Rock Island Pullman Heavyweight Question

[spookshow]

I'm working on an N scale version of the Rock Island's "Mid-Continent Special" heavyweight passenger train (as operated in Minnesota circa 1932). Based on old passenger timetables, it looks like I'll need a number of Pullman cars for my consist, and what I'm wondering is if these would have been generic Pullman pool cars, or if they would have been named cars in Rock Island livery? If the former, I should be able to use Micro-Trains cars as is. If the latter, I'll have to track down some names and pull out the decals.

Thanks!
-Mark

[Nato]

            They would have been in genaric Pullman livery during that time frame. I suggest getting in touch with the Rock Island Techinical and Historical Society,someone there could provide an even better answer. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.

[spookshow]

Thanks for the info. Re RITS, their website has been shut down for a while.

-Mark

[spookshow]

Here's a dumb question - did the "generic" Pullman pool cars have names? Or were they truly generic?

Thanks,
-Mark

[jmlaboda - RIP]

It is worth noting that in 1932 there were two very significant occurrences take place, one being that the paint scheme included a Pullman green roof AND that few, if any, of the Pullman cars would have had AC.  The AC'ing of cars started around this type and with it the painting of the roof to black and for the most part cars would have been named, whether they were AC'ed or not.

It might be possible to find more info on specific cars that were assigned to this train from the Passenger Car List at Yahoo! groups but it would be a big MIGHT... some Pullman assignment information has been shared but where the info has been coming from remains a bit elusive...

If you have any info on car types that were used I may be able to help some with info on car names or you could use the Pullman Project's Pullman Car Construction Records, which will give you some of the basic information on the cars of varying types.  The Pullman Project is the most comprehensive source for Pullman cars anywhere... the only down side is that there isn't a similar site that deals with car assignments, some of which could change several times a year, based on travel periods and demand.

Tom Madden's Pullman Project

[Frisco Larry]

According to"Night trains", in 1952, the "Mid-Continent Special" carried one 8s-dr-2c (twin cities-KC), one 8s-5dr (twin cities-KC) and one 10s-dr-c (Des Moines-KC).  The specific car names are not given.  It also says that during the train's peak it also carried sleepers to Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago.  Note the 8s-5dr and 10s-dr-c configuration existed in both heavyweight and lightweight versions and CRI&P owned LW 8s-5dr cars.  Thus the 8s-5dr is could be a LW car.  I have two volumes of Robert Wayner's "Train Consists", but neither has a listing for the "Mid-Continent Special".

[spookshow]

All I have at the moment is what can be gleaned from the "through equipment" listings in old timetables. Apart from the sleepers, I'm not really sure which cars are Rock Island cars and which are Pullman cars...

1932 ("Westbound" from MSP)
10-Section Drawing-Room, 2 Compartments
12-Section Drawing-Room
Club Car
Dining Car
Coaches

1932 ("Eastbound" to MSP)
12-Section Drawing-Room
10-Section Drawing-Room, 2 Compartments
14-Section
Cafe Parlor Car
Coaches

1935 ("Westbound" from MSP)
8-Section Lounge-Dining-Sleeping w/AC
14-Section w/AC
Coaches

1935 ("Eastbound" to MSP)
8-Section Lounge-Dining-Sleeping w/AC
10-Section Drawing-Room, 2 Compartments w/AC
14-Section w/AC
Coaches

Cheers,
-Mark

[spookshow]

According to"Night trains", in 1952, the "Mid-Continent Special" carried one 8s-dr-2c (twin cities-KC), one 8s-5dr (twin cities-KC) and one 10s-dr-c (Des Moines-KC).  The specific car names are not given.  It also says that during the train's peak it also carried sleepers to Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago.  Note the 8s-5dr and 10s-dr-c configuration existed in both heavyweight and lightweight versions and CRI&P owned LW 8s-5dr cars.  Thus the 8s-5dr is could be a LW car.  I have two volumes of Robert Wayner's "Train Consists", but neither has a listing for the "Mid-Continent Special".

FYI, I'm looking for information on the heavyweight (pre-1937) era of the mid-continent route.

Cheers,
-Mark

[Bob Bufkin]

As a general rule, coaches and diners were usually railroad owned, the sleepers Pullman owned.  Cafe parlors were usually Pullman back then also.  There are a couple Yahoo groups that specialize in passenger car routes and consists.  Might want to check them out.

[spookshow]

It's amazing how few steam era pictures are available of Rock Island heavyweight passenger cars. If I could time travel back to 1930 with my digital camera I could probably make a fortune today publishing a book with pictures that don't simply capture the locomotive in dramatic 3/4 view (and with the head-end cars and remaining consist tantalizingly fading off into a blur in the background). Tome after tome has been published about the streamlined Rocket trains (and deservedly so), but there sure isn't much love for the old heavyweights 

Cheers,
-Mark