Most models seem to be of shorter prototypes; I think SP used some full-length baggages; anyone know of other roads that used them?
As far as I know, most baggage cars were shorter than the average passenger cars. I believe that 70 or 72 foot length was the most common. RPO's were typically shorter than standard passenger cars as well.
To the best of my knowledge, most of the model baggage and RPO cars that are the same length as the matching cars, are not correct, and the longer length is just a manufacturing convenience, and to appeal to modelers that don't know any better, so that the cars "Match" the rest of the set.
Doug
May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails
IIRC, the usual length of baggage and express cars was 72 feet. The reason is the denser loading of baggage and REA lading versus passengers and their carry-aboard luggage. Even with their shorter length, many such cars had to have 6-wheel trucks to stay within axle loading limitations.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Current Amtrak runs full length bags, because all the bags are either rebuilds of coaches or are based on frame derived from the Viewliner sleepers.
Baggage cars also carried mail and REA shipments so,they was shorter-some baggage cars carried nothing but sacks of presorted mail that was switched out at larger city passenger terminals in where a USPS distribution center was located-usually near the coach yard..Same for REA shipments.
Ever notice photos of passenger trains that was heavy on the head end cars and light on the passenger cars especially in the 60s?
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
For heavyweight cars, RPO, Baggage, Combines, and Coaches were typically less than 80' long.
To amplify what Brakie said, in the early sixties GN's "Western Star" and NP's "Mainstreeter" were often 8-10 RPO, Baggage, or Express cars with 5-6 'regular' passenger cars trailing. After the US decided to cancel almost all mail contracts in the mid-sixties, these once long trains became very short...and many trains that had at least been breaking even due to the mail contracts began to lose money - which lead a few years later to the formation of Amtrak.
Before the Post Office pulled their business off the rails Christmas would see more than a few crack passenger trains run in sections. The first section would be the regular train. Section two (and three...) would be head-end cars loaded with sack and package mail with a beat-up rider coach, or even a caboose, carrying rear end crew and markers.
Just an idea serious operators might want to consider.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
The Canadian roads had lots of 80' head end cars, both heavyweights and the later lightweights. I would say the shorter ones were in the minority, although they did exist.
John
tomikawaTTSection two (and three...) would be head-end cars loaded with sack and package mail with a beat-up rider coach, or even a caboose, carrying rear end crew and markers.
PRR allowed the Railway Express crews to ride these cars when cars had to be "worked" at intermediate stops. They even had cabin cars specifically lettered and designated for use in passenger trains.
Regards, Ed
cx500 The Canadian roads had lots of 80' head end cars, both heavyweights and the later lightweights. I would say the shorter ones were in the minority, although they did exist.
The longest head end cars which I could find listed for the CNR were RPOs at about 77'3", and that was over-all length (73' over end sills). Most of the CNR's baggage cars were in the 61'-73' range, but with quite a few shorter ones, too.
Wayne
When "eyeballing" a train, the RPO and Baggage cars wouldn't necessarily look short, since many Combine and Coach cars were around 70-72' long. You could have an entire train where none of the cars were 80' long.
The excellent Ellington & Shine book on Santa Fe head-end equipment lists 14 heavyweight baggage & express cars of more than 79'8" length. However, they were all rebuilds of coach, diner, and "baggage, buffet, and library" cars. In addition, the Santa Fe had ten 82'2" horse express heavyweight cars which were converted into baggage or mail storage cars when needed.
Finally, there was one leightweight 80'4" baggage car, # 3430, the first leightweight baggage car ever built for the Santa Fe for the 1937 Super Chief.