Owners Borden and Nelson McGahee celebrated the anniversary of the Dearing railroad car on October 18 at the Georgia Veterans State Park. The frame for the Dearing, originally named Thompson, was built in 1924 by the Pullman Company, with the car being completed in 1925.

Guests enjoyed beer and wine in the front of the Dearing, sitting on comfortable chairs. A glass case held various memorabilia, and pictures lined the wall.

Borden welcomed guests to the celebration beneath a large white tent, while musician Andrew Greer provided entertainment. Mayor Lee Kinnamon, chairman of the SAM Shortline, told how Borden and Nelson came to him after having issues with Amtrack. “Amtrak had essentially killed them. Death by 1000 cuts. Amtrak made it more or less impossible to continue operating on the system.”

He recalled hearing the couple’s desire to bring the car to the SAM Shortline. “Borden and Nelson were telling me that they could bring the car over here and we could use it in excursion service.” Kinnamon told how they also offered support. “It would come with them, because they would be our hosts for this.”

Kinnamon gave his response to them coming to the SAM Shortline. “We hadn’t had any opportunity like that in a long time. We had had our budget cut back during the Great Recession, and we were, I won’t say we were struggling, but we were just, we weren’t making much progress.”

He told how the couple also recommended a new general manager, Chris Lockwood. “Here we are today, and it wouldn’t happened without these two. So in a way, I’m here today to celebrate the two of them and Chris, as much as I am that car.”

Kinnamon summed up their impact. “It has meant that our revenue has increased, our ridership has increased. Chris can give you the numbers, and it’s made a certain former U.S. president happy with us.”

Kinnamon read a speech that Sanford Bishop, Representative of the second congressional district, read into the congressional record. “I rise today to recognize the Dearing railroad car on the occasion of its 100th birthday. It’s one of the few remaining 100-year-old railroad cars still in operation in the United States. The Dearing car holds a unique and significant place in Georgia’s and in our Nation’s history.”

Jill Stuckey, representing the National Parks Service, also spoke. “This is my third hundredth birthday opportunity to speak. So, President Carter had a little birthday October 1rst, 100. We had Duke University at the Carter Center, they did a play in honor of President Carter, but they are also 100. . .I think this month as well.” She expressed her excitement. “We saved the best for last of course, the Dearing, and we are so, so very excited about the 100th birthday.”
She expressed her appreciation for its owners. “I want to reiterate what Lee said about Borden and Nelson coming into our family here. The excursion train was started for economic development and to just make the community happy, and that car has done that.”

Afterward guests enjoyed a cake and barbeque. Jane Butler, a board member of the authority that launched the SAM Shortline, was in attendance for the anniversary.

Nelson McGahee told how he had come to acquire the Dearing, and how he had been a long-time model and rail fan. “My wife and I got to talking about what are we going to do when I retire. I was getting ready to retire out of Fort Benning, and I needed something to do. She was retired from the media, and she was looking for something to do. She liked to travel and cook, and I liked trains and traveling. So we found this. The State of North Carolina owned it, and so we spent six years getting it set up for Amtrack, and we’ve been running it for a number of years. We’ve been all over the country in it.”