I understand that in the late 1950’s (think 1957). N&W sold all of their observation passenger cars to Saudi Arabia. Is this true? Is that the correct year? I have a Division Point N&W Observation car to go with the Diner, baggage and RPO cars. I have an N&W class J to pull them. I am modeling October, 1957 in the mountains of West Virginia. My goal is to be as prototypical as possible. So, I want to know about running the Observation car with the rest of the consist is prototypical for that time.[%-)]
Craig, The N&W sold both P-4 class tavern-lounge-observation cars to Saudi Arabia. I believe it was in 1957. They used them as goat houses or something else just as demeaning & disgusting. These cars were streamlined lightweight cars built in 1948 by Pullman-Standard for the “new” Powhatan Arrow. To my knowledge they were the only “observation” cars used by the N&W at least in the post-war era. The Division Point observation car you have is actually a class XO business car. As such it was not a normal passenger train fixture as most people would think of an observation car. They had several of these similar but different cars they converted from standard heavyweight cars. The rebuilt cars had new steel sides with the larger windows common to lightweight cars but retained their 5 wheel trucks. They had #100, 101, 102 & 200 and they were assigned and used by railroad officials as needed. The DP BEj baggage, M-1 RPO and De class diner are accurate N&W cars too. The baggage & RPO would be appropriate for any N&W train operating through West Virginia during the 1957 period you want to model. The diner is a De class heavyweight used by the N&W for many years. With the 1949 order for the Powhatan Arrow cars there were 4 class D-1 streamlined diners. Two of these cars were for the new PA train sets and the other two were for the Pocahontas trains. They replaced the De diners used on the Pokey. The De’s were removed from active service as there were no other N&W trains using diners by that time. The Southern trains running on the N&W used Southern heavyweight or streamlined diners. Roger Huber
So, where did this observation car come from?
Kevin
It’s hard to tell exactly what car is in your photo. During the NS Steam Program the “Mardi Gras” (SP?) was often used on the excursions. I believe it was an ex-Illinois Central car. It has 6 wheel trucks which weren’t used on the P-4 cars. Roger Huber
Thanks, Roger. I am interested in running a passenger train both east and west on my N&W layout set in October, 1957 (possibly 1958). I am trying to stay as true to prototype equipment as possible.[:D] I have the Division Point RPO, 2 BEJ’s, a diner, and the observation car. Still looking for the last car that is under construction. I have a Key N&W Class J as motive power.[swg]
The standard diner equipment of the Pelican was a heavy-weight N&W diner that ran Roanoke-Birmingham until in the sixties when it was first cut back to Roanoke-Knoxville and then to Roanoke to Bristol on the Pelican, and Bristol to Roanoke on the Tennessean (no diner service in t
The one in my pic had four-wheel trucks. The open-end observation (with 6-wheel trucks) was on the other end of the train behind the tenders.
Kevin
Yes, “Maerdi Gras” was an IC car; it regularly ran on the City of New Orleans.