifications are . . .
Engraving reads:………The “Best Friend of Charleston” 1830
The paper weight specifications are . . .
Engraving reads:………The “Best Friend of Charleston” 1830
First Locomotive on Southern Railway System
Van Gytenseek, Inc. @1927 New York
Material:……………….Metal undetermined
Consist:
Engine…………………1 5/8″ x 5/8″
Tender…………………1 1/4″ x 3/4″
Passenger Cars………..1 1/4″ x 3/4″
Base…………………… 7 1/2″ x 1 3/4″
OWNERS OF BEST FRIEND PAPER WEIGHTS
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Charlie Long Family
Alcoa TN
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CCNRHS ARCHIVES
(On loan to Norfolk Southern)
***
Ron Plunkett Family
Isle of Palms SC
***
Judge Clarence Singletary Family
Moncks Corner SC
(Family of Mrs. Singletary visited train in Atlanta in 1929)
***
Carl Pool
Mesquite TX
(Purchased from an estate)
***
Bill Passman Family
***
Joe Boatwright
Dublin OH
(Given to his mother by her father)
***
(Paper Weight now on display at Best Friend Train Museum)
Donated by the
Michael H. Irwin family
Carmel, Indiana
***
Sandra Strother Hudson
Watkinsville, GA
(Estate of her great-grandfather, Rhodes Browne of Columbus, Georgia)
***
Gibson Family
Vancouver, British Columbia
***
Jack Wall
Wexford PA
(won on eBay via Jacksonville FL in 2019)
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MODEL MADE FROM SODA CANS
(NOTE: This page under construction)