Southern Pacific Lines
Coast Line Division
“The Route of the Octopus”
Southern Pacific Lines
Coast Line Division
“The Route of the Octopus”
General Information
Baggage Car Plans
Prototype Modeler Mar/Apr 1984 - SP 70ft Baggage kitbash
Model Railroader February 1950 - Plans, SP 60ft Baggage Car, steel
Railroad Model Craftsman September 1954 - Plans, SP Baggage Turtleback 40ft.
Model Railroader October 2001, pg. 90 - Plans, SP Baggage Cars
Modeling Baggage Cars
Ken Kidder Baggage Car Kit
The Kidder models also have a few discrepancies from the SP prototype baggage cars, and were originally sold with no underbody equipment at all. But most of the appearance is all right for SP, and underbody detail is readily added. They are certainly not great models, but aside from the too-low roof arch, they are really pretty decent overall.
Tony Thompson
It needs end stirrups and baggage door stirrups. Use Kit Bits corner stirrups and Cal Scale baggage door steps. Kit Bits is Bethlehem Car Works - google Kit Bits and it will take you to hundreds of specialty passenger car parts. Cal Scale is of course, widely available. The Kit Bit parts to check out are #86 and #87.
Paul Chandler
Model Die Casting
For 60-foot baggage cars in HO scale, a kind of approximation to these cars, were the old Model Die Casting baggage cars. It is not terribly accurate in several details, and suffers from the defect of the entire MDC arch-roof passenger car series: rivets the scale size of grapefruits. To improve one of these cars, you can sand off the roof rivets. But these can be reworked sufficiently to serve, amongst better baggage cars.
Tony Thompson
Southern Car & Foundry
If you've assembled a resin freight car kit or a detailed plastic freight car kit, you shouldn't have any problems. The resulting model is very nice. There was some fiddly work on the underframe for all the battery boxes and break gear, but overall it wasn't bad. The castings were very clean and square, and there were no flaws in the main body.
The instructions are adequate if your an experienced resin kit build. If this is your first resin kit, the instructions assume a lot. You’ll spend a lot of time filing the doors and door openings to get the doors to fit properly. Find the end double stirrup steps and the baggage door stirrups ready made too, rather than making them as the instructions say.
Paul Chandler
Robert has a video somewhere (Youtube?) explaining how to put the etched brass steps together, probably the hardest part of building the kits.
Details
Underbody
The prototype underbody is typified by a battery box on one side only, with one of the brake system reservoirs visible on the other side (and an electrical generator, if one had been fitted).
Tony Thompson
Trucks
Bethlehem Car Works
You want 8'0" wheelbase, Commonwealth four wheel trucks. Bethlehem Car Works makes some. I think the model used on the prototype was 41-R. Here is a similar Pullman design truck:
Central Valley
The old Central Valley trucks had a 9'0" wheelbase.
Walther's
Walther's trucks are inexpensive and accurate. The bolster (on the car) needs serious modifications to accommodate these trucks, but a few scraps of evergreen tubing will do the trick. You have to drill out the bolster and cement in two concentric tubes to give the truck something to swivel on.
Tim O'
SP Baggage Cars it never had
SP never had any baggage cars ever numbered 3500-3509
Modeling SP Baggage Cars It Never Had
Walthers
#932-10509, AC&F 70' Heavyweight Baggage Car, : SP 3500-3509
SP never had any baggage cars ever numbered 3500-3509
Reference
For building information RMJ had an article in July 2004 p21 which can be found on www.trainlife.com It is for a UP car but does provide some clues on how to build the underframe. Also UP Modeler Vol 3 (out of print) has an article on Harriman Cars which includes some images of SP cars and an accompanying model building article but again for a UP car.
The RMJ article talks about using PSC parts for the end steps but they seem to be out of stock everywhere.
Denis
Specific Baggage Cars
40-B Harriman Cars
40-B class Baggage Cars
40-B 40’ Postal cars
40’ RPO cars SP 4239, SP 4341 original numbers, went SP de Mexico, regained SP numbers in early ‘40’s, scrapped 1950.
H&TC 250, SP 6008 rebuilt to baggage-mail car, 1921, to T&NO 250, 1931, then renumbered SP 6008 1943 to baggage express, class 40-B retired 1955 to MW 2132 1957
H&TC 251 SP 6009 rebuilt baggage-mail 1924, to T&NO 251 1931, ex-T&NO 251, renumbered SP 6009, 1943 to baggage-express, class 40-B, retired 1955 to caboose SP 475, 1957, now at CSRM
Reference
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 73-77
60-B Harriman Cars
60-B class Baggage Cars
These head end equipment were used on the Coast Mail. The Lark did not use these.
Tony Thompson
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
B-60 trucks
SP diagrams all show 8-ft wheel-base for the 4-wheel trucks used on HW cars. Also, the Pullman 4-wheel truck, No. 104 had an 8-ft. wheel-base.
Jeff Cauthen
Identification
In regards to heavyweight baggage cars, roof ventilators help to indicate a different class car. Example: 60-B-1 steel baggage was built with globe ventilators. As to car class, vents are a clue, but so are doors, windows, and trucks. If you know car number, you'll know the class. Roof vents did get changed and/or removed over the years.
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 59
For more details, see Night Trains of the Coast Route and Day Trains of the Coast Route by Ryan and Shine.
Tony Thompson
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 217, 257-258
Plans, SP 60ft Baggage Car, steel Model Railroader February 1950
Modeling B-60 trucks
Athearn
HO Truck, Commonwealth (2pair) You might want to look at this truck not bad for 8 bucks.
[ATH90393]
Bob Liberman
Central Valley Trucks
CV trucks are good if you can find them. Central Valley Trucks HO, The T-25 has the rivets embossed on the side frames and the T-31 is the same truck with smooth frames. Watch out for trucks where the foam has deteriorated and adhered to the wheels or frames - sometimes can be hard to remove.
Pete Hall
IHC
International Hobby Corp. made a 9', four wheeled Commonwealth Passenger Truck. They were metal and sprung with nickel silver wheels. They rolled quite well. They had what appeared to me full brake rigging. Don't think they are still made.
Jim Elliot
Walthers
The Walthers REA reefer trucks might work also.
Bob Liberman
60-B-1~8 Harriman Cars
#6015-16, 6167-69, 6314, 6316, 6318-20, 6322, 6324, 6325, 6328, 6330, 6343
6321
#6601-6700 Baggage-economy steel, assigned to Daylight in 1968, 23 called Star Baggage's or TBM, *see MR 9/93
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 209, 221-223, 236
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222
Modeling 60-B-1
MDC (Model Die Casting) Harriman Baggage Car
You can make a passable 60-B-1 baggage car from an MDC Harriman baggage car kit. The baggage car is the correct length. The coaches are about 7 feet too short. Windows on the coaches are also too low, and make the car look wrong. First, the trucks that come with the kit are too small. The trucks need to be moved out so they're 52' apart -- about 3' out on each end. They also need to be replaced with the 8' wheelbase trucks. The underframe's also too plain. Fabricate a new underframe from sheet plastic, detailed it, and body mounted the couplers. The roof is pretty good as-is. Switch the air vents from the round ones to the squarish utility vents (Precision Scale part 33186), and filled the holes for the old vents.
Robert Bowdidge
Southern Car & Foundry (#1003)
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-1
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
60-B-2 Harriman Cars
6170-73, 6175-77, 6181-83, 6184, 6185-87, 6189, 6191
6320-6325, 6326, 6327, 6329, 6331, 6333-41, 6343-45, 6347, 6349-6354
296-299
The Business-service economy baggage cars coming from The Coach Yard mentions SP 296-299 as being of *Pullman-Standard* construction. These cars were originally PC&F cars rebuilt & repainted from the 66-B-2 class of economy baggage cars with the freight car roof profile.
This type of head-end car was used on the Coast Mail train in the 40’s and 50’s.
Details
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
The B end of the car (identified by an external handbrake lever, but always by the end toward which the brake cylinder “points”). That is the end of the car which, on both sides, carries the legend “BAGGAGE,” while the other end, on both sides, says “RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY.”
Tony Thompson
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 103, 230-233
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222
Modeling 60-B-2
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-2. Be careful when adding weight in the center of the model floor. The floor has no real center sill and is thus a fairly thin casting and can bow in the center.
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
Thin Film (set HO-160)
By far the best HO decal set for the (“SP Heavyweight and Harriman Dulux Gold Lettering.” The film truly is thin, and the gold color excellent over a Dark Olive Green color. http://thinfilmdecals.com
60-B-3 Harriman Cars
#6017, 6018, 6192, 6193, 6195, 6349-52, 6354
12 built in 1910.
These cars were delivered with steel baggage doors, but most cars in later years had paneled wood doors, as in the photos above. The original configuration of vents and other equipment on the roof varied according to how and when the car had been shopped, though most of these cars did retain their Globe vents, as above. The prototype underbody is typified by a battery box on one side only (right), with one of the brake system reservoirs visible on the other side (and an electrical generator, if one had been fitted).
Tony Thompson
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
The words “BAGGAGE” were on both sides.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 234-238
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222
Modeling 60-B-3
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-3
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Tony Thompson Kitbash (#6018)
On the "B" end corner you can see some interesting looking brake chains and linkage.
http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/10/modeling-sp-passenger-cars-head-end-cars.html
Lettering & Numbering
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
Thin Film
Letter with “Harriman” decals set HO-160.
60-B-4 Harriman Cars
#6019-22, 6196-201
#6400-05, 6407-15
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Paint
#6400 was painted two-tone gray.
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 234, 240-245
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222
Modeling 60-B-4
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-4
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
60-B-5 Baggage Head-End Cars
#6203-6208, 6419, 6422-6430
#6210, 6211, 6416, 6421
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Upgraded Messenger Facilities
#6205 Baggage Car had the "circle star" over the car number indicating it was equipped with upgraded messenger facilities. The upgrade was enclosed toilet (hopper) and sink with desk, wardrobe closet, and water cooler.
Jeff Cauthen
Paint
#6034, 6205 & 6207 all were painted two-tone gray.
#6204 was painted Daylight for service on San Joaquin Daylight.
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
“Circle Star”
#6205, 6249 had the “circle star” over the car number indicating it was equipped with upgraded messenger facilities.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 189, 246-251
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222
Modeling 60-B-5 Baggage-Postal Head-End Cars
Precision Scale
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-5
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
Decals
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
60-B-6 Harriman Cars
6023, 6215-18, 6220
6355, 6357
6431-6434, 6435-6438
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 224, 251-254
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222
Modeling 60-B-6
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-6
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
60-B-7 Harriman Cars
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 261-262
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222, 263
Modeling 60-B-7
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-7
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
Decals
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
60-B-8 Harriman Cars
#6025-29, 6031-34, 6223
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Paint
#6029 was painted Daylight for service on San Joaquin Daylight.
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 169, 264, 266-268
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 222, 265
Modeling 60-B-8
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 60ft baggage 60-B-8
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
Decals
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
60-B-9 Harriman Cars (Heavyweight)
SP #6035-6044, 6227-6231
It was built in 1921 for the Central Pacific.
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 269-273
There's a Picture of 60-B-9 on page 106 of "Night Trains of the coast" -- no batt box visible, at least one tank and page 146.
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 270
Modeling 60-B-9 Baggage Car
Kidder Harriman 60 ft. baggage
An old Kidder 60 ft. Harriman baggage car, which has similar overall body dimensions but a different door pattern--instead of one 7 ft door and one 4 ft. 10 in. door on each side like the MDC car it has two 7 ft. doors on each side. Recognizing that many details, such as the roof vents, will likely need modification.
Roundhouse / Model Die Casting (Athearn)
Terry Metcalfe's Vol. 3 Union Pacific Modeler says that the (nominal) prototype for the Roundhouse/MDC 60 ft. Harriman baggage car is SP's 60-B-9 and 60-B-10 classes.
Kitbash the MDC kit. Read Western Prototype Modeler Mar/Apr 1976
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
Decals
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
60-B-10 Hw Baggage Car
SP #6045-6054, 6232-6241
The 60-B-10's had one big and one small door on each side.
Wheel diameter
The correct wheel diameter is 36".
Gene Deimling
Lettering & Numbering
The size (height) of the Dulux Gold post-1946 "Southern Pacific" lettering on 60-B class baggage cars was 5" high.
1917 scheme
Researching in Vol 1 SPPC book what the lettering on SP 60-B-10 baggage car #6235 it looks like it would have been delivered with "Southern Pacific Lines" in the letterboard and had CP over 6235 with lines above and below.
1931 scheme
In Sept 1931 it would have been relettered SP #6235 (CP identity dropped) with the initials and number in a straight line.
In 1931, periods were dropped in reporting marks and subsidiary lettering was dropped also.
Tony Thompson
1946 scheme
"Lines" was dropped in June, 1946. That change (like other changes) would have awaited repainting opportunities. Head-end equipment was well down the queue when it came to keeping paint and lettering current.
Tony Thompson
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 88, 92, 94-97, 274-277
PLA, Sunol, Ca.
Modeling 60-B-10 Baggage Car
Kidder Harriman 60 ft. baggage
An old Kidder 60 ft. Harriman baggage car, which has similar overall body dimensions but a different door pattern--instead of one 7 ft door and one 4 ft. 10 in. door on each side like the MDC car it has two 7 ft. doors on each side. Recognizing that many details, such as the roof vents, will likely need modification.
Roundhouse / MDC (Athearn)
A 1976 article in Western Prototype Modeler, and Terry Metcalfe's Vol. 3 Union Pacific Modeler says that the (nominal) prototype for the Roundhouse/MDC 60 ft. Harriman baggage car is SP's 60-B-9 and 60-B-10 classes.
Even though the Roundhouse model isn't perfect it is a fair starting point in making the model. The overall length is correct and the door size and spacing is close (the 60-B-10's had one big and one small door on each side just like the model). The most glaring problem with it from my standpoint isn't the rivets, it is the trucks. The trucks supplied have too small of a wheelbase and are too far from the ends making the car loose the beefy look of the prototype. Putting Central Valley T-25 or comparable bolted pedistal trucks and moving the truck centers closer to the car end really changed the look of the car. Replacing the round roof vents with Detail Associates Harriman style roof vents is an important change too. I'm still looking for a source of steps that match the prototype. I think the Custom Finishing 40 inch steps will work along with their 50" battery box (if any of you have better options please let me know). The model has some serious flaws but can be made so that it looks good enough going around your layout.
Joe Mann
Model Die Casting
SP 6045-6054, 6232-6241
Wheels of Time
Wheels of Time just released the 60-B class in the "Lines" scheme. You can do the post '46 scheme on these models.
Lettering & Numbering
MicroScale
MicroScale set #60-1165. They offer two sizes.
65-B Harriman Cars
65-B class Baggage Cars
SP owned (or at least used) some steel, monitor-roof 60- or 65-ft baggage cars as shown in photographs in Tom Dill's "Southern Pacific's San Joaquin Valley Line", page 39, first car behind 4367, and in John Signor's "Southern Pacific-Santa Fe Tehachapi", page 154, first car behind #4230.
69-B Harriman baggage cars
69-B Harriman baggage cars
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 292-294, 368-376
70-B Harriman baggage cars
70-B Harriman cars baggage cars - streamlined in 1941 for service on the Lark and San Joaquin. Used on #9 and 10 trains.
(SP 6083, 6084, 6085, 6088, 6091, 6092)
The Lark used mostly 70' express baggage cars. They did use 60' RPOs on the train.
For more details, see Night Trains of the Coast Route and Day Trains of the Coast Route by Ryan and Shine.
Tony Thompson
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 369-383
Modeling 70-B Baggage Car
Challenger
SP Harriman Stream-styled Baggage Car SP 6088 Ptd for Lark.
70' ACF baggage car
All SP 70' baggage cars had arch roofs. The only SP clerestory baggage heavyweights were some horse cars. The last order of 70' horse cars with clerestory roofs had three doors. Checking through the SPH&TS "Diagrams of Common Standard Passenger Train Cars" you won’t find any baggage cars with clerestory roofs other than the horse cars. EP&SW had 66' baggage cars with clerestory roofs.
Modeling 70' ACF baggage car
Walthers
932-10509, AC&F 70' Baggage, : SP 3500-3509
SP never had any baggage cars ever numbered 3500-3509
SP ACF 70' heavyweight baggage car as modeled by Walthers. The only SP clearstory baggage heavyweights were some horse cars, not anything like the Walthers 70- footer. EP&SW had 66' baggage cars with clerestory roofs, but they didn't look at all like the Walthers car. Model Railroader reviewed the car and said it was a MoPac prototype and close to B&O.
The SP did not have any copies of the new Walthers ACF Baggage Car. The only ones that are slightly similar (not very) were former EP&SW cars, but they were 66-foot cars.
70-B-1 Baggage Head-End Cars
#6460-6463
70ft baggage Harriman Cars
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 280-282, 285, 363
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 280, 284
Modeling 70-B-1
Southern Car & Foundry (#1002)
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 70ft baggage 70-B-1.
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com
Precision Scale Trucks
If your planning to mount the brass trucks from Precision Scale, you have to build up the car bolsters in order to get the clearance needed for the trucks to navigate 36" radius curves without hitting the center sills. Secondly, in looking at the trucks themselves, there are two holes on the piece that would attach to the car bolster, unlike Walthers HW trucks which have a single (overly large) hole to mount the truck. The truck should be mounted through one of the two holes, even though they are not exactly in the center of the truck.
Jim Eaton
70-B-3 Baggage Head-End Cars
70ft baggage Harriman Cars
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 280, 292
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 280
Modeling 70-B- 3 Baggage Head-End Cars
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 70ft baggage 70-B-3.
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com
70-B~4 Baggage Head-End Cars
SP 108-112
70ft baggage Harriman Cars
Photos show that most of the Harriman cars have a side drip strip above the doors shaped in what would be termed an arc. Others appear to have two straight strips which angle upward to join above the middle of the door.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 295, 296, 304
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 296, 304
Modeling 70-B- 4 Baggage Head-End Cars
Athearn
Photos show that most of the Harriman cars have a side drip strip above the doors shaped in what would be termed an arc. Others appear to have two straight strips which angle upward to join above the middle of the door. You can have the strip cast into the roof or as an add on. If the strip is cast into the roof, it will be in the arc shape.
If you’ve had the experience of putting 0.005-inch strip onto a roof for this purpose, you’ld much prefer a cast-on arc strip. (That was on the kitbashed Athearn 70ft. baggage with windows which can be replaced with the SC&F kit).
Tony Thompson
Southern Car & Foundry
Southern Car & Foundry makes a resin 70ft baggage 70-B-4.
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com
Headend cars like coaches and chair cars went through changes over the years (like initially being gas lit, later electrically lit, etc.). Perhaps early RPO's had upper sash winds, and vestibule end windows. They were a little short on vestibules, air conditioning...then again, air conditioning came after your era anyway. You can learn a great deal about the patterns of car modification and upgrade from Volume 1.
70-B-5 Baggage Head-End Cars
#6474-6484
#6486-6496
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 245, 303-306
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 296, 304
Modeling 70-B- 5 Baggage Head-End Cars
Southern Car & Foundry
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com
70-B-6 Baggage Head-End Cars
#6055
#6061, 6069
#6252, 6307-6309
Paint
#6055 dark green
Lettering & Numbering
#6055 w/ dulux lettering
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 304, 306, 379
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 296, 304
Modeling 70-B- 6 Baggage Head-End Cars
Southern Car & Foundry
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com
70-B-7 Baggage Head-End Cars
#6055-60, 6062-6068, 6070-82
Paint
SP #6080 Class 70-B-7 was painted in simulated stainless steel paint. The entire car was painted SSS, roof, car body, underbody, and trucks.
Jeff Cauthen
Lettering & Numbering
Letterboard was Daylight Red with black edging. SP lettering was Lettering Gray. Car number was black.
Jeff Cauthen
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 304, 307-310
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 296, 304
Modeling 70-B- 7 HW Baggage Head-End Cars
Southern Car & Foundry
70-B-8 Baggage Head-End Cars
#6083-84 assigned to Lark later Cascade in 1957, Starlight.
#6085 streamlined Daylight colors
#6086-6091
#6092 equipped w/ Roller Bearings
Paint
#6083-84 assigned to Lark later Cascade, Starlight, #6083 streamlined 2 tone gray,
#6085 streamlined Daylight colors
Lettering & Numbering
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 304, 311-319
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 296, 304, 313
Modeling 70-B- 8 Baggage Head-End Cars
Southern Car & Foundry
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com
70-B-9 Baggage Head-End Cars
#6444 with windows built by Standard Steel Car Co.
#6449-6453 A/C, no windows, built by Standard Steel Car Co.
#6474-6496 had windows, built by Standard Steel Car Co.
Paint
#6448 painted Daylight for San Joaquin Daylight.
Lettering & Numbering
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 297, 320-323, 326
http://www.utahrails.net/ by Don Strack
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 320
Modeling 70-B- 9 Baggage Head-End Cars
Athearn Kitbash
Prototype Modeler (Vol. 7, No. 6, March-April 1984, pages 39–44).
Obtain one car with correct windows and reasonable looking doors and other details, and a second car which really isn't too accurate but was at least a 70-foot baggage car with an arch roof and equal-size doors. Use the Utility vents typical of SP classes
70-B-9 and -10 for these models.
Tony Thompson
Southern Car & Foundry
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com
70-B-10 Baggage Head-End Cars
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 324
Modeling 70-B- 10 Baggage Head-End Cars
Athearn Kitbash
Prototype Modeler (Vol. 7, No. 6, March-April 1984, pages 39–44).
Obtain one car with correct windows and reasonable looking doors and other details, and a second car which really isn't too accurate but was at least a 70-foot baggage car with an arch roof and equal-size doors. Use the Utility vents typical of SP classes
70-B-9 and -10 for these models.
Tony Thompson
72-B Harriman Baggage Cars
SP never owned a 72' baggage car.
Modeling 72’ Baggage Head-End Cars
Walthers Streamlined Pullman-Standard 72' Baggage Car
This model is not SP correct. It's a GN car. http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-6805
Lightweight Baggage Cars (Economy Baggage)
66-B Economy Baggage Cars
Express Baggage cars Espee purchased in the early 1960s, the bi-level commute coaches used in Peninsula service.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 374, 396-399
66-B-1 Business-Service Economy Baggage Car
SP #6601 - 6700
SP ordered the 6600 series from St. Louis Car in 1960-61
The plan was to minimize construction costs and design them for easy conversion to freight service.
(100 Cars) The 66-B-1 cars are 66 feet 2 1/2 inches over the end sills and 70 feet 1/2 inch coupled.
Many of the "Econo-Baggies" were retired prior to Amtrak. SP then used them as storage buildings, yardmaster's offices, tool & material cars, crane relief cars, etc. At least three were "sold" to NWP to become the carman's shower facilities at South Bay, an office bunk car and "boarding", whatever that meant. A few were sold to the T&NO and then returned to the SP.
Trucks
Passenger cars, Volume 3, states that all of the 6600 series ran on trucks classified as 4-T-1.
#6601-6640
weighed approximately 82,600 pounds each. These cars to plan 6018 were not outfitted for messenger service and were not delivered with battery boxes or electric generators. There were also external differences detailed in the book.
Jim Scott
#6641-6650
were star equipped for messenger service to plan 6017. They weighed approximately 90,400 pounds. The book details the outside configuration and the inside configuration in detail.
Jim Scott
#6651- 6700
weighed approximately 82,600 pounds each. These cars to plan 6018 were not outfitted for messenger service and were not delivered with battery boxes or electric generators. There were also external differences detailed in the book.
Jim Scott
Paint
The 66-B-1s were all delivered in solid gray.
Lettering & Numbering
There are no doubt other SP passenger cars painted into solid gray. No passenger cars had black edging on the lettering after 1958, so set #159 should be ok. Lettering was lettering gray (silver gray) without black edging. Just make sure the letterboard is Scarlet, not Daylight Red.
Decals
Microscale
Microscale makes a set for a General Service decal scheme.
Thinfilm
Thinfilm #159 would be the right decal set for economy baggage cars, used on many trains.
#159 SP Post-1958 all-Gray cars, lettering gray no outline.
Thinfilm #159 is for all gray cars with no black lettering outline. This would work on the Express Baggage cars Espee purchased in the early 1960s.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 448, 450-453, 461
Model Railroader October 1993 - had an article about the SP Economy *Baggage Cars.*
Model Railroader September 1993 - steel, assigned to Daylight in 1968, 23 called Star Baggage's or TBM
Railroad Model Craftsman February 1970 - SP Baggage #6641 - 6650.
http://www.sdrm.org/roster/passenger/bagg6700/index.html
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 447
Railroad Model Craftsman January 1989 - Plans, SP economy baggage car, series 6641-6650, 1950, from StLCC. (article
mentions 6701-6800 and 6641-6650 series but plans are for original car with photo of 6671).
Modeling 66-B-1 Business-service economy baggage cars
Con-Cor 72’ Full Baggage Car Kitbash
You may find the Con-Cor 72' Full Baggage car to be a better "stand in," and if shortened, maybe even an accurate model of the 6601-6700 group.
Rapido
The Rapido streamlined baggage cars aren't all that dissimilar to the Espee cars, length is a bit off, roof vents are not quite right, underbody detail for the non-messenger cars is wrong. The biggest problem is the trucks from Rapido are not even close.
Jeff Pape
Union Terminal Imports
Brass model with more of a radial roof.
Kitbashing SPMW #6649
See: Railroad Model Craftsman January 1989
66-B-2 Business-Service Economy Baggage Cars
#6701 - 6800
#296-299
6700 series from Pacific Car & Foundry in 1962
SP #296-299 Espee Baggage cars being of *Pullman-Standard* construction. These cars were originally PC&F cars rebuilt/repainted from the 66-B-2 class of economy baggage cars with the freight car roof profile.
(100 Cars). They had the same outside dimensions of the 66-B-1 cars with the non-messenger cars (SP 6701-6765) weighing approximately 83,000 pounds (Plan 6019) while the messenger cars (SP 6766 - 6800) weighed about 5,000 pounds more (Plan 6020). This class of cars used riveted flat side steel construction and were built with standard freight car roof profiles. Check the book for additional changes.
Jim Scott
*Until the 1996 UP Merger, they were used quite extensively in MOW Service on the former Flatonia Sub.
#295
SP 295 HEP Generator/Baggage Car used in Espee business car fleet.
#296-299
The Business-service economy baggage cars coming from *Pullman-Standard* construction. These cars were originally PC&F cars rebuilt & repainted from the 66-B-2 class of economy baggage cars with the freight car roof profile.
#6701-6800
steel, *see MR 9/93, painted gray w/silver-gray lettering, 35 had AAR “BEM” classification (onboard baggage master or express messenger marked w/ 5 point star
Paint
The 66-B -2s were all delivered in solid gray.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 451-454, 456-463
The October 1993 Model Railroader had an article about the SP Economy *Baggage Cars.*
Drawings
SP Economy Baggage Cars, #6701 - 6800. Model Railroader September 1993
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 457
Modeling 66-B-2 Business-service Economy Baggage Cars
The Coach Yard
The Espee Baggage cars coming from The Coach Yard mentions SP 296-299 as being of *Pullman-Standard* construction. These economy baggage cars come with the freight car roof profile.
Union Terminal Imports
Brass model with more of a flatter roof.
77-B Economy Baggage Cars
77-B-1
#6601
Lightweight baggage car, ex T&NO #650
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 441-443, 445-446
Drawings
SP - Baggage Car P-S '37: SP 650-651 NMRA Bulletin April 1973
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 443
Modeling 77-B-1 Economy Baggage Cars
The Coach Yard
83-B Economy Baggage Cars
83-B-1
#6600-6602
lightweight baggage-espress, 30’ mail compartment, originally operated on Coast and Starlight (‘til ‘50), 1949 went to Cascade
Paint
2 tone gray
Lettering & Numbering
When it went to the Cascade, it was renumbered.
References
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 464-467, 471-474
Drawing
Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Vol 3: Head End Equipment, pg. 464
Modeling 83-B-1 Economy Baggage Cars
The Coach Yard
Union Station
Use Union Station #7568.