Southern Pacific's 'BLack' & 'Silver' "Overnight" Boxcars.....

[Train-O]

Hi, everyone,

Please, I would like to know, approximately what years did Southern Pacific utilize their two 'Overnight' color schemes?

Thank you,

Ralph 

[West Coast S]

Post WWII for the black, silver would date from around 1958 upon SP's entry into TOFC service, but there was also a pre-WWII scheme of black with DAYLIGHT orange trim and lettering that was not repeated.

Dave

[DSchmitt]

Pictures I've seen of the pre-war cars were very plain.  The service started in 1935 and ended with the beginning of WW2.  The cars were rebuilt from single sheathed wood boxcars.  The wood sheathing was replaced by steel.  There do not appear to be any special marking for the service.  According to John Signor a colorful winged logo was designed for the service, but never applied to the cars.  There is a picture of the cars and also of the logo in his SP Coast Line book.   

The  post war black cars date from 1946, when the service was resumed.  I could not find a date for the silver cars, but as Dave said probably about  the same time as ts the Overnight TOFC trains were intoduced. .

I looked at NMRA data sheets dated 1958, unfortunately neither paint scheme is included.   

 

[Train-O]

Dave and DSchmitt,

I thank you both for your answers.

You both have given me info., which I appreciate, to know of the many past railroads of North America.

Take care,

Ralph

[West Coast S]

Overnight is a misnomer-the 1937 cars were considered LCL express cars, they too were rebuilt with steel sheets from B-40 class boxcars, they featured a PFE orange stripe on the bottom batten and a similar stripe on the rivet stripe of the car ends, four received allied full cushion trucks which proved costly to maintain and they were soon replaced . Those assigned to passenger service wore olive green, either way lettering was subdued with no wings, although lettering on the black samples was done in PFE orange, they were freely mixed in service also.

Dave  

[Train-O]

Dave,

Thank you for this additional information.

I appreciate your consideration and time.

Sincerely,

Ralph

[West Coast S]

The lack of orange wings on the prototypes did not prevent one model maker from printing cardboard carsides with the never was design in HO scale, although they were fairly accurate with their stripe placement and color for PFE orange.  Alas I don't recall the manfacture!

An aside, orginally 60 foot rider coaches were used on the OVERNITES due to the high speed nature of the operation, SP eventually replaced these worn out coaches with specially equipped C-40 class cabooses retrofitted with high speed axles and steel wheels .

Dave    

[Train-O]

Dave,

Again, thank you for more information of the S.P. fast freight cars.

Ralph