RPO riders?

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Les Beckman wrote:

One of the members at our museum has digitized his old train photos and has put out the originals in a box so that anyone that is interested, can take them. I was going through them this past Saturday and I found a photo of a blue painted car with the lettering UNITED STATES MAIL and under that RAILWAY POST OFFICE. What was interesting is that in the six side windows shown, there are people shown in four. It looks like the car had been fitted with seats, at least in this window section of the car. Unfortunately, the photo only shows this center section, neither end, so no other lettering or numbers and nothing in the letterboard. There is a slim yellow (gold?) stripe at the top and bottom of the car, and the roof is in silver (peeling) paint. My thought is that this is a Lousiville & Nashville RPO, but I guess it could be Wabash, or some other railroad that painted their cars blue. I asked the guy who took the photo of the car and he didn't remember where it was taken as he had visited a lot of rail museums through the years. So:

Does anyone know of this museum that put seats in an RPO for passengers, and if so, what is the original railroad and car number?

Les

I got a note today from the guy who took this original RPO photo and he told me that he thought it might have been on a fantrip behind NKP 2-8-2 #587. Working from that angle, I found this on the internet:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1988969

The RPO behind the Mike sure looks like it could be the car! If so, I guess I am a bit surprised that no one from ITM might have mentioned it as a possibility. I assume that this is a car in their collection, but it might have been leased. Anyone out there that could provide some info on it?

Les

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:14 pm

Les,

I had forgotten about that car. It's an ex PRR RPO that the group in Noblesville owned/owns.

They painted it in L&N colors to match their heavyweight L&N diner Cross Keys Tavenrn.

I haven't seen the car in a number of years, and wonder if it is still painted blue, and if so, if they ever plan to put it back in PRR colors.

David

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

wilkinsd wrote:

Les,

I had forgotten about that car. It's an ex PRR RPO that the group in Noblesville owned/owns.

They painted it in L&N colors to match their heavyweight L&N diner Cross Keys Tavenrn.

I haven't seen the car in a number of years, and wonder if it is still painted blue, and if so, if they ever plan to put it back in PRR colors.

David

David -

Got a note from a friend at ITM and he tells me that the car has been painted back into tuscan red paint and relettered for the Pennsy. PRR car number is 6565. He also confirmed that the cars center section HAS been fitted with coach seats but that the balance of the car is outfitted as a crew/tool car for use when NKP 587 is operating.

Les

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2012 1:14 pm

Here are a couple of photos of the car in question, now in PRR paint:

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=858330

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Prototype%20Train%20Photos/8-16-071.jpg

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

David -

Thanks for the photos. Note that this side of the car shows only 4 windows, whereas the photo that started this thread definitely showed six. I wonder if the OTHER side of the car has six, or did ITM plate over two of the windows? I've asked my contact at ITM, but haven't heard as yet.

Got to admit that the car looks pretty good! The boys at ITM did a nice job.

Les

fred · **Joined:** Sun Aug 05, 2007 4:14 pm **Posts:** 7

The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad has a RPO car in service for passengers has been changed but you can tell is a RPO. Small bathroom added and is a nice ride...........Fred

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Les Beckman wrote:

David -

Thanks for the photos. Note that this side of the car shows only 4 windows, whereas the photo that started this thread definitely showed six. I wonder if the OTHER side of the car has six, or did ITM plate over two of the windows? I've asked my contact at ITM, but haven't heard as yet.

Les

The guy at ITM confirms that PRR #6565 has 6 windows on one side and 4 on the other.

Les

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

fred wrote:

The Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad has a RPO car in service for passengers has been changed but you can tell is a RPO. Small bathroom added and is a nice ride...........Fred

Fred -

Thanks for that information. So, at least two RPO's have so been converted. Now, does anyone have a photo of the D&GV car?

Les