PRR Consist 2625 with former N&W cars and a Southern Railway connection

Sun Dec 16 08:27:37 EST 2018

Continuing with our review of the consists for Monday, December 7, 1964, we first have PRR # 132, the NB Representative, out of Washington DC en route to NY. This train departed Washington two minutes late at 3:02 PM EST.  All cars originated at Washington and all were destined for NY.  The first car was SP 9001, a plan 9522 10-6 sleeper built by Budd in 1950 for assignment to the Sunset Limited.  This car was deadheading to NY and it was not in service.  Most likely, this car will be added to various ACL consists during the forthcoming winter season.

Next we have PRR 1491 (ex N&W Mingo County) a P85M snack bar coach with 72 reclining seats, a six seat lounge area, and a snack bar located directly across the aisle from the lounge seats.  This car was built by Budd in 1949 as a plan 9523 10-6 sleeper for the N&W.  The car was taken out of Pullman lease and was then sold to the PRR in early 1964.  The PRR then sent the car back to Budd where it was rebuilt into a snack bar coach.  Following, we have PRR # 1488 (ex N&W Emory and Henry College) and 1487 (ex N&W Roanoke College).  Both cars were P85M lightweight coaches with each car having 72 reclining seats and a 12 seat smoking lounge.  Both cars were built by Budd in 1950 as plan 9523 10-6 sleepers for the N&W and they shared the same history as did the previous car.  For some reason, PRR did not differentiate in its designations between coaches and snack bar coaches. 

PRR 1531 (ex Ravenna Inn) was a P85L lightweight coach with 64 reclining seats and a 12 seat smoking lounge.  It was built by Budd in 1949 as a plan 9513 21 roomette sleeper for the PRR.  The car was taken out of Pullman lease in early 1963 and it was then sent to Altoona where it had its interior stripped out.  The car was then sent back to Budd where it was rebuilt into a coach.  PRR 4525 was a D85AD single unit dining car with 48 table seats.  It had an all electric kitchen and pantry and was fitted with twin diesel powered alternator sets that provided power for the kitchen appliances, the car lighting and the Car AC.  It was built by Budd in 1952.  PRR 7155 Colonial Scouts was a parlor (room) bar lounge.  It was built by P-S in 1949 as a plan 4131 1 drawing room 3 double bedroom buffet lounge sleeper for the PRR.  The car was taken out of Pullman lease in May 1964, at which time its bedding was removed.  The double bedrooms were then designated as day rooms, and they, along with the drawing room, were then sold as daytime parlor space.  In addition, some of the seats in the 27 seat lounge area were also sold as parlor seats.  The lounge was a first class lounge and was served by a single attendant who used the buffet to prepare beverages and to serve packaged snacks.  PRR 7138 Baron DeKalb and 7133 Johan Printz were both PP85 lightweight parlor cars with each car having 29 reclining, revolving chairs and a single drawing room that could seat five.  They were built by Budd in 1951.

Our next consist is that of PRR # 137, the SB Mount Vernon, out of NY en route to Washington DC.  This train also carried the through sleepers for Southern # 29, the Peach Queen.  All but the first two cars originated at NY.  The first two cars originated at Belmont Park, NY, the station stop for the Belmont Park racetrack, located on a short branch line off of the LIRR main line.  These cars were brought to PRR’s Sunnyside yard by a LIRR switcher move.  ATSF 1998 was a heavyweight horse express car with a 78’ 4” interior space.  It was one of ten such cars built by Pullman in 1930.  REX 815 was an ex-PRR horse express car in the B74 series.  The car had a 73’ 8” interior space.  Both of these cars were headed for Miami FL.  They would most likely be added to the consist of RF&P/SAL # 9, the Palmland, at Washington DC.

The next ten cars were all destined for Washington DC.  PRR 6598 was a BM85 RPO-baggage car with a 60’ RPO apartment and a separate 21’ baggage compartment.  This car was originally built by ACF in 1948 as PRR 6694, a BD85 baggage dormitory car.  It was rebuilt by the PRR at Altoona earlier that month and was probably on one of its very first revenue trips.  PRR 7918 was a B60B baggage express car that was serving as the open mail storage car.  It was manned.  ACL 1613 was a heavyweight gold star baggage express car with a 70’ 9” interior space.  It was built by Pullman in 1926.  This car was serving as the open baggage car and it too was manned.  PRR 7143 Molly Pitcher was a PP85 lightweight parlor car with 29 reclining, revolving chairs and a single drawing room that could seat five.  It was built by Budd in 1951.  PRR 7156 Elm Falls was a parlor (room) bar lounge.  It was built by P-S in 1940 as a plan 4086A 6 double bedroom buffet lounge sleeper for assignment to the PRR.  The car was taken out of Pullman lease in May 1964 at which time all bedding was removed.  The double bedrooms were designated as day rooms and they were then sold as daytime parlor space.  Some of the lounge seats were also sold as parlor space.  The 21 seat lounge became a first class lounge and a single attendant used the buffet to prepare beverages and to serve packaged snacks.  PRR 4476 was a D78F heavyweight diner lounge with 32 table seats and a 10 seat lounge area.  It was rebuilt at Altoona in February 1952 while it was numbered PRR 4460.  The car was renumbered PRR 4476 in October 1953.  PRR 1518 (ex E. T. Weir ex Grand Rapids Inn) and 1529 (ex Latrobe Inn) were both P85L lightweight coaches with each car having 64 reclining seats and a 12 seat smoking lounge.  They were both built by Budd in 1949 as plan 9513 21 roomette sleepers for the PRR.  The cars were taken out of Pullman lease in 1963 and after having their interiors stripped out at Altoona, the cars were sent back to Budd where they were rebuilt into coaches.  PRR 1595 was a P85H lightweight “Congo” coach with 60 reclining seats and a 14 seat smoking lounge. It was built by Budd in 1951.  PRR 1499 (ex N&W University of Cincinnati) was a P85M snack bar coach with 72 reclining seats, a six seat lounge area, and a snack bar located directly across the aisle from the lounge seats.  This car was built by Budd in 1950 as a plan 9523 10-6 sleeper for the N&W.  The car was taken out of Pullman lease and was then sold to the PRR in early 1964.  The PRR sent the car back to Budd where it was rebuilt into a snack bar coach. 

The last three cars would all be added to the consist of Southern # 29, the Peach Queen, at Washington.  PRR Middle River and Bush River were both plan 4140 10-6 sleepers built by P-S in 1949 for joint service on Southern trains.  They were destined for Greenville SC and Charlotte NC respectively.  Southern Shenandoah River was a plan 4140 10-6 sleeper built by P-S in 1949 for assignment to the Crescent.  It was destined for Winston-Salem NC. 

Prepared by  Michael W Savchak PE <argon11 at comcast.net>.

Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator
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