Again courtesy of NP list & their expert Bill Keubler (who did a book on NP
Passenger trains). Some great comments re: Menk's affect on NP whereas we
recall him on the Q for his ending steam excursions.
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The following is only one "typical" consist, but it happens to be the
one I remember seeing the most in summer '69:
3 F-units
Water-baggage
Mail-dorm
581-585 series coach (former Holiday Lounges)
dome coach
dome coach (see note)
Traveller's rest
Budd Dining Car
Slumbercoach
Lounge-in-the-Sky dome sleeper
Dome sleeper
8-6-4 sleeper
Note: sometimes the 581-series coach would be behind the two domes, but
almost always the two domes were coupled together. Also, in summer
season there would often be a second Day-Nite or Deluxe Day-Nite coach
coupled in the coach section, either in front of or behind the two dome
coaches. Again, the dome coaches almost always were coupled together.
Not a very smart consist, and one that definitely reflected the
retirement (back in '63) of Walt Rodine, who had wisely decreed that
domes should not be coupled together (except if necessary west of
Pasco). His "decree" lasted until shortly after Menk took the helm.
Coincidence?
Like I said, quite a few variances to this car lineup. Example: on a
couple occasions in August '69 saw the T-Rest in FRONT of the two dome
coaches and behind a flat-top coach. Goofy.
Amazingly, The Mainstreeter was actually more consistent in '69. Typical:
Two F-units
Lightweight baggage car, occasionally two baggage cars (see note)
2 coaches, occasionally three, all lightweights
Economy Buffet car (450-455 series, converted)
Slumbercoach
Some transcon! A gust of wind might blow it away. At the risk of
sounding redundant, I was always tempted to call this the "Lou Menk
Limited," where the second term referred to train length and not number
of stops (albeit on a fast schedule--since '68).
Note: When two baggage cars appeared, one of them might be a lightweight
or, on rare occasions, a heavyweight. Most of the time the train was
only five cars long east of Pasco (not sure about west of Pasco), but
occasionally six or seven. Two units, in any case. Once in a while,
they'd have a baggage car coupled to the rear of the train, removed from
No. 2 at Fargo and coupled on to No. 1's train later that day. There
were even a few runs with TOFC on the rear, but seems to me that was
mostly the winter of '69-'70. Dreary days.
Bill Kuebler
Gerald
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