The Micro Trains heavyweight observation car represents an SP Business car. How do I know this. As a passenger train buff I consulted several sources after noticing business car numbering and nameing on the model. My huge book "Southern Pacific Sleepers and Dorm Cars" published by the SPH&TS shows first that named cars lounges included that were aquired by the road and lettered "SOUTHERN PACIFIC' on letterboards had only car names on their sides,no numbers. Later heavyweight sleepers would lose names and get numbers only. There was a wood sleeper named "Shasta".Business cars had SP followed by a number over the car name. The book "Historic Southern Pacific Cars" edited by Robert J. Wayner has a photograph of "SP 106 Guadalajara",which ran on the Southern Pacific of Mexico and was sold to the Mexicain Government in 1951 when that road was Nationalized.This car was a heavyweight business car painted SP Dark Olive Green.The Southern Pacific had a history of moving business car's around,renaming them for areas where they were used also changing numbers." SP 106 SHASTA"was a business car for along time on the road. It was painted in the green scheme first, probably was repainted two tone gray and I'am not sure later was painted silver with a scarlett (red) letterboard. This is what I know about this car which does not resemble the model as it would have to have a kitchen at the forward end and other changes,but the model makes a good stand in,just as the UP painted car does for UP business cars. Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.
