Interesting pair of negatives up for bid on eBay show a car on the rear of a passenger train and in a yard move. Outside braced, inclined window set (stadium seating?) toward the rear, "beefed up" pilot type skirting for forward running? Is it a form of "open air" car or a funeral car, inspection car or...



sorry that the images will not be available forever (except to the purchaser of the negatives) and no, I am not the seller, nor do I have any financial interest in the auction.

sc 'doc' lewis

Actually, it looks like two different cars, and both photos were probably taken at the same location (the lower one a few seconds before the top one, as the train passed - the crossing appears in the extreme left edge of the photo). And without baggage and mail handling cars, it's not likely to be a scheduled train.

That's a PRR 4-4-2, right? A rural crossing is being protected by a flagman . . .

What are the chances we're seeing a time trial or speed run of some sort? Perhaps the 7002's "record-setting" runs?

JAC

I agree on the two different cars. In the top picture the car appears to have some sort of appliance jutting from the roof while that is not visible in the lower picture...................................................Wooly

Looks like an old fashioned kerosene head light on the roof center line. Or perhaps a red, end of train light? Looks like there are classification lights on the roof corners in the top photo as well. Maybe easily removed so the engine's headlight can shine over the top of the car. Sort of neat looking car. I vote for an inspection car.

Ed

Looks like the present administration's "vision" for intercity rail passenger service in this country. When it closes down for lack of funding, the wooden cars can be burned to cook all of that Texas bar-b-que.

Don C.

I also agree with two different cars, in fact, in the upper photo you can see both, with one car being ahead of the engine. They look like inspection cars of some sort. Whatever the event was, it looks like the train was set up to easily run back and forth, with an inspection car at each end.

If only the loco # was clearer we could tell if it was the 7002. Looks like it.

-Eric