Back in the early 60's I had the pleasure of riding many CB&Q fan trips behind both 4960 and 5632. On many of those trips there was a curious little Burlington combine, number 3003. I never measured it, but it appeared to be a 50' car, mostly coach, but with a very small baggage (RPO??) compartment on one end. It's lettered for "Railway Express Agency" but the door is narrow like an RPO door and there's a small window like an RPO. It's an old B&W photo taken with a Kodak Brownie, so the resolution is poor, but it may have brackets for an RPO hook but I'm not sure. Does any one have a clue about the history of this car?
Several photos of this car turn up on an internet search for "CB&Q 3003 combine". Info summarized below.
Built as a mail car in 1911 by ACF, renumbered 2076, later 3003, converted to CF-7 class combine at some point. Listed as 42-foot, but that only includes the length between bulkheads. Former RPO "apartment" is 15 feet, so overall is about 62 feet - still quite short. Used on mixed trains out of Eola yard until retirement in 1965.
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