Clifton Forge, Va. (VR) – The non-profit Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society’s ongoing fundraising for the restoration of C&O office car “Chessie 29” has recently received a major boost thanks to a globally known social media star. Gabrielle Jones of Minnesota, whose Instagram channel @gabis_vintage boasts over 225,000 followers worldwide, recently produced a video reel for the Virginia organization highlighting Chessie 29’s history. Following the video’s launch on the Instagram and TikTok platforms, where Ms. Jones discusses the famous passenger car while wearing a vintage outfit reflective of the rail car’s heyday, global views are at 125,000 and still counting. Partnering with a famous influencer is the latest way in which the group that preserves, studies, and publishes the transportation history of the C&O Railway has campaigned for the capital necessary to restore their 1950-built passenger car that currently resides at the C&O Railway Heritage Center museum in Clifton Forge.
On her well-watched Instagram and TikTok channels, Gabrielle Jones is over halfway through a 365-day video series showcasing the history of different 20th century outfits. Even with the busy shooting and production schedule associated with researching and presenting so many vintage fashion ensembles, Ms. Jones was excited to contribute to the C&O Historical Society’s campaign for Chessie 29 by producing a reel for her audience.
The 53-year-old non-profit organization has prioritized saving this piece of rolling history and returning it to operational condition as a mobile museum and teaching tool for future generations. Ms. Jones explained how she became interested in the C&O Historical Society’s ambitious project, “I have a passion for history and preserving stories! I am fascinated by the unique (and sometimes unknown) stories Chessie 29 has to tell and I would love to see a future where we can learn about the history in a mobile museum, because I believe it isn’t the same to learn about something on a piece of paper… you need to actually experience the space as our predecessors did!”
Beginning her partnership with the C&O Historical Society enthusiastically in front of a historical photo of the rail car, Gabrielle Jones opens the reel she created for Instagram and Tiktok with, “I need your help. This is Chessie 29. It was built in 1950 as a mobile office for the railroad president at the time, Walter Tuohy.” Ms. Jones continues with a summary of notable passengers who were welcomed by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway on board Chessie 29 over the decades, such as Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1952 and the royal family of Monaco in 1963. Detailing the event that most famously secures Chessie 29’s place in history, Ms. Jones elaborates on how, in March 1956, President Eisenhower used the office car to travel from Washington, DC to White Sulphur Springs for a secret meeting between the federal government and C&O Railway officials that set in motion the construction of a top-secret bunker under the Greenbrier Hotel that was to house surviving members of the U.S. Congress in the event of a Cold War attack. She points out the full story of this meeting where Chessie 29 played a central role was not declassified until 1992.
C&O Historical Society President Mark Totten said the video, now watched around the world, is helping the non-profit organization’s fundraising campaign, “We are incredibly pleased not only because we have seen a boost to donations received for Chessie 29, but also because over 100,000 people have now heard of the passenger car and its history that would not have otherwise. No matter what, the mission of a non-profit organization like ours is to share.” Totten also said that Chessie 29, the mobile office of C&O Railway President Walter Tuohy that transported railroad executives, dignitaries, and the Tuohy family throughout the Chesapeake & Ohio system in the mid-20th century, is the C&O Railway’s most legendary surviving passenger car.
Explaining the process by which her media came together for the C&O Historical Society, Ms. Jones outlined her creative process, “Upon learning about the history of Chessie 29, I wrote some of my favorite facts into a ‘script’ of sorts, then compiled photos that represented each point and spliced together a video. I think it really represents why I think the history of Chessie 29 is important to me.”
C&OHS President Totten pointed out that, to reach their fundraising goal of $900,000, the group must be creative with how the campaign to rebuild their business car gets promoted. “We are incredibly grateful for Ms. Jones’ time spent developing this media for us and administering the content online. Like those who have donated financially toward the campaign thus far, partnering with us in this way to promote Chessie 29’s restoration campaign is extremely generous.”
While the influencer’s usual content focuses on and showcases vintage fashion, Gabrielle Jones says this video still fits her channel’s brand, “It’s not far off from my usual content in that it represents preserving something to be experienced by future generations and telling the history in the process! That being said—it’s certainly different from my usual outfit-of-the-day content, where I pick one piece of clothing to really hone in on. This video covers a much broader history of Chessie 29!”
C&O Historical Society President Mark Totten reflects on the global traction currently building for the group’s Chessie 29 campaign, “Besides being an invaluable artifact from Chesapeake & Ohio Railway history, this passenger car has a place on stage in the American history of the Cold War and has connections to world history deserving of the international attention our project has received. Whether someone is an American enthusiast of railroad history or elsewhere in the world where this single passenger car is part of their history, now is the time for the historical and philanthropic community to come together and join this effort.”
On @gabis_vintage, Gabrielle Jones concludes her video reel, “That is where we need your help. Obviously it is impossible without money.” Ms. Jones generously encourages her global audience to support the C&O Historical Society’s effort. According to the non-profit organization, the fundraising campaign is steadily approaching the project’s budgeted amount and the social media star’s support has been a fresh avenue of assistance to their campaign. When the project’s financial goals are reached, the planned rebuild would enable Chessie 29 to travel the rails once again, not only across the former Donations, which are tax deductible, can be made by calling 540-862-2210 or online at ChessieShop.com by following the ‘Donations’ link and choosing ‘Chessie 29’ at the drop-down menu.”
The C&O Historical Society’s Business Office & Archive is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. and may be contacted by telephone at 540-862-2210 or by email at cohs@cohs.org. The C&OHS archive database is available online at archives.cohs.org. Updates and additional information can be found on Facebook under @cohs.org or on Instagram @ChessiesRoad.
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