I just purchased Randall Cape’s book on the mail/express “Ghost Trains of SP’s Overland Route.” I also
picked up a copy of public April 25, 1954 timetable. While during much
of its existence the Mail 21/22 had both a rider and passenger coach, the
subject timetable described the service “Via S.P.” In contrast,
Passenger 26, which I assume primarily carried mail and express, and left Oakland at the same time as #22 but then
apparently fell behind #22, had a 10-1-2 sleeper from San Francsico to
Reno and a coach to Sparks. Its return as #25 was almost 3 hours
behind #21, and had coach service only between Reno and Sacramento.
(The 10-1-2 returned to San Fancisco with the Gold Coast, #23.)
Since Passenger 25/26 seemed to operate only in darkness, I wouldn’t
expect any photographic documentation…But does anyone have more
information about this mysterious train?