A piece of Jim Thorpe’s railroad history could soon find a new home in the borough — if officials can figure out how to move it.

During a workshop meeting Thursday, Jim Thorpe Borough Council discussed an offer from the Drury family to donate a historic switchback rail car to the borough. The car, which currently sits along Liberty Hill leading into the Heights, is one of several artifacts connected to the area’s famous Switchback Gravity Railroad.

Council members expressed interest in accepting the donation but said they need more information about the cost and logistics of relocating the car before making a final decision.

“I think there was a consensus that if we could accept it reasonably, we should,” council President Greg Strubinger said. “But I don’t think we have a clear picture yet of what that’s going to take.”

Council members said the proposed donation could provide a tangible connection to that past. Thursday’s discussion ended without a formal vote, but members agreed to gather more details about transportation, site preparation and long-term maintenance before making a decision.

The family’s offer sparked discussion about possible sites for the display.

Councilman Mike Yeastedt said one potential location would be “next to the new public service garage on West Broadway.” He added that any plan to move the car would also require relocating sections of old track to properly display it.

The Switchback Gravity Railroad, often called the first roller coaster in America, once carried coal — and later tourists — through the steep hills surrounding Jim Thorpe. It operated in the 1800s and early 1900s and became one of the area’s most recognizable pieces of industrial history.

While the idea of accepting the car was met with enthusiasm, several borough officials urged quick but careful action. Assistant Borough Manager Brooke Klotz said there is competition for the donation.

“We would need to take action quickly,” she said, “because there are other parties that are interested as well. If we really genuinely want this switchback car, we should make a decision.”

Officials discussed whether to authorize formal acceptance of the car under certain conditions or to investigate further before committing borough resources.

Strubinger said it appears the car had been successfully moved once before, which gave him confidence the borough could do it again.

“Thanks to David and his family for thinking of the borough,” Strubinger said.