A Classic REAL Trains 'n Traction FOTO site!

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #12

Here’s something to ponder with regard to our appreciation and fascination with
Classic Trains. Check out this ad (from The Official Guide of the Railways – 1956)



Look what they’re saying about the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited!

”FOUR VISTA-DOMES . . . the view really is terrific on the Northern Pacific!”

“Pride of the Northwest . . . a train second to none!”

“One of the top trains in the country”

“A LOVELY STEWARDESS-NURSE . . . so kind to me and my children”

“Most friendly and courteous employees”

“Comfortable trip – delicious meals. Our compliments to the chef”

“THE TRAVELLER’S REST buffet-lounge . . . most unique car we’ve ever seen . . . captures the flavor and romance of the West”

”WON’T YOU BE MY GUEST?”
Now a friendly Stewardess-Nurse welcomes you aboard the Vista-Dome North Coast Limited. You’ll enjoy extra traveling pleasure at no extra cost – in fact, even low Family Fares apply! Heading East or West through the scenic Northwest, you’ll see for yourself why passengers call it . . .

. . . . . One of the world’s Extra Fine trains . . . . .

. . . . . For complete information, write
. . . . . G. W. RODINE, Passenger Traffic Manager . . . . .
. . . . . Northern Pacific Railway, St. Paul 1, Minn. . . . . .

CHICAGO – TWIN CITIES – SPOKANE – PORTLAND – TACOMA – SEATTLE


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom[4:-)][oX)]


ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

[passengerfan]

Here's a little more on the NP.

NORTHERN
PACIFIC
Streamlined Coaches
by Al

The Northern Pacific Railway would acquire their first streamlined or semi-streamlined coaches from Pullman Standard in October 1935. These six 1300 series coaches with 56 revenue seats and 8 seat smoking lounge would have a major influence on postwar coach purchases of the NP. The 1300 series cars rode on 4 wheel trucks were fully air-conditioned and featured large thermo-pane@ windows. The roofs of these cars were flat and tapered down at the ends. The car sides were of riveted construction and a full vestibule could be found at each end of the cars. Most passenger car historians class these cars as semi-streamlined. The NP owned five of these cars and the sixth was owned by the CB&Q, they were assigned one each to each NORTH COAST LIMITED consist between Chicago and Seattle.
Following WW II the NP like so many other railroads was anxious to purchase lightweight streamlined cars particularly for the NORTH COAST LIMITED and placed orders with Pullman Standard following the war. The NP NORTH COAST LIMITED unlike many of the postwar streamliners never actually became a streamliner on any particular date but seemed to evolve as a streamliner. As each new batch of cars arrived in St. Paul from Pullman Standard they were set up at the NP Como shops and then assigned to the first eastbound NORTH COAST LIMITED from St. Paul to Chicago traveling ahead of the regular consist. When the NP train arrived in Chicago the heavyweight cars the new streamlined cars would replace were set out and the streamlined replacements took their place. The heavyweights were then returned to St. Paul at the head of the NORTH COAST LIMITED. After the heavyweights were set out in St. Paul the NORTH COAST LIMITED then continued to the West Coast. Pullman Standard delivered the new cars for the NP between October 1946 and July 1947. Three types of cars comprised the Coach section of the streamlined NORTH COAST LIMITED. First their was a 56 revenue seat Coach without leg rests for the short trip passengers from the 500 – 517 series the remaining 12 cars from this series were assigned to the two consists of trains 407-408 the NP pool train between Seattle and Portland. Second their were two 56 revenue seat Leg Rest Coaches from the NP 588-596, CB&Q 598, 599 or SP&S 300 series, with one assigned as a through Chicago – Portland car the other a through Chicago – Seattle car. The third type of car comprising the Coach section of the streamlined NORTH COAST LIMITED was 26 revenue seat Coach with Conductors Office, Buffet and 20 seat Lounge in the 494-499 series.

56 REVENUE SEAT DAY COACHES WITH 8 SEAT SMOKING LOUNGE Pullman Standard October 1946 – July 1947 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED and Seattle – Portland trains 407-408)

500 – 517

56 REVENUE SEAT DAY-NITE COACHES WITH LEG RESTS Pullman Standard October 1946 – July 1947 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

NP

588 – 596

CB&Q

589,599

SP&S

300

26 REVENUE SEAT COACHES WITH CONDUCTORS OFFICE BUFFET 20 SEAT LOUNGE Pullman Standard October 1946 – July 1947 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

494 – 499

The NP NORTH COAST LIMITED would become the VISTA – DOME NORTH COAST LIMITED with the addition of both Dome Coaches and Dome Sleeping Cars in 1954. At the same time as the NORTH COAST LIMITED became the VISTA – DOME NORTH COAST LIMITED in 1954 it received a new paint scheme designed by famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy. The new paint scheme of dark green and lighter green separated by a white stripe added a real touch of class to what had been a rather dull drab looking train. The interiors of the older streamlined cars received attention at the same time the Domes arrived. Raymond Loewy was responsible for creating the famous Lewis & Clark Travelers Rest Lunch Counter Lounge cars from the older Coach Lounge cars 494-499. The conversion of these cars was done in the NP Como shops between July and October 1955. This was possible as the NORTH COAST LIMITED was now matching the timekeeping of rival Great Northern Railways EMPIRE BUILDER and only required five sets of equipment rather than the original six required by the slower schedule. This created another problem for the NP, as they were required by the ICC to provide service to the towns that the faster NORTH COAST LIMITED now passed. The old heavyweight ALASKAN had been the secondary transcontinental train across the NP mainline between St. Paul and Seattle; it was now replaced with a new train the MAINSTREETER. The NP MAINSTREETER received the unused 56 revenue seat leg rest coaches from the NORTH COAST LIMITED that had been displaced by the domes and sleeping cars that had been replaced by the dome sleepers. These were the only cars streamlined in the original MAINSTREETER train sets.
When the NP added the two 46 revenue seat Vista Dome coaches to the NORTH COAST LIMITED they replaced one of the 56 revenue seat leg rest coaches the other was retained and was trainlined between the two Vista Dome Coaches, this was great for those wishing to view the passing countryside the flat top coach between the dome coaches afforded a far better view. The NP did the same with the two Vista Dome Sleeping cars in the NORTH COAST LIMITED placing a flat top sleeper between them. The Budd built Vista-Dome Coaches and Sleeping cars were the first non-Pullman Standard built streamlined cars added to the NP roster.

24 SEAT VISTA DOME 46 REVENUE SEAT LEG REST COACHES Budd Company July – August, 1954 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

NP

550 – 556

CB&Q

557, 558

SP&S

559

With the arrival of the SP&S Vista Dome Coach 559 on the system for assignment to the NORTH COAST LIMITED the earlier 56-revenue seat leg rest coach SP&S 300 was sold to the NP and renumbered 597 in July 1954.
In December 1953 and October 1954 the NP received six cars that would complete the streamlining of NP trains 407-408 the NP Seattle Portland Pool trains. In December 1953 the NP received two 40 seat Dining cars from Pullman Standard identical to those assigned to the NORTH COAST LIMITED numbers 456 and 457. In October 1954 the NP received two 56 revenue seat Coaches numbers 586 and 587 for assignment to 407 –408 during peak travel periods, at other times if not needed these cars were assigned to the MAINSTREETER pool of cars. The other two cars delivered by Pullman Standard in October 1954 were Parlor Buffet Lounge cars 492 and 493.

56 REVENUE SEAT DAY COACHES Pullman Standard October 1954 (Built for and assigned to Seattle – Portland Pool trains 407-408)

586,587

The MAINSTREETER received the only new cars ever constructed specifically for that train in July, 1956 from Pullman Standard the “Holiday Lounge” cars 487 – 491, these cars had 14 Parlor seats a Buffet and 32 Lounge seats. These were identical to the two earlier cars of this type constructed for Seattle – Portland pool trains 407-408 and delivered by Pullman Standard in October 1954. The parlor space in the cars was sold for the daylight portions of the MAINSTREETERS run. These cars only operated between St. Paul and Seattle and were not through cars to Chicago.
The MAINSTREETER was equipped with 56 revenue seat streamlined coaches by October of 1954.
The NORTH COAST LIMITED received new Budd built dining cars in December 1958 and January 1959 replacing the earlier 1947 dining cars. In fact these were the last new dining cars purchased by any class one railroad until after Amtrak. The older dining cars from the NORTH COAST LIMITED were transferred to the MAINSTREETER and operated only between Seattle and St. Paul.
The big news of 1959 was the arrival just in time for Christmas of the new Slumbercoaches from Budd. These 24 single room 8 double room cars were assigned to the NORTH COAST LIMITED one per consist between Chicago and Seattle. The NP purchased four of these cars initially and since their were five train sets each mornings arriving CB&Q DENVER ZEPHYR in Chicago hurriedly set out one of its two Slumbercoaches after the DENVER ZEPHYR was washed for departure in the afternoon on the NORTH COAST LIMITED to Seattle. The arriving NORTH COAST LIMITED from Seattle after going through the car washer in Chicago set out its Slumbercoach for departure in that days westbound DENVER ZEPHYR. The Slumbercoach in the NORTH COAST LIMITED trains was easy to spot, as it was the only regularly assigned Stainless steel car in the train. The remaining cars of the NORTH COAST LIMITED were painted in the Raymond Loewy two tone green scheme with white separation stripe. The SLUMBERCOACH was trainlined directly behind the head end cars and ahead of the first coach. The NP would eventually own twelve of these Slumbercoaches purchasing from Budd the leased cars operated by the New York Central, Baltimore & Ohio, and Missouri Pacific. The NP assigned LOCH prefix names to all twelve of the Slumbercoaches they owned to signify Scotti***hrift. Two of these cars would eventually be transferred to CB&Q ownership and in a strange twist of events would be the only postwar Budd built cars on the CB&Q to have LOCH instead of SILVER prefix names except for two baggage cars for the NEBRASKA ZEPHYR. The additional cars would find assignment in the MAINSTREETER as well as the NORTH COAST LIMITED and operated as a pool. The MAINSTREETER would eventually lose its regular sleeping car and carry the Slumbercoach only.

46 REVENUE SEAT VISTA DOME LEG REST COACHES WITH 24 NON REVENUE SEATS IN DOME Budd Company July-August 1954 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)
NP

550 – 556

CB&Q

557, 558

SP&S

559

56 REVENUE SEAT LEG REST COACHES Pullman Standard October 1954 (Built for and assigned to MAINSTREETER- NORTH COAST LIMITED)

586, 587

46 REVENUE SEAT VISTA DOME LEG REST COACH WITH 24 NON-REVENUE SEATS IN DOME Budd Company December 1957 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

NP

549

24 SINGLE ROOM 8 DOUBLE ROOM SLUMBERCOACHES Budd Company December 1959 Plan: 9540 Lot: 9691-090 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED –DENVER ZEPHYR Pool)

325 LOCH SLOY

326 LOCH LEVEN

327 LOCH LOMOND

328 LOCH NESS

24 SINGLE ROOM 8 DOUBLE ROOM SLUMBERCOACHES Budd Company (Used cars purchased by the NP and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED – MAINSTREETER)

May 1964

329 LOCH TARBERT originally MP 699 SOUTHLAND originally assigned to TEXAS EAGLE – NATIONAL LIMITED

June 1964

330 LOCH KATRINE originally B&O 7702 RESTLAND originally assigned to NATIONAL LIMITED – TEXAS EAGLE

331 LOCH LONG originally B&O 7703 SLEEPLAND originally assigned to NATIONAL LIMITED – TEXAS EAGLE

332 LOCH LOCHY originally B&O 7704 THRIFTLAND originally assigned to NATIONAL LIMITED – TEXAS EAGLE

November 1964

333 LOCH TAY originally NYC 10800 originally assigned to TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED

334 LOCH RANNOCH originally NYC 10801 originally assigned to TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED

335 LOCH ARKAIG originally NYC 10802 originally assigned to TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED

336 LOCH AWE originally NYC 10803 originally assigned to TWENTIETH CENTURY LIMITED


335 LOCH ARKAIG and 336 LOCH AWE were transferred to CB&Q ownership in March 1965 with no change of numbers or name and continued to operate in the NORTH COAST LIMITED and MAINSTREETER.
The NP removed the five HOLIDAY LOUNGE cars 487-491 from the MAINSTREETER and rebuilt the five cars to 48 revenue seat leg rest coaches in the roads Como Shops between November 1962 and March 1963 and assigned new numbers 581-585. The cars were then assigned one per train to the NORTH COAST LIMITED replacing the flat-topped 56-revenue seat coach in each of the NORTH COAST LIMITEDS consists.
The NP purchased three lots of used cars from other roads. The first group of cars purchased was six postwar 56 revenue seat Coaches from the C&NW from two postwar groups. The Pullman Standard built C&NW cars arrived on the NP in November 1961 and had served in 400 services on the C&NW. The NP repainted the cars renumbered the cars 518 - 523 and assigned them to general service.

Pullman Standard February – April 1946

518 originally C&NW 3438

519 originally C&NW 3440

520 originally C&NW 3445

Pullman Standard October 1947

521 originally C&NW 3458

522 originally C&NW 3472

523 originally C&NW 3474

The second group of used coaches to be purchased by the NP came from the C&NW. The difference in these cars is they were all rebuilt by Pullman Standard in 1958 or 1959 for the C&NW and renumbered with 800 series numbers. All three of the 800 series cars purchased from the C&NW were originally 3400 series cars from Pullman Standard in October 1947. After purchase by the NP in September 1963 the cars were repainted and renumbered NP 524 – 526.

524 ex C&NW 826 rebuilt in October 1958 by Pullman Standard from original C&NW 3465

525 ex C&NW 838 rebuilt in January 1959 by Pullman Standard from original C&NW 3456

526 ex C&NW 844 rebuilt in March 1959 by Pullman Standard from original C&NW 3463

The final group of six lightweight streamlined coaches purchased by the NP came from the Missouri-Kansas-Texas in October 1965. The former M-K-T 1202R J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON was a 72 revenue seat stainless steel coach built as an experiment by Pullman Standard in May, 1945. It was purchased by the M-K-T as a replacement for the original 1202 J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON wrecked in December 1953; the R following the number designated it as a replacement. The other five M-K-T coaches purchased in October 1965 were 64 revenue seat Coaches delivered by Pullman Standard to the M-K-T in July – August 1955 for assignment to the TEXAS SPECIAL. The NP renumbered the cars 527 – 532 and left the stainless steel panels in place both above the windows and below the windows on the car sides. The cars were assigned to general service and were easy to spot due to their stainless steel sides, and rare occasions these cars could be found operating in even the NORTH COAST LIMITED but most often they operated in the MAINSTREETER or 407-408.

527 originally M-K-T 1202R J. PINCKNEY HENDERSON

528 originally M-K-T 1206 McALESTER

529 originally M-K-T 1207 DENTON

530 originally M-K-T 1205 NEW BRAUNFELS


531 originally M-K-T 1203 GARLAND

532 originally M-K-T 1204 PRYOR

TTFN Al

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!


G’day All!

PASSENGER TRAIN NOSTALGIA #47

Here’s something to enjoy regarding the Northern Pacific (NP) from a 1949 advertisement in my personal collection.



See Nature’s greatest show at

YELLOWSTONE

SEETHING GEYSERS and growling mudpots . . .

. . . . . steaming hot springs and lacy waterfalls . . .

. . . . . . . . . . begging bears and aloof antelope . . .

no wonder visitors never tire of talking about their Yellowstone trip on the streamlined North Coast Limited.

Make this your year to tour America’s biggest, strangest national park . . .

. . . . . but make your reservations soon! North Pacific – “the Yellowstone Park line” – will send literature about Yellowstone and other places you want to visit out West.

Write G. W. Rodine, Dept. 339, Northern Pacific Railway, St. Paul 1, Minn.

NORTHERN PACIFIC
YELLOWSTONE PARK LINE


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)][oX)]


ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

PASSENGER RR FALLEN FLAG #23


Here’s another Passenger RR Fallen Flag from Classic American Railroads:

Spokane, Portland & Seattle (SP&S)

Headquarters: Portland, OR

Mileage in 1950: 968

Locomotives in 1963:

Diesel: 93

Rolling stock in 1963:

Freight cars: 3,547
Passenger cars: 48

Principal routes in 1950:

Portland-Spokane, WA
Portland-Seaside, WA
Portland-Eugene, OR (subsidiary Oregon Electric Railway)
Wishram, WA-Bend, OR subsidiary Oregon Trunk Railway)

Passenger trains of note:

Columbia River Express [Portland-Spokane)
Empire Builder (Portland-Chicago)
Oriental Limited (Portland-Chicago)
Western Star (Portland-Chicago)
North Coast Limited (Portland-Chicago)
Mainstreeter (Portland-Chicago)

Of note: SP&S handled GN’s Empire Builder, Oriental Limited and Western Star between Portland and Spokane; SP&S handled NP’s North Coast Limited and Mainstreeter between Portland and Pasco, WA


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

[passengerfan]

Good Morning I see SP&S the Northwests Railroad is featured today. So without further ado here is my contribution.

SPOKANE
PORTLAND
&
SEATTLE
Streamlined Sleeping Cars
by Al

The SP&S owned a total of seven lightweight stream-lined sleeping cars. Two operated between Spokane and Portland only and when first delivered in February 1950 were painted Great Northern Empire Builder colors and lettered for that train. The cars never operated east of Spokane. They ran with the EMPIRE BUILDER connections between Spokane and Portland. These two Sleeper Buffet lounge cars were named for the two mountains closest to the SP&S mainline tracks along the North Bank of the Columbia River. The one in Oregon was 600 MOUNT HOOD the other was on the Washington side 601 MOUNT ST. HELENS. Both mountains were located in the Cascade Mountain range.

6 ROOMETTE 3 DOUBLE BEDROOM BUFFET 25 SEAT LOUNGE CARS Pullman Standard February 1950 Plan: 4163 Lot: 6829 (Built for and assigned to Portland - Spokane Section of EMPIRE BUILDER - WESTERN STAR later Portland - Pasco Section of NORTH COAST LIMITED as well)

600 MOUNT HOOD

601 MOUNT ST. HELENS

Later these cars were repainted in the SP&S colors of Pullman Green with yellow stripes and lettering. Both cars became BN property after the merger and continued operating between Spokane - Pasco- Portland.
The following two SP&S owned sleeping cars were built for through car service in the NORTH COAST LIMITED of the Northern Pacific between Portland and Chicago. One car was delivered in 1948 in the first postwar paint scheme of the Northern Pacific and later received the Raymond Loewy Paint scheme of two-tone Green with white separation stripe and lettering. The second SP&S owned sleeping car for the NORTH COAST LIMITED was a Vista-Dome Sleeping car delivered by Budd in 1954.

6 ROOMETTE 8 DUPLEX ROOMETTE 3 DOUBLE BEDROOM 1 COMPARTMENT Pullman Standard July - September 1948 Plan: 4119 Lot: 6781 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

PORTLAND numbered 366 in March 1954 name deleted at that time

24 SEAT VISTA DOME 4 ROOMETTE 4 DOUBLE BEDROOM 4 DUPLEX SINGLE ROOM SLEEPING CAR Budd Company September - November 1954 Plan: 9535 Lot: 9669-141 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

306

The other three lightweight streamlined sleeping cars owned by the SP&S wore the Great Northern colors for service in the EMPIRE BUILDER and later WESTERN STAR as well. All three cars were delivered in 1950 by Pullman Standard and were the through cars between Portland and Chicago.

4 SECTION 8 DUPLEX ROOMETTE 4 DOUBLE BEDROOM SLEEPING CAR January 1950 Plan: 4107 Lot: 6828 (Built for and assigned to WESTERN STAR)

700 INDIAN PASS

6 ROOMETTE 5 DOUBLE BEDROOM 2 COMPARTMENT SLEEPING CAR Pullman Standard October - November 1950 Plan: 4180 Lot: 6877 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

701 WAPINITIA PASS

4 SECTION 1 COMPARTMENT 7 DUPLEX ROOMETTE 3 DOUBLE BEDROOM SLEEPING CAR Pullman Standard Plan: 4181 Lot: 6889 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

702 SNAKE RIVER

TTFN Al

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Something on the SP&S . . .

QUOTE: The Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway (AAR reporting mark SPS) was a United States-based railroad incorporated in 1905. It was a joint venture by the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway to build a railroad along the north bank of the Columbia River.

In 1910 it purchased the Oregon Electric Railway.

In 1970, it merged with the Great Northern Railway, the Northern Pacific Railway, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad to form the Burlington Northern Railroad.

from Wikipedia.com

Later! [tup]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[artpeterson]

Hi Tom -

Thanks for the mention of OE in the SP&S reports. I had commented on the OE section sleepers last week in the context of their later use on PGE. PGE picked up quite a few of the OE cars, cutting a few of the coaches down to open-air sightseeing cars, etc. OE also had those two wonderful wood open platform observations, one of which was destroyed on the OE, the other being among the cars that went to the PGE.

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Thanx for the continuing support , Al . . . . [tup]

Here's something for you, Art . . . . [tup]

QUOTE: Oregon Electric Railway was an interurban railroad line that linked Portland, Oregon to Eugene, Oregon. Service from Portland to Salem, Oregon began in 1907. Jim Hill's Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway purchased the system in 1910, and extended service to Eugene in 1912. Regular passenger service along the Willamette Valley ended in June 30, 1933, though freight operations continued and the railway survived into the 1990s (ultimately as a Burlington Northern feeder). (Operation as an electric railroad ended July 10, 1945.)

BN operated the last freight train on this mainline on December 31, 1994, in preparation for the construction of Westside MAX, part of the TriMet light rail system.

Remnants

Long stretches of track from Tigard to Salem are now owned by the Portland and Western Railroad.
The former station in Eugene has been reused and is now the Oregon Electric Station (OES) restaurant.
The Albany station is now a pizza parlor.
The Corvallis station is now a restaurant.
The Multnomah depot is now John's Market, a grocery and liquor store.
The two buildings of the North Bank Depot in Portland were the northern terminal for the OER. They were preserved and converted into condominumums in the 1990s.

from Wikipedia.com

Later!

Tom[4:-)][oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day!

This may be my last for the SP&S - not much out there to draw from . . . .

Spokane, Portland & Seattle (SP&S) Railway at Snoqualmie, Washington
(GNU Free Documentation)


Later! [tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]

[trolleyboy]

Gday' guys. Great info on the Northwest flying around the last couple o days now [tup] Always good to see. Lars 'l love the dome shots Tom, once he's back into the flow as they say.Al good to see that all 20 fingers are still a flying [:D][tup] good infop as always from the streamlinermeister[:P]Art thanks for the update on the SEPTA. I had heard that they had gone to the newer chopper motors during the refurbishment. I remember reading a post from another forum member that lives in Philly that they have had some parking issues with people still thinking that they can park whereever the wish along the route.Should sort out eventually, they diid have better than 10 years with out the cars on those lines. I'm still looking fo some info on those OE cars, I know I have it just have to find out ( re remember where ) some of my books are still in storage boxes from our last move ( new bookshelves not built yet )


Rob

[trolleyboy]

Hey Tom too bad that the photo didn't capture one of the famous SP&S Alco's pulling the train. The SP&S was a die hard Alco company [tup]
Here's acouple shots from the 1993 SEPTA charter, Heather and the gang from the musuem took just prior to the discontinuance of the line ( since partially reopenned )





Rob

[trolleyboy]

Here's the other two best shots of that Charter as well.these will be some of the 18 cars that were recently refurbished and put back into service.

Rob

[passengerfan]

SPOKANE
PORTLAND
&
SEATTLE
Streamlined Coaches
by Al

The SP&S was jointly owned by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific and provided these roads with direct access to Portland from the east. The SP&S was always known as the Northwest’s own Railway and referred to as the North Bank Road. This was due to there operating along the north bank of the Columbia River between Vancouver, Washington and Pasco. Rival Union Pacific operated along the south bank of the same river.
The first streamlined coaches to operate over the SP&S were Great Northern streamlined coaches 938-949 of 1937. One of these coaches was a through Chicago-Seattle car in each Great Northern EMPIRE BUILDER the other was a through Chicago – Portland 58 revenue seat Coach and it operated between Spokane and Portland over the SP&S. These were the only prewar streamlined coaches operated by the SP&S.
When the Great Northern completely streamlined the EMPIRE BUILDER beginning February 27, 1947 they continued the practice of splitting west bound trains at Spokane with a Coach and Sleeping car destined for Portland traveling over the SP&S. The 1947 Coaches were 48 revenue seat leg rest Coaches.
One year later in 1948 the SP&S began forwarding streamlined cars for the NP from their Chicago - Seattle streamliner the NORTH COAST LIMITED between Pasco and Portland. The SP&S actually owned one 56-revenue seat leg rest streamlined coach for operation in the NORTH COAST LIMITED number 300. The car was painted in the NORTH COAST LIMITED color scheme and carried the name NORTH COAST LIMITED in the center of the letter board, with small lettering near the ends of the letter board stating SP&S owned this car.

56-REVENUE SEAT LEG REST COACH Pullman Standard October 1946 – July 1947 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

300

The SP&S placed orders with Pullman Standard for their own streamlined cars in 1948 but they did not arrive until 1950.
The first cars to arrive were five 64-revenue seat Coaches 301-305 delivered by Pullman Standard in January 1950 painted in Pullman green and yellow the SP&S colors. The new cars were assigned to all trains between Portland and Spokane.
The SP&S received two 6-Roomette 3-Double Bedroom Buffet 25-seat Lounge cars 600-MOUNT HOOD and 601-MOUNT ST. HELENS were delivered to the SP&S painted in EMPIRE BUILDER Omaha Orange and Pullman Green with dulux gold separation stripes and lettering. These two cars arrived on the SP&S in February 1950 and operated between Spokane and Portland connecting with the EMPIRE BUILDER in the former city.
A single 48-revenue seat leg-rest coach 350 was delivered to the SP&S in February 1950 painted in GN colors as well.
Two more new cars arrived in June 1950 both painted in GN colors Baggage 12-Crew Dormitory Car 75 and a 32-seat dining 16-seat Parlor car number 405.
In what must be one of the shortest periods of new car ownership the SP&S 64-revenue seat Coach 301 received from Pullman Standard in January 1950? This car was sold to parent GN in October of the same year and remodeled by the GN into a 48-revenue seat Leg Rest Coach renumbered 1135 after repainting GN colors. This car was for assignment to the new GN WESTERN STAR the second streamlined train operated by the GN between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest with SP&S again forwarding cars to and from Spokane to Portland.

64-REVENUE SEAT COACHES Pullman Standard January 1950 (Built for and assigned to general service)

301 – 305

48-REVENUE SEAT LEG-REST COACH Pullman Standard February 1950 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER connection)

350

In July 1952 the GN purchased SP&S 350 and renumbered the car 1232 then assigned the car to the EMPIRE BUILDER.
In July 1954 the ownership of SP&S 300 was transferred to the NP and the car was renumbered NP 597.
In that same month the SP&S received a new Budd built Vista Dome 46 revenue seat leg rest Coach with 24 non-revenue seats in the dome numbered 559 for operation between Portland and Chicago in the NORTH COAST LIMITED. This car was delivered painted in the new Raymond Loewy paint scheme of two-tone green with white separation stripe.
The final new car delivered to the SP&S was another 46-revenue seat Dome Coach painted and lettered for service in the GN EMPIRE BUILDER. This car was referred to as a Great Dome on the GN and was numbered 1332 when it arrived from Budd in May 1955.

24-SEAT VISTA DOME 46-REVENUE SEAT LEG REST COACH Budd Company July – August 1954 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

559

24-SEAT GREAT DOME 46-REVENUE SEAT LEG REST COACH Budd Company May 1955 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

1332

The SP&S purchased two used streamlined 56-revenue seat coaches and one streamlined 26-revenue seat Coach 25-seat Lounge buffet car from the MKT in August 1967; this latter car was rebuilt to a 60-revenue seat Coach before entering SP&S service. These cars were built originally for the MKT for service in the TEXAS SPECIAL.

56-REVENUE SEAT COACHES

307 originally MKT 1200 EDWARD BURLESON

308 originally MKT 1201 DAVID G. BURNETT

60-REVENUE SEAT COACH

309 originally MKT 1301 TEMPLE

TTFN Al

[siberianmo]

G'day!


Surprise, surprise - found something!

SP&S - 4-6-6-4 #911 Challenger
(courtesy: www.yesteryeardepot.com - foto: Paul L. Eilenberger)


Later! [tup]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

One more post for the SP&S.

SPOKANE
PORTLAND
&
SEATTLE
Streamlined Head End Cars
by Al

The SP&S owned a total of three streamlined head end cars two of these were purchased new and the third was purchased used.
The first streamlined head end car purchased was the Baggage 12 Crew Dormitory car 75 from Pullman Standard in January 1950. This car when delivered to the SP&S was painted in EMPIRE BUILDER colors and operated between Portland and Spokane as the Portland connection with the GN EMPIRE BUILDER. The crews were based out of Portland and since the eastbound and westbound sections of the EMPIRE BUILDER departed Spokane in the late night and early morning hours it was necessary to provide dormitory space for the round trip. Eastbound they served Dinner and westbound they served Breakfast. Even though the crew Dormitory space was for twelve the train never carried more than nine crew members until after July 1953 when the Dining Parlor car 405 was rebuilt to a 48 seat Dining car, thus the increase in crew Dormitory requirements for the larger capacity Dining car crew.

BAGGAGE 12 CREW DORMITORY CARS Pullman Standard June 1950 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER Portland connection)

75

In January 1961 the SP&S received a Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Car from St. Louis car Company painted in the roads own colors. This car 31 was assigned to operate in the EMPIRE BUILDER – NORTH COAST LIMITED connecting service to and from Portland. The connections with the EMPIRE BUILDER took place at Spokane and the connections with the NORTH COAST LIMITED took place at Pasco.

BAGGAGE 30’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE CAR St. Louis Car Company January 1961 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER – NORTH COAST LIMITED connecting trains)

31

A used head end car arrived on the SP&S in April 1966 the former M-K-T owned TEXAS SPECIAL Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office Car 1000 ANSON B. JONES. After repainting the car was numbered SP&S 32 and assigned to the Portland – Spokane STREAMLINER making connections with the GN WESTERN STAR and NP MAINSTREETER.

TTFN Al

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Another surprise!

SP&S - 2-8-2 #366 Mikado
(courtesy: www.yesteryeardepot.com - foto: Fred C. Stoes)



Later! [tup]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[trolleyboy]

Hey Tom a couple nice steam shots to wind out the day. who says photo's of the SP&S were hard to find eh [?] And Al a veritable "book" of info sir [;)] gotta like it. makes my humble additions to this thread pale by comparasin.Still good to see a healthy exchange of info over here as well. [tup]

Rob

[siberianmo]

Good Morning!

And finally to cap of the Northern Pacific RR here's the finale!

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

PASSENGER RR FALLEN FLAG #24

Here’s another Fallen Flag for the gang from Classic American Railroads:

Northern Pacific (NP)


Headquarters: St. Paul, MN

Mileage in 1950: 6,682

Locomotives in 1963:

Diesels: 662

Rolling stock in 1950:

Freight cars: 34,200
Passenger cars: 359

Principal routes in 1950:

Minneapolis/St. Paul-Fargo, ND-Butte, MT-Tacoma, WA
Logan-Helena-Garrison, MT
Portland, OR-Sumas, WA
Minneapolis/St. Paul-Duluth, MN
Staples, MN-Ashland, WI
Little Falls-International Falls, MN
Manitoba Junction-Crookston, MN-Winnipeg, MB
Wadena, MN-Leeds, ND

Passenger trains of note:

Alaskan (Minneapolis/St. Paul-Portland via Helena)
Mainstreeter (Chicago-Helena-Seattle & Portland)
North Coast Limited (Chicago-Butte-Seattle & Portland)

Of note: CB&Q handled passenger trains between Chicago and St. Paul. SP&S handled trains between Pasco and Portland.


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

[passengerfan]

Here's my NP contribution this AM

NORTHERN
PACIFIC
Streamlined Head End Cars
by Al

The name train of the Northern Pacific Railway was the NORTH COAST LIMITED and it would be September of 1948 before this train would become fully streamlined with six sets of equipment between Chicago and Seattle – Portland. Each consist of the NORTH COAST LIMITED operated with a pair of Head End cars a Water Baggage and a 30’ Railway Post Office 22 Crew Dormitory Car.
The Water – Baggage Cars were unique to the Northern Pacific as they carried 3,000 gallons of water in tanks at the forward end to supply additional water for the steam generators located in the diesel units. This was especially useful in the bad water district of the western Dakotas and eastern Montana where steam locomotives operated with very large capacity water tanks and even then good water was brought by tank car to the water towers located in this area of the railroad. These six cars NP 400 – 405 were delivered in 1946 – 1947 by Pullman Standard. Since additional water other than that carried by the CB&Q E units in charge of the NORTH COAST LIMITED between there and Chicago the tanks were generally empty for this part of the trip. The 30’ Railway Post Office 22 Crew Dormitory Cars 425 – 430 were delivered over the same time period and operated directly behind the Water Baggage Cars in the NORTH COAST LIMITED consists.

3,000 GALLON WATER BAGGAGE CARS Pullman Standard October 1946 – July 1947 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

400 – 405

30’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE 22 CREW DORMITORY CARS Pullman Standard October 1946 – July 1947 (Built for and assigned to NORTH COAST LIMITED)

425 – 430

In April – May 1956 Pullman Standard delivered ten lightweight streamlined Baggage Cars to the NP numbers 200 – 209. An additional ten arrived from Pullman Standard numbered 210 – 219 in August – September 1957. In June – July 1958 Pullman Standard delivered ten more numbers 220 – 229.

BAGGAGE CARS Pullman Standard April – May 1956 (Built for and assigned to General Service

200 – 209

BAGGAGE CARS Pullman Standard August – September 1956 (Built for and assigned to General Service)

210 – 219

BAGGAGE CARS Pullman Standard June – July 1958 (Built for and assigned to General service)

220 – 229

During the Seattle Worlds Fair in 1962 the NP suffered two accidents with NORTH COAST LIMITED trains in each incident damage was severe to Water Baggage cars and the NP was forced to stop for additional water along the way with these two consists. The NP placed tank cars of water at certain station stops to refill the small water tanks the diesels were equipped with until the two NORTH COAST LIMITED Water Baggage cars were returned to service. Beginning in October, 1962 the NP rebuilt two standard streamlined Baggage Cars 208 and 209 into Water Baggage Cars by adding three thousand gallon water tanks at one end and equipping the cars with the transfer lines to the diesel units ahead. After conversion to Water Baggage Cars the cars were numbered 406 and 407 respectively.
In December 1963 Pullman Standard delivered ten additional Baggage Cars to the Northern Pacific numbers 230 – 239.
One final lot of ten streamlined Baggage Cars came from St. Louis Car in November – December 1965 numbers 250 – 259. All of these cars like the previous Baggage Cars were assigned to General service.

BAGGAGE CARS Pullman Standard December 1963 (Built for and assigned to General Service)

230 – 239

BAGGAGE CARS St. Louis Car Company November – December 1965 (Built for and assigned to General Service)

250 – 259

In October and November 1965 the NP shops converted two additional Baggage Cars 210 and 218 into Water Baggage Cars 408 and 409.
A year later in September 1966 Baggage Car 211 was rebuilt to Water Baggage car 410 and in March 1967 one final baggage car 222 was rebuilt to a water Baggage Car and numbered 222. By this time the NP NORTH COAST LIMITED and MAINSTREETER were both equipped with Water Baggage Cars between St. Paul and Seattle and in the case of the NORTH COAST LIMITED the cars actually operated Seattle - Chicago.

TTFN Al

[siberianmo]

ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

PASSENGER RR FALLEN FLAG #25

Here’s another Fallen Flag for the gang from Classic American Railroads:

Great Northern(GN)


Headquarters: St. Paul, MN

Mileage:

1950: 8,220

Locomotives in 1963:

Diesel: 642

Rolling stock in 1963:

Freight cars: 39,055
Passenger cars: 579

Principal routes in 1950:

St. Paul, MN-Seattle, WA via Willmar, MN and New Rockford, ND
Minneapolis-Minot, ND via St. Cloud, MN, Fargo and Grand Forks, ND
Superior, WI & Duluth, MN-Grand Forks via Crookston, MN
Minneapolis & St. Paul-Duluth & Superior via Brook Park, MN
Barnesville, MN-Winnipeg, MB via Ada and Crookston, MN
Portland, OR-Vancouver, BC via Seattle, WA (trackage rights on NP Portland-Seattle)
Willmar-Sioux Falls, SD & Sioux City, IA
Havre-Great Falls-Helena-Butte, MT
Shelby-Great Falls-Billings, MT
Bend, OR-Bieber, CA via Klamath Falls, OR

Passenger trains of note:

Badger (St. Paul-Minneapolis-Superior-Duluth)
Cascadian (Seattle-Spokane, WA)
Dakotan (St. Paul-Minneapolis-Williston, ND)
Empire Builder (Chicago-Seattle & Portland, operated jointly with CB&Q and SP&S)
Gopher (St. Paul-Minneapolis-Superior-Duluth)
International (Seattle-Vancouver, BC)
Oriental Limited (Chicago-Seattle & Portland, operated jointly with CB&Q and SP&S)
Red River (St. Paul-Minneapolis-Grand Forks, ND)
Western Star (Chicago-Seattle & Portland, operated jointly with CB&Q and SP&S)
Winnipeg Limited (St. Paul-Minneapolis-Winnipeg


Enjoy! [tup]

Tom [4:-)] [oX)]


ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!

[artpeterson]

And in the context of traction, there was GN's ownership of the SC&P (AKA "Inland Empire"), which like OE had open-platform observation cars, though no sleeper service. Amusing to see a wood-bodied RPO-baggage interurban motor lettered for "Great Northen."

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Check these out for the SC&P under GN ownership . . . .


Spokane, Coeur d'Alene & Palouse Locomotives 706 & 702 at Spokane Shops
(courtesy: Museum of the Rockies - foto: Ron Nixon)


Enjoy! [tup]


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[artpeterson]

Thanks Tom! Some great photos - my compliments especially on that earlier one of the SP&S articulated - a gorgeous shot! The SC&P locos you posted look a lot like the ex-CLS&SB units (predecessor to the South Shore Line). I know that some of them went to the SC&P, while the GTW-St. Clair Tunnel operation also got at least one ex-CLS&SB unit.

Must photos being imported to the forums come off the internet, or can I import them from my c: drive? Reason I ask is that this restriction is what was stated on one of the other forums a few weeks back. Would like to be able to share a few with you guys, since you've all been so generous in illustrating past topics.

[siberianmo]

Hi Art

Glad you like the way we do "business" here! [swg]

Regarding Pix . . . here's what I know:

Kalmbach does not provide a storage for Pix or capability for them to be imported from your c: drive. Therefore you would need one of the many free sites out there to provide that capability. PhotoBucket (www.photobucket.com) comes to mind as one of the more user friendly sites where your Pix can reside.

The way it works is to upload your photo from your c: drive (My pictures, etc.) to the album you create on PhotoBucket. Once that is done, then you may download it directly to this and any other Forum.

In order for the Pix to be displayed, you must copy the URL provided for that Pix on PhotoBucket. Right click on your PhotoBucket Pix - go to "properties" and find the URL. Then copy it (CTRL C). Next go to the "Message block" here on the Thread - and paste your URL. (CTRL V).

Finally, in order for the Pix to show up, you must use brackets [ ] around the lower case letters img at the beginning of the URL and [] with /img at the end. (I can't show you directly here, because the program is designed to read those brackets and img as a Pix and not narrative.)

Any further questions - drop me an Email . . .

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Thought for sure that 20 Fingers would've picked up on the GN by now . . .

Check this out . . . .

GN #1331 (courtesy: www.trainweb.com)


Later! [tup]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Oh what the heck . . . . check this one out!


GN #1320 in Shelby, MT (1967)(courtesy: www.trainweb.com)


Enjoy! [tup]


Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

If you haven't got message yet I am trying to work on my new book and this distracrtion keeps popping up. Oh well!

Great
Northern
(GN)
Streamlined Dome Cars
by Al

The Great Northern was the last of the northern transcontinental railways to add domes to their premier train between Chicago and Seattle-Portland. The first of the northwest roads to add domes to their premier train was the Milwaukee Road who added Super Domes to the OLYMPIAN HIAWATHA beginning in December 1952. The next of the northwest trains to add domes was the NP NORTH COAST LIMITED with a pair of dome coaches added to each consist in August 1954 and a pair of dome sleeping cars added in November 1954 between Chicago and Pasco. The UP would have three Domes operating in each CITY OF PORTLAND train set by May 1955. One each of Astra-Dome Coach, Astra-Dome Dining Car and Astra-Dome Lounge Observation in each train set between Chicago and Portland. Even the CP CANADIAN was operating domes a month before the GN received the first of their domes in May 1955.
The GN EMPIRE BUILDER would be the first and only train in the US prior to Auto-Train to operate both short domes and a full-length dome in the same consist. When the GN went with domes they spared no expense beginning in May 1955 when three short dome leg rest coaches were added to each of the EMPIRE BUILDERS five consists. Two of the Great Dome coaches were through Chicago – Seattle cars while the third was a Chicago – Portland car operating between Spokane and Portland over the SP&S who would own one of the Great Dome coaches built for the EMPIRE BUILDER by Budd. The CB&Q who operated the EMPIRE BUILDER between Chicago and St. Paul owned three of these Budd built Great domes.
These Coach Domes built for the EMPIRE BUILDER were flat sided cars from Budd as were those built the year before for the NP NORTH COAST LIMITED. The cars were painted in the Omaha Orange, Pullman Green paint scheme with dulux gold separation stripes and lettering. They were an immediate hit with the traveling public. These were the standard 46 leg-rest seat cars with 24 non-revenue seats in the domes built by Budd for overnight train service.
In October 1955 the EMPIRE BUILDER received its full-length dome lounge cars for the exclusive use of the trains Pullman passengers. The VIEW series cars seated 75 on the dome level (25 seat pairs 7 single seats and 18 lounge seats). Beneath the dome was a 32-seat lounge with a bar open to Pullman passengers only. The VIEW series car was train-lined directly behind the 36-seat Dining car ahead of the trailing sleeping cars. The Great Dome Lounge cars operated between Chicago and Seattle. The GN purchased six VIEW series cars one was owned by the CB&Q for EMPIRE BUILDER service. Each eastbound EMPIRE BUILDER had a replenished 36-seat dining car; G-N Ranch car and VIEW series Great Dome replace the arriving cars from Seattle in St. Paul before continuing the trip to Chicago. The EMPIRE BUILDER Great Dome Lounge, G-N Ranch Car and Diner operated a round trip from St. Paul – Chicago – Seattle – St. Paul before being changed out. Additional bar supplies were available enroute but commissary stores for the diner and Ranch car were rarely added anywhere but Seattle.
In the late 1960’s when traffic slowed on the EMPIRE BUILDER the GN assigned one Great Dome coach to each WESTERN STAR consist between St. Paul and Seattle. Since the cars of the WESTERN STAR operated overnight between Chicago and St. Paul combined with the CB&Q BLACKHAWK and NP MAINSTREETER it was not necessary to operate the domes over this part of the trip. The GN WESTERN STAR, NP MAINSTREETER, and CB&Q BLACKHAWK operated combined eastbound and westbound overnight between St. Paul and Chicago.

24-SEAT GREAT DOME 46-SEAT LEG-REST COACHES Budd Company May 1955 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

GN

1320-1331

SP&S

1332

CB&Q

1333-1335

VIEW SERIES 75 SEAT FULL DOME LOUNGE CARS WITH BAR AND 32 SEAT LOUNGE BENEATH DOME Budd October 1955 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

GN

1390 GLACIER VIEW

1391 OCEAN VIEW

1392 MOUNTAIN VIEW

1393 LAKE VIEW

1394 PRAIRIE VIEW

CB&Q

1395 RIVER VIEW

All GN domes were transferred to BN ownership in the 1970 merger.

TTFN Al

[siberianmo]

G'day!

Another Pix for the GN . . . .

GN Dome Coach (courtesy: www.trainweb.com)


Later! [tup]

Tom[4:-)] [oX)]

[passengerfan]

I like GN so will add one more post.

GREAT
NORTHERN
Streamlined Head End Cars
by Al

Northern most of the transcontinental railways in the United States the Great Northern route brought with it large amounts of Mail, Express, and Storage Mail shipments.
Following WW II the GN inaugurated the first all new transcontinental streamliner the EMPIRE BUILDER between Chicago and Seattle – Portland on February 23, 1947. Each twelve car consist carried a single head end car and this car was a 30’ Railway Post Office Baggage Car operating between Chicago – Seattle. These cars as was the entire train painted in the new Omaha Orange, Pullman Green, with Dulux Gold separation stripes and lettering EMPIRE BUILDER centered in the letter board. The five cars were numbered GN 1100 – 1103 and CB&Q 1104. Since this was the first car in each EMPIRE BUILDER consist the RPO end was not equipped with an end door or diaphragm and the paint was carried across the end.

30’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE BAGGAGE CARS Pullman Standard January 1947 (Built for and assigned to EMPIRE BUILDER)

GN

1100 – 1103

CB&Q

1104

The GN shops rebuilt four heavyweight Baggage Express cars into semi-streamlined Baggage – Express cars in 1947 in Company Shops. These four cars 262-265 were except for the six wheel trucks fully streamlined. These cars were initially assigned to the BADGER – GOPHER and WINNIPEG LIMITED becoming the first streamlined cars in those trains and also the first cars operating in those trains painted in the new GN colors.
In 1948 the GN shops built seven-streamlined Baggage – Express cars in two lots 266-269 delivered in December 1947 – January 1948 and 270 – 272 delivered in December 1948. The 271 was assigned to one of the inaugural BADGER – GOPHER train sets. The GN shops also built a single 30’ Railway Post Office Car number 1108 assigned as a spare to the EMPIRE BUILDER in December 1948.

BAGGAGE EXPRESS STORAGE MAIL CARS GN Shops December 1947 – January 1948 (Built for and assigned to GENERAL SERVICE initially)

266 – 269

BAGGAGE EXPRESS STORAGE MAIL CARS GN Shops December 1948 (Built for and assigned to GENERAL SERVICE initially)

270 –272

The Great Northern received three 30’ Railway Post Office Baggage Cars 1105 - 1107 from American Car & Foundry in January 1950. These three were part of three five-car streamliners built for daytime service. Two of the cars 1105 and 1106 along with the rest of the cars built for the two five car streamlined INTERNATIONALS entered three time daily round trip service between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C. The new trains were an instant success entering service on June 18, 1950. The third 30’ Railway Post Office Baggage Car 1107 entered service in a new five-car streamliner the Red RIVER between Grand Forks and St. Paul daily round trip. This new schedule was inaugurated June 25, 1950.

30’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE BAGGAGE CARS American Car & Foundry May 1950 (Built for and assigned to INTERNASTIONALS and RED RIVER)

1105 – 1107

In October 1950 the GN received six 60’ Railway Post Office Storage Mail Cars from American Car & Foundry 37 - 42 all painted and lettered for the EMPIRE BUILDER. These cars were not for assignment to the EMPIRE BUILDER that was already in service but were the first cars delivered for the new MID-CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER to be inaugurated June 3, 1951. The new EMPIRE BUILDERS would be fifteen car streamliners with initially two head end cars the 60’ Railway Post office Storage Mail car mentioned above and a Baggage 22 Crew Dormitory Car. The six Baggage 22 Crew Dormitory Cars 1200 – 1205 were delivered by American Car & Foundry in May 1951 just in time for the MID CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER inaugural.

60’ RAILWAY POST OFFICE STORAGE MAIL CARS American Car & Foundry October 1950 (Built for and assigned to the MID-CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER)

37 – 42

BAGGAGE 22 CREW DORMITORY CARS American Car & Foundry May, 1951 (Built for and assigned to the MID – CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER)

1200 – 1205

The GN shops built four Baggage Express Storage Mail Cars in September – October 1950 numbered 273 – 276. These cars were assigned to General Service at that time.

BAGGAGE EXPRESS STORAGE MAIL CARS GN Shops September – October 1950 (Built for and assigned to GENERAL SERVICE initially)

273 – 276

In June 1953 the ownership of CB&Q 1104 was transferred to the GN. This car along with 1100 – 1103 and 1108 had been operating in the WESTERN STAR since the MID CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER had entered service June 3, 1951. This cars ownership was transferred, as the 30’ Railway Post Office Car in the WESTERN STAR no longer operated east of St. Paul over the CB&Q except in the summer and Christmas season. In September of 1953 the GN transferred ownership of 60’ Railway Post Office Storage Mail Car 41 and Baggage 22 Crew Dormitory 1202 to CB&Q ownership as we; as other MID – CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER cars.
In 1955 the GN changed the name-boards to read EMPIRE BUILDER in Baggage Express Storage Mail Cars 262-276. The reason for the change was that the EMPIRE BUILDER began operating west of St. Paul with a Storage Mail Car to Spokane. The cars originated in Chicago and traveled to St. Paul in the Milwaukee Road PIONEER LIMITED. Since the GN did not want foreign cars breaking up the GN colors of the EMPIRE BUILDER the GN supplied all of the cars for the service.
In September 1964 the GN acquired two 60’ Railway Post Office storage Mail cars used from the C&NW numbered 8225 and 8226. These cars were repainted for service in the EMPIRE BUILDER and renumbered 43 and 44.
In March 1965 the GN purchased three Baggage Cars used from the Chicago Great Western Railway the only three lightweight streamlined cars ever purchased new by the CGW. The three cars CGW 80 – 82 were repainted and renumbered GN 277 – 279 for assignment to the EMPIRE BUILDER as Storage Mail cars between St. Paul and Spokane.
In January 1967 the GN shops rebuilt WESTERN STAR 30’ Railway Post Office Car Baggage Car 1102 into a 60’ Railway Post Office Storage Mail car for assignment to the EMPIRE BUILDER renumbering the car 45.
Finally in December 1967 the GN shops remodeled WESTERN STAR 30’ Railway Post Office Car 1101 into Storage – Mail Car and reassigned the car to the EMPIRE BUILDER with the new number 280.
The Great Northern streamlined several heavyweight 30’ Railway Post office Baggage Cars in there own shops but the exact dates these particular cars were streamlined is unknown. The following cars are known to have been streamlined 87, 94-97.
TTFN Al

[trolleyboy]

Nice shots Tom, loved that interurban locomotive. I'll convert you yet [;)]I see good ole 20 fingers has come out of hiding with a couploe great GN posts as well Good stuff[tup]Can't wait to see his new book thouhg once it's done.

Art most of the guys used ti use railimages for picture posting, however theyn are in the process of cahnaging over their system again so a photobucket account will likely be speedier and less grey hair causing at the moment. I have the shots I've been posting with both and don't generally have a preference one to the other,both will get the job done for you and both are free.

A couple more nice old wooden interurban shots for you these ones are MS&C


MS&C freight motor # 305

MS&C sweeper

enjoy Rob