I feel stupid asking this, but which side goes forward, and which side goes towards the rear?
I’m having a problem finding a prototype photo online.
One side has a diaphragm, and the other a sealed off steel door.
I’m thinking the diaphragm side would go towards the engines as they wanted to keep the postal mail seperate from any potential theft by passengers in baggage & coach cars.
Not knowing whether you are talking about a full RPO or an RPO baggage combine, the diaphram could go against a mail storage car. Either way the doors on the RPO could be locked against passage.
When I orient a RPO car I look for the hook for snagging mail bags. If it were swung out to snag a bag, the open end would be towards the front. This is assuming that the car has a hook and it is mounted correctly.
There are different types of RPO cars Usually the ones that have a solid steel end (such as the one at the Colorado Railroad Museum) have a “U” shape mail sorting section there. I had always thought that was the front of the car.
Oh I just had a “duh” moment. Thanks Omaha. Your answer is logical.
In this case I was working with Walthers new full RPO car (not the combine). Therefore the diaphragm does connect to the next car in line. (Either a baggage or coach car)
-Thanks all
-Great resource as always
-D
Several points come to mind. The post office wanted only postal employees to have access to a working RPO.
Some cars were combines, ie RPO/baggage or RPO/express. The railroad portion, whether baggage or express, would have a vestibule so that the baggageman or express messenger could access the rest of the train (often including more headend cars). Between the railroad portion and the RPO section would be a nearly solid wall with a small crawl hatch at floor level. A potential mail robber would be quite vulnerable entering the RPO in this manner. Security of the mail was an important issue in those far off days. Anyway, the RPO section would normally be at the leading end.
In real life the mail hook could be reversed for times when the car was running backwards. More often though, passenger trains would be turned on a wye or loop, or at least the specialized cars turned. In the model world, if the hook is fixed, keep it pointing forward. Any headend cars between the RPO and the locomotive will be sealed storage cars (or deadheading).
John
The mail hook could be removed and reversed to work in either direction.
If a baggage car was carrying mail needing to be sorted enroute, it would be coupled immediately adjacent to the RPO.
Typically, there would be a combination of sealed and unsealed baggage cars carrying mail and express. Cars that wouldn’t be “worked” during the trip would be sealed/locked. Those that weren’t were used to pick up and drop off loads while enroute. Those would be manned. I believe it would be unlikely to have more than two working baggage cars (carrying express) on a train. They would likely be coupled together so the “on the ground” logistics could be performed efficiently.
Express box and reefer cars were typically at the front end.
Passenger cars serving passengers (coaches, diners, sleepers, tavern/lounge cars, etc.) were typically at the train’s end. If there were any “deadhead” (empty) passenger cars, they would be located most anywhere except between working or occupied cars.
Mark
did i tell you guys about the fireman who missed the orders at Mattoon but got the mail sack instead? damn near jerked him out of the engine. dislocated shoulder and all.
grizlump
rotates his shoulder in a circle just reading that and cringes painfully
Thanks Griz for the visual.
OWWW!!!
Did the mail hook pick up the flimsy?
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with RPOs without mail hooks)