Coteau Valley Farm recently acquired an old railroad luggage cart. We are going to be using it to display flowers and vegetables or any other products the farm grows for sale, at the farm's roadside stand. I think it will be cute and add character to the road and maybe become a landmark to find the farm. The luggage cart has been restored in part, the chassis is original to the cart, as far as I can see. The bed of the cart is now steel where I am sure it used to be wood panels. The cart has brakes that are attached to a chain that you pull and that pushes the brake against the wheel. It is a rudimentary setup for brakes, I mean they are not anti-lock, but they do work and I mean well! The cart needs a good paint job, to say the least. I suppose we will eventually paint it to its probable original colors of red and green. The cart itself is very heavy and big, it measures about ten by five feet and I bet it weighs about one thousand pounds! I was not able to learn any history of this particular cart but they were used to transport luggage as well as various freight such as mail and personal belongings of the passengers of the train, to and from the train. I thought when I get my horse to the farm I plan to ground-break her for driving a cart before I ride her. I find this is a smart idea when training a horse. You have to be able to control and trust the animal on the ground before you jump on its back unless you do not mind a little bucking or some show of power over the animal, which I don't have because I am small. I've gone on a small tangent but I wanted to get across that I want to see if the horse can pull it around. I don't plan to be on top of the cart as there is no seat but it would be fun to make the horse work and I would bet other horses pulled this cart in the past. It's just a guess that could be wrong but it seems it was made for a large draft horse team to pull around the railroad grounds. It’s a really cool find, in my personal opinion and I am very excited to have it on the farm. I am going to find some old luggage boxes made of wood and a railroad sign to make it have the feel of the past. I've been looking around and I have seen online, some really great decorating ideas that people are using for luggage carts nowadays. Miso and Mochi the cats have discovered the cart and think it's a new and exciting climbing pad and a nice place to lay and sleep in the sun. I do not know what your initial impression of the cart was when you saw the picture but I would love to know! I will tell you mine. I thought wow that is totally awesome and cool and very photogenic. But as always there was more, when it actually arrived I also thought, hmm I bet that is full of lead paint and if I cut myself am I gonna need a tetanus shot? Please let me know what you think of it and please come on out to the farm and see for yourself! It might be fun.
South Dakota Hobby Farm
Coteau des Prairies
Thank you for reading!
The cart is an amazing. I like the history of its past.