Trains.com

A simple train car question

3648 views
10 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2013
  • 3,006 posts
Posted by ACY Tom on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 8:47 PM

They're not likely to be mail cars unless they were baggage cars in service as sealed mail cars that didn't need to be sorted enroute. Active Railway Post Office cars had smaller doors, plus a fair number of windows, because the traveling mail clerks had to be accommodated. 

The only disclaimer I would make is that this image shows very early trains, and I don't know the dates when R.P.O. service began to be carried out in its familiar form. In general, I would say the cars were probably baggage cars, being used for baggage and/or express. 

Side windows were common on baggage cars in the 19th Century, less so in the 20th. Nevertheless, there were early examples with no windows; and a few that operated with windows as late as the 1940's and 1950's on the Erie and other roads.

Tom

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, June 11, 2016 12:37 PM

Sorry I'm late to the party here, but those cars are definately baggage cars.  It was some time in the early 1850's after an increase in wrecks that railroads began placing baggage cars at the head end of the train for increased passenger safety.  Of course, that wouldn't help in the event of a rear-end collision but at least they were trying. 

The practice has continued to this day, Amtrak usually runs baggage cars at the head end, but not always, sometimes they're at the rear.

  • Member since
    June 2016
  • 4 posts
Posted by IronFish99 on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 7:43 PM

Overmod

What you found is a plain ordinary baggage car -- in construction.  But it is lettered for small 'express' package delivery, as nominally provided ... to be honest as often provided in plain baggage cars ... by the Railway Express Agency.  (The history of which is fascinating, and I recommend it to your attention.)

Sometimes details on a car like this are as signficant as its construction.  If you have a particular prototype car in mind, be sure to look.

 

Thank you for your help with trying to find the train car, sorry it's not as interesting as the ones in picture I found, but I do also enjoy the history behind random things, I'll have to look into that.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 11:13 AM

What you found is a plain ordinary baggage car -- in construction.  But it is lettered for small 'express' package delivery, as nominally provided ... to be honest as often provided in plain baggage cars ... by the Railway Express Agency.  (The history of which is fascinating, and I recommend it to your attention.)

Sometimes details on a car like this are as signficant as its construction.  If you have a particular prototype car in mind, be sure to look.

  • Member since
    June 2016
  • 4 posts
Posted by IronFish99 on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 9:03 PM

I found a picture of what I was looking for (sorry for double post)

  • Member since
    June 2016
  • 4 posts
Posted by IronFish99 on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 8:55 PM

Deggesty

 

 
IronFish99

I'm working on a model of a 19th centry american steam train, and there's one car I want to make, but I can't find the name of it for the life of me, and I want better pictured for refrence. So, I'm wondering if anybody on this forum might know what it's called.

It's the car directley behind the locomotives

Thank you for your help :)

 

 

 

Are referring to the tender, which caried fuel (coal or wood) and water?

 

 

No, I was refering to the cars behind the tender and locomotive, but thanks.

Thank you all for your help, a baggage car seems to be the right type of car, and I don't know why I didn' think of that, but again thanks you!

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 5:00 PM

I think Overmod is on the right track (sorry couldn't resist....Stick out tongue)

The one on the left looks a bit like the old MDC 34' baggage car, with the center door:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MDC-Roundhouse-HO-34-Overton-Baggage-Car-Rio-Grande-Kit-/201458958990?hash=item2ee7e3c28e:g:7BcAAOSwI-BWNO9Y

...and the car on the right, kinda looks like their 50' Baggage/RPO (except for having two doors):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MDC-Roundhouse-HO-50-Overland-Baggage-Car-Virginia-and-Truckee-Kit-/191728085692?hash=item2ca3e26abc:g:GJMAAOSwZQxW3dCc

 

Stix
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 11:59 AM

IronFish99
... there's one car I want to make, but I can't find the name of it for the life of me, and I want better pictures for reference.

It's the car directly behind the locomotives

There are other possibilities, I think, looking at the specific picture.  And I'd argue it may not be as "simple" a question as it looks.

The train on the left has particularly ornate decoration visible on what would nominally be a 'baggage' car.  I'm thinking, in particular, of the "Fast Mail" that W.H.Vanderbilt had such a problem with, and perhaps such a car would be better termed a 'mail and express' car instead of general baggage.  In any case, someone should find him some close-ups or color illustrations of those contemporary fast-mail consists -- some of which were VERY interestingly painted and decorated, probably with at least the care (and extraordinarily long prep and painting time!) evidenced on most 'varnish' of the period...

The other one is more interesting -- it appears to be much more ancient in design, and have little square windows on either side of the center door.  This immediately makes me suspect it has at least the function of an early RPO ('railway post office', a car on which mail is actively organized and sorted rather than just transported from point to point) as well as parcel or mail-and-express service.  Now, someone here will either be an expert on NYC&HR car construction or have access to the relevant volume of White or some other expert on passenger-car history, and can provide photographs or technical material that shows that type of car (and particularly its interior arrangements and running gear) in detail.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 9:56 AM

IronFish99

I'm working on a model of a 19th centry american steam train, and there's one car I want to make, but I can't find the name of it for the life of me, and I want better pictured for refrence. So, I'm wondering if anybody on this forum might know what it's called.

It's the car directley behind the locomotives

Thank you for your help :)

 

Are referring to the tender, which caried fuel (coal or wood) and water?

Johnny

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 9:20 AM
Probably baggage cars.
  • Member since
    June 2016
  • 4 posts
A simple train car question
Posted by IronFish99 on Monday, June 6, 2016 7:52 PM

I'm working on a model of a 19th centry american steam train, and there's one car I want to make, but I can't find the name of it for the life of me, and I want better pictured for refrence. So, I'm wondering if anybody on this forum might know what it's called.

It's the car directley behind the locomotives

Thank you for your help :)

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter