NYC Observation Cars

[KCSfan]

In the late 1940's and on into the 50's both the NYC's Sycamore and Cincinnati Special on the Big Four line between Chi and Cincy regularly carried a streamlined lightweight parlor/observation car. Both were round-ended cars with smooth sides and were painted Pullman green with yellow (or gold) lettering and narrow longitudinal stripe running the length of the car about mid-way between the bottoms of the windows and carbody. These were the only NYC observation cars that I know of that were painted in that color scheme. Does anyone know of any others and if so to what trains were they assigned? Mark

[rcdrye]

These were likely the cars rebuilt for the Mercury from old commuter coaches in 1936 and 1939.  As far as I can find, the only smooth-side non-sleeper observations NYC had were the two Mercury cars "Chicago" and "Detroit", and a heavyweight rebuild  no. 52 for the James Whitcomb Riley. All of their other observations appear to have been Budd Co. products.