Southern Pacific crew cars and all-day-lunch cars

[markpierce]

Can anyone provide information on Southern Pacific crew cars, such as #2802, a 60-C-3 coach rebuilt to a crew car from an all-day-lunch car? Since the car is not included in the roster of coach cabooses, I guess crew cars weren't used as cabooses. What was the purpose of a crew car then? As an accomodation to employees who are deadheading? as a part of a freight or passenger train?

I've read where all-day-lunch cars were sometimes included in express/mail trains to accompany and service the rider coach(s). Were they used elsewhere?

[West Coast S]

SP had Hamburger Grill Lounges rebuilt from former heavy weight Harriman diners, used for secondary service as well as the SJ Daylights, also popular with excursions specials and just about any run that did not require full food service.

Example number 2 would be the Automat concept, self serve vending machines on the SJ Daylights, converted from former daylight coaches and lounges in the late 50s in attempt to control dinning car and crew expenses.

The SP employed rider cars mainly on the Sunset Route, I knew them when they being used to monitor high value shipments subject to highjacking or pilferage , they had been equipped with survalance and radio gear and were able to bunk a spare crew in comfort . Oddly, my last sighting of a SP rider car in revenue service was on the Rio Grande in the late 70s or early 80s. I suspect being in non revenue service, they would be listed on the maintaince of way roster.

Dave