RPO's were normally at the very front partly because they often were "blind" at the end - had no end doors or diaphragms for security reasons, so you couldn't pass thru the car to get to another car in the train.
Passenger train Guys,,
Check out the new,Trains Newsletter,,,,at least 11pics and info of passenger trains on Roosevelt Rd. in Chicago..
Cheers,
Frank
In general "head end" cars like baggage, mail storage, and RPO cars were at the front of the train. A general service "jack of all trades" passenger train might look like this:
RPO
Baggage
Coach
Diner
Sleeper
Observation
A daytime-only train might have a parlor car instead of a sleeping car.
The makeup of trains on the New York Division of the PRR. Sept 1954. http://pennsyrr.com/kc/passops/downloads/540926_makeup.pdf
You can see most trains had BM or MS (baggage mail, Messenger storage) first then BM (Baggage mail storage)
You can't forget about the express reefers and the horse cars and scenery cars too. If you contact your railroads historical society if there is one you can probably get a copy of this type of booklet.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Cars associated with mail first, then express, then baggage.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
On the PRR it was mail storage followed by the baggage car.I notice the same applied on the C&O.
The baggage car would be stopped on the end of the station's platform in order to unload/load passenger's luggage and in some cases express packages and company mail.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Hi
I would like to know what were the first cars usually behind a steam loco in a passenger consist? I'm modelling the transition period, and I'm looking at working only 3 cars (baggage, mail, express) in the headend of the consist at my terminal and would like to know if there was a rule as to the line up of these three cars?
Thanks
Sheldon