In the 1940s and early 1950s, SP ran the Merchant’s Overnight Express (the “Zipper”) from Los Angeles to San Fransisco (and vice versa), Trains 373 and 374, usually with a Daylight GS-4, nominally 20 - 40 black Overnight Boxcars, and a “rider coach” on the end. I’ve seen two pictures of the train with the coach but I can’t determine what type of passenger car it is or the color. Does anyone have more information? I am trying to model, in HO, a prototypical train and I had assumed the end was a caboose. Also, were all the Zippers carrying a “rider coach”?
Thanks,
Mark C.
To quote from Anthony W. Thompson’s Southern Pacific Freight Cars, volume 2: cabooses;
“One final caboose usage may be mentioned: the occasional assignment of a steel coach on the Coast Line’s “Overnight” freight train. The reason was that this train’s high-speed operation necessitated steel whells, as opposed to cast-iron ones, on all cars in the train. SP’s steel cabooses all had steel wheels, but the wooden cars had cast-iron ones, few of which had been replaced with steel by the mid-1950’s. Therefore, whenever steel cabooses or one of the 950-series coaches (60-foot Harriman coaches converted to cabooses) were unavailable, another from the plentiful supply of 60-ft. coaches would be used on the “Overnight,” particularlly for trains departing fron San Francisco, with its extensive commute fleet. Several photos exist of such a practice, and it is also documented by interviews with former employees.”
So, what you were seeing were NOT night rider coaches but 60-ft. Harriman coaches, whether converted to caboose service (renumbered, lettered “SP CABOOSE”) or not, functioning as cabooses (no paying passengers). These coaches were green.
If you’re an SP fan, I highly recommend Thompson’s series of books on SP freight cars. Three volumes have been published so far.
Mark Pierce,
Thanks! Just what I needed!
I used the term “Rider Coach” because that is the term used by R. J. Church in “4-8-4’s Daylight - The Complete Story of Southern Pacific’s GS Class 4400 Series Locomotives”. The book’s acknowledgements indicate extensive input from SP’s senior mechanical staff and others who would be in a position to know what SP did at the time. The pictures I referred to are on pages 96 and 113. Both trains have a GS-4 on lead, 13 Overnight boxcars, and a coach on the rear. I’ll have to find a “proper” coach!
Mark C.
You’re welcome. I’m still hoping to hear from someone to provide any info on 60’-Harriman crew cars converted from an All Day Lunch car such as SP 2802.