Consist of the Last RPO Run?

Hello,

Does anybody know the consist (numbers please) of the last Railroad Post Office train, which was operated by Amtrak between New York and Washington on June 30, 1977. According to a Trains Magazine article about the train, (which I do not remember the date of) one of the cars, a former PRR RPO, was repainted from its deteriorated PRR tuscan to Penn Central green for the occasion, despite the fact that it was owned by Amtrak. I believe that the car may still be in Amtrak MofW material service, but I need the number to confirm.

Thanks,
Tom Cornillie


rrhistorian@hotmail.com

I found the reference to the Trains article via the Model Train Magazine Index, on trains.com :

"No, Virginia, you canÂ’t mail your cards in an RPO this Christmas"
by: Don Phillips
Trains, December 1977 page 16

This article does list the consist of the last RPO run. While my library has this volume of Trains, it is missing this particular issue.

The image below is linked from the Penn Central Homepage. The photographer, Dave Hall, has in the caption that it is 17039. After rechecking the photograph, it appears that it may be 17035. The photograph is from summer 2000, along the Amtrak Shore Line on the Providence/Pawtucket, RI, border. The PC paint appears to be in good condition (along with the rest of the car), which suggests that it may have been in the last group of cars in service.

> Consist of the Last RPO Run?

> Hello,

> Does anybody know the consist (numbers
> please) of the last Railroad Post Office
> train, which was operated by Amtrak between
> New York and Washington on June 30, 1977.
> According to a Trains Magazine article about
> the train, (which I do not remember the date
> of) one of the cars, a former PRR RPO, was
> repainted from its deteriorated PRR tuscan
> to Penn Central green for the occasion,
> despite the fact that it was owned by
> Amtrak. I believe that the car may still be
> in Amtrak MofW material service, but I need
> the number to confirm.

> Thanks,
> Tom Cornillie


Model Train Magazine Index

rrhistorian@hotmail.com

> I found the reference to the Trains article
> via the Model Train Magazine Index, on
> trains.com :

> "No, Virginia, you canÂ’t mail your
> cards in an RPO this Christmas"
> by: Don Phillips
> Trains, December 1977 page 16

> This article does list the consist of the
> last RPO run. While my library has this
> volume of Trains, it is missing this
> particular issue.

From that article, the consist of Train 3 (NYC to DC) was GG1 4935, mail storage cars PC 7554 and 7625, RPOs 6536 and 6546, and Amtrack snack bar/coach 3949. Train 4 (DC to NYC) was GG1 901, PC baggage cars 7520 and 9046, PC RPOs 6599 and 6598, and snack/coach 3925.

JAC