I am on a quest to model an RPO car like what my grandfather worked in, in N-scale. Thing is, I’m having a hard time coming up with definite information on what sorts of RPO cars were run on the Seaboard Air Line’s trains. He rode on the Silver Star and Silver Meteor both, I think, from about 1950 to 1963, which seems to me might mean that the RPO’s were silver fluted cars. This makes me think I can reletter a stock fluted RPO like a Kato Santa Fe model and be close enough… but then, I’m not sure! They might have had heavyweight cars still in service. They might not have rostered their own, instead borrowing RPO’s from connecting roads. I’m hoping someone can help me out!
In addition, assuming I will need to reletter, anybody know where I can get SEABOARD passenger decals?
I have the Morning Sun color picture book “Seaboard Airline Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment” by Paul Faulk (I am not a SAL fan in particular but Walthers had a slightly damaged copy on their sale shelf some years ago for dirt cheap, maybe $10, and I snapped it up). Obviously it is not easy to describe a photo to you but I’ll try. Maybe you can track down a copy of the book?
SAL MB 106 was class MB8 (mail baggage), built 1924 (ACF) and modernized with a rounded turtleback rather than clerestory roof. It was a 70 foot “standard” passenger car with a 30’ mail compartment (two windows) at one end, and two 5’6" baggage doors at the other end, to the left of center. Painted a light gray to match the lightweight cars, and what looks like a darker grey roof. Shiny and clean in 1967 just before the merger with the Atlantic Coast Line. 6 wheel standard passenger car trucks.
SAL MB 89 was also class MB8. It was a rebuilt 1915 car, 70’ long, 30’ mail compartment (3 windows) and a single 4’ baggage door. Also a turtleback roof but painted dark green w/black roof, standard trucks, and shown in 1968.
MB 113, class MB8 was built in 1925 and modernized like the others. it is in the light gray. It has a mere 15’ RPO section, one window, with two 5’6" baggage doors, one right in the center the other off to one side. The photo is dated 1973. The car may have been in MOW service by then. It might be possible to approximate this car with a couple of Model Power heavyweight combines and some kitbashing skills.
The book shows just one pure RPO car, SAL MA 150, class AP4. No baggage or express section, built in 1925 and kept its “as built” appearance for its entire service life (photo is 1961), including the standard clerestory roof. A 60’ car with two 2’10" doors at either end, four windows at one end. Both
Thanks - this is great info! I may have to keep my eye out for that book, but at least knowing the car numbers and classes gives me more to Google-hunt with. I still need to locate a decal source, as it appears that Micro-Scale does not make Seaboard passenger lettering. If I can get my hands on some good source photos, I’m game to do some kitbashing to get the right door and window configuration.
You may want to consider the link below which belongs to the Atlantic Coast Line/Seaboard Airline Historical Society. They sell several items including rolling stock. They may have the book you need or possibly the decals. I’m not sure but you may have to join their organization to receive access to their items.
I have spoke with them several times when I ordered rolling stock from them and are nice people. They may have photos that they could either fax or scan for you.
I was going to model the SAL in Alabama at one time and had several pieces of rolling stock and locos that I unloaded on EBAY that were never used. I do have the same book as noted above that I am not using.
We published a nice black & white roster photo of a Seaboard Air Line heavyweight RPO in the August 2007 Model Railroader, page 55. It shows car no. 153, built in 1925 by the Pressed Steel Car Co., as it appeared in service in 1949.
Thanks for the heads-up on the August 2007 article; good info. However, I’ve spoken with my Pops and found out that the Silver Star / Meteor did not have RPO’s in their regular consist, but rather his car was just tacked on at the end of the run in Florida. He worked in a 15-ft. apartment, in an older mismatched heavyweight car in olive drab. The photo mentioned is of a 60-ft. full RPO car, not what I need to model.
I found out that he shot some video that even shows the last of the RPO’s, shot in color in the 60’s, and he’s gonna get that copied to a DVD for me someday soon. Meanwhile, I’ll keep looking for a good side-on shot of the 15-ft. RPO, and hunt some more for decals.