PRR_Consist_2629 - N&W, SAL, and SOU connections from New York City

Tue Dec 25 21:59:51 EST 2018

Continuing with our review of the PRR consists for Monday, December 7, 1964, we first have PRR # 154, the NB Embassy, out of Washington DC en route to NY.  This train departed Washington on time at 5:00 PM EST.  All cars originated at Washington DC.  The last three cars would be set off at Baltimore since they were the through cars for the Washington section of the General.  Don’t look for the eleventh car-I did and could not find it! 

The first seven cars were all destined for NY.  PRR 1985 was a X29 box express that was carrying storage mail.  No amount given.  PRR 1495 (ex N&W Hampden-Sydney College) and 1497 (ex N&W Duke University) were both P85M snack bar coaches with each car having 72 reclining seats, a six seat lounge area, and a snack bar located directly across the aisle from the lounge seats.  They were built by Budd in 1950 as plan 9523 10-6 sleepers for the N&W.  The cars were taken out of Pullman lease and they were sold to the PRR in early 1964.  The PRR then sent the cars back to Budd where they were rebuilt into snack bar coaches.  PRR 1570 was a P85H “Congo” coach with 60 reclining seats and a separate 14 seat smoking lounge.  This car was built by Budd in 1951.  PRR 1515 (ex Jeffery Scaife ex Piqua 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 after the car had its interior stripped out at Altoona, it was sent back to Budd where it was rebuilt into a coach.  Next we have PRR 7158 Sycamore Falls, a parlor (room) bar lounge.  This car 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 the bedding was removed.  The double bedrooms were designated as day rooms, and they, along with seats in the lounge area, were sold as daytime parlor space.  The 21 seat lounge area became a first class lounge and a single attendant used the buffet to prepare beverages and to serve packaged snacks.  It was followed by PRR 7141 Paul Revere, a PP85 light weight parlor car with 29 reclining, revolving chairs and a single drawing room that could seat five.  It was built by Budd in 1951.

The last three cars would all be set off at Baltimore, where they would be added to the consist of PRR # 549, the connection for the WB General.  PRR H.J, Heinz(ex John Pitcairn ex Towanda Rapids) was a plan 4140 10-6 sleeper built by P-S in 1948.  It was destined for Chicago, as was the following coach.  PRR 4102 was a P85BR lightweight coach with 44 fully reclining seats and large end of car rest room/lounge areas.  It was built by the PRR at Altoona in late 1946 using a kit supplied by ACF.  The last car would only go as far as Harrisburg, where it would be set off and then spend the night, returning that morning in the consist of PRR # 548 back to Washington.   PRR 1490 (ex N&W Augusta County)was a P85M snack bar coach with 72 reclining seats, a six seat lounge area, and a snack bar.  Built by Budd in 1949 as a plan 9523 10-6 sleeper for the N&W, it shared the same history as did PRR 1495 and 1497 described above. 

I always wondered why PRR # 154 did not have a dining car, especially since it ran in prime dining hours.  Then it came to me-if there was a dining car, then passengers on the General connection would try to have dinner and the fast arrival at Baltimore would preclude having a meal.  Rather than deal with the potential delays, PRR just ran with snack bar coaches on this train, and thus the problem went away. 

Our next consist is that of PRR # 155, the SB Embassy, out of NY en route to Washington DC.  This train also carried the through cars for RF&P/SAL # 9, the Palmland, and Southern/N&W # 41, the Pelican (whose beak surely could hold more than its belly can).  This train departed NY on time at 7:30 PM EST, and all cars originated at NY.  The first nine cars were all destined for Washington DC.  PRR 7138 Baron DeKalb 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 7155 Colonial Scouts was a parlor (room) bar lounge car.  It was built by P-S in 1949 as a plan 4132 1 drawing room 3 double bedroom buffet lounge sleeper.  The car was taken out of Pullman lease in May 1964 at which time the bedding was removed.  The double bedrooms became day rooms, and they, along with the drawing room, and some lounge seats, were sold as day time parlor space.  The 27 seat lounge became a first class only area, and a single attendant used the buffet to prepare beverages and to serve packaged snacks.  PRR 4525 was a D85AD single unit dining car with 48 table seats and an all electric kitchen.  The car was built by Budd in 1952 and it was fitted with twin diesel powered alternator sets that provided power for the kitchen appliances, along with the car lighting and AC.  PRR 1487 (ex N&W Roanoke College), 1488 (ex N&W Emory and Henry College), and 1491 (ex N&W Mingo County) were all PRR P85M cars.  The first two cars were built in 1949, and had 72 reclining seats and a 12 seat smoking lounge, while the third car was built in 1950 and it had 72 reclining seats, a six seat lounge area, and a snack bar.  They were all built by Budd as plan 9523 10-6 sleepers for the N&W.  The cars were all taken out of Pullman lease and then were sold to the PRR in early 1964.  The PRR then sent the cars back to Budd where they were rebuilt into 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 after having its interior stripped out at Altoona, it was sent back to Budd where it was rebuilt into a coach. PRR 1665 and 1618 were both P70FBR heavyweight coaches with each car having 72 non reclining, high back seats.  Both cars were rebuilt at Altoona in 1948.

The next five cars would all be added to the consist of RF&P/SAL # 9, the Palmland, at Washington DC.  SAL 831 was a pre-war American Flyer coach built by P-S at Worcester MA in 1936.  This car was reconfigured by the SAL as a divided coach seating 74.  It had 58 reclining seats and 16 non reclining bulkhead seats.  This car was destined for Hamlet NC.  SAL 811 was a 68 seat heavyweight coach.  It was built by ACF in 1926 and was fitted with Pullman mechanical AC in 1934. It was further modernized by the SAL in 1936-37 as a divided coach with smoking and non smoking sections.  At that time it received 54 fully reclining seats and 14 non reclining bulkhead seats.  This car was destined for Miami.  Union Pacific Western Hills was a plan 9004 12 roomette 4 double bedroom sleeper built by ACF in 1949. Its double bedrooms and roomettes were built to the pre-war style, while the mechanical and electrical systems were fully post war, including fluorescent lighting.  Most likely this was to match the 1942 6-6-4 sleepers in the plan 4099 series.  This car would be rebuilt by Pullman in June 1965 as a plan 6009 11 double bedroom sleeper with 7 modern bedrooms replacing the 12 roomettes, while the four original bedrooms remained as built.  It would be renamed Sun Isle.  This car was destined for Miami.  PRR Athens was a plan 9503 10-6 sleeper built by Budd in 1949 for joint service on SAL trains.  It was destined for Hamlet NC.  PRR Stoney Rapids was a plan 4140 10-6 sleeper built by P-S in 1948.  It was destined for Norfolk VA. The car would be set off at Richmond, where it would be added to the consist of ACL # 29.  That train would take it to the N&W station at Petersburg VA, where it await the arrival of N&W # 16-22, the Cavalier, which would take it to Norfolk. 

The last two cars would be added to the consist of Southern/N&W # 41, the Pelican at Washington DC.  Southern Spring Valley was a plan 4153C 14-4 built by P-S in 1949.  It was destined for Chattanooga TN.  Southern Rapidan River was a plan 4140 10-6 sleeper built by P-S in 1949 for assignment to the Crescent.  It was destined for Bristol VA/TN.  Coach passengers for the Pelican had to change cars at Washington DC.

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

Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator
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