I realize that this practice would have been discouraged, but did the SF ever have express reefers or boxcars in their streamlined trains? I was especially curious about the Super or El Cap. I have done a lot of research on both trains but have never found a photo with any of these cars on the head end, but I guess that would not indicate that it never occured.
Those car’s were hauled on (slower) name train’s such as Grand Canyon Ltd… Scout, etc. These train’s usually had 'heanyweight car’s. Can’t speak for the shorter run 's such as ‘Kasas Cityan’.
The name ‘Chief’s’ generally only pulled ‘mail cars’ , baggage, and occasionally Heavyweight Baggage, but that’s all. AMTRAK is the exception.
I was just wondering if anyone has ever seen one on the Super or El Cap. I realize this would have been frowned upon on their premier transcons. I do appreciate that info because I think my next train is going to be either the Grand Canyon or the MoPac’s Texas Eagle. I am basically just looking for an excuse to run an express reefer.[:p][:D]
Brother railroader, one of the main rules of model railroading is “HAVE FUN”!.. Don’t worry about whether or not it’s prototypical (unless you’re like me), and enjoy yourself.
I’ve got what I thought was a really cool looking Santa Fe streamliner, but found out later that it never actually existed. It consists of an E-8 A & B set made by Life Like and a set of seven basic cars made by ConCor. At first, I was kind of put out about it. Then one day as I sat watching this really cool looking little train going around my layout, I thought to myself - so what if it’s not the real thing, I like it and that’s all that really matters.I’ve also had friends of mine stop by and visit and tell me they really like it too, so it’s not just me…
Tracklayer [^] (You know, the thing is I actually look like this little green guy. Sad…)
The Santa Fe had the Fast Mail whuch ran from Barstow to Chicago w/ section from LA to Barstow and Oakland to Barstow via Raton Pass and the Grand Canyon (also W/ Oakland and LA sections) which ran via Clovis and Amarillo to handle head end buisness. The Super Chief, Chief, and Scout had regularly assigned head end cars (a RPO & a baggage car on the Super Chief and Chief and just a baggage on the Scout) and the Scout regullarly and the Chief frequently had heavywieghts on the head end, but the bulk of the express traffic went on the Mail and Grand Canyon.
That said, Tracklayer has a point.
Short answer is yes. Check out the Green Frog DVD “Santa Fe Odyssey Volume 1”. It has pictures of various express cars on The Grand Canyon, Texas Chief, and Chicagoan.
This is the Santa Fe we are talking about. I doubt very seriously if it ever occured. The worst thing I’ve seen is the El Capitan with a pullman green smooth side baggage car.
A RAILWAY EXPRESS car would be right at home on the Grand Canyon Ltd. or Fast Mail, which were 'heavyweight consist’s… I have one on mine.
As I stated in another thread, I am going t be running a shorty division superintendant’s car on the tail end of MY Super Chief/El Cap, so why not an express reefer?