Here's the last of the passenger car related correspondence from the CRRM
library.
Background: In August 1934, in the depths of the Great Depression, the Q
converted three old (1906-07) Pullman wooden dining cars (143, 145-146) that
had earlier been steel sheathed into dining-lounge cars numbered 330-332. Such
conversions were routinely done to dining cars by simply removing the
tables/chairs farthest from the kitchen and replacing them with overstuffed
lounge chairs. But this conversion was of a more permanent nature and included
adding windows in the end of the cars so they could function as "poor man's"
solarium observation cars. Their first assignment was to the Gulf Coast
Special of the C&S-FW&D between Denver and Fort Worth. At some point the
movable lounge chairs may have been replaced by fixed, rotating parlor chairs,
because by the time of the correspondence below, they were referred to as
parlor-dining cars, though one letter below still refers to them as
diner-lounges. Car 331 had been retired and scrapped at Lincoln in January
1952, leaving only the 330 and 332.
Urbach to Melker, Chicago, 3/27/1953:
414.014
Referring to correspondence enginer with your letter March 20, in regard
to inspection to be made of parlor-diner cars 330 and 332, recently released
from company service at Chillicothe [Mo.].
Mr. Fee now writes as follows concerning these two cars:
"The 330 has been unloaded at Chicago and shold be moved to Lincoln for
storage, where the windows should be boarded and car protected as necessary
against pilferage or damage.
The 332 is on hand at Hannibal and is being considered for use as a
building at North St. Louis. If formal authority for that purpose is later
furnished the car may then be moved to North St. Louis as contemplated to serve
as eating quarters."
Please arrange accordingly.
The two cars had apparently been used by the Engineering Department during some
project in the Chillicothe area, likely connected with construction of the new
Centennial Cutoff to Kansas City, which had opened to freight traffic in
October 1952 and to passenger traffic in January 1953.
Potarf to Moody, Omaha, 3/30/1953:
45-4
The Vice President has advised that parlor-diner car 330 has been unloaded
at Chicago and should be moved to Linoln for storage where the windows should
be boarded and car protected as necessary against pilferage and damage.
Will you please arrange to handle.
Moody to Bloom, Denver, 3/31/1953
Parlor-Diner Car 330 to Lincoln for Storage
412.013 Q
Note the following from Mr. Potarf, under date of March 30th:
"The Vice President has advised that parlor-diner car 330 has been
unloaded at Chicago and should be moved to Linoln for storage where the windows
should be boarded and car protected as necessary against pilferage and damage.
Will you please arrange to handle."
For your information and handling.
Melker to H.A. Hollwagen, Chicago, 4/1/1953:
414.014
Referring to correspondence ending with your letter of March 17, in regard
to inspection made of diner-lounge 330.
After this car has been unloaded at Chicago, it should be moved to Lincoln
for storage where windows will be boarded up as protection against pilferage or
damage. Please arrange to bill this car to Lincoln when it is ready, advising.
Potarf to Moody, Omaha, 4/3/1953:
45-4
For your further information in connection with my letter of March 30, Mr.
Hinshaw has advised under date of April 2, that Dining-Parlor car 330 has been
unloaded by the Engineering Department at Chicago and will be billed to Lincoln
for storage and car will be moved on first convenient freight train.
As advised you previously, upon arrival of this car at Lincoln you should
arrange to have the windows boarded and car protected as necessary against
pilferage or damage.
Urbach to Moody, Chicago, 4/6/1953:
414.014
Further to my letter March 27 to Mr. Melker, copy to you, about
parlor-dining car 330 being moved to Lincoln for storage.
On receipt of this car you should arrange to have windows boarded up to
protect against pilferage and damage.
Please advise when this has been handled.
Moody to Bloom, Denver, 4/7/1953:
Parlor-Diner Car 330 to Lincoln for Storage
412.013 Q
Further to my letter March 31, about parlor-dining car 330 being moved to
Lincoln for storage.
On receipt of this car, you should arrange to have windows boarded up to
protect against pilferage and damage.
Please advise when this has been handled.
Bloom to Moody, Lincoln, 4/9/1953:
Parlor-Diner Car 330 to Lincoln for Storage
412.013 Q
Your letter of April 7, file 412.013 Q, on above subject.
Windows of this car have been boarded up at Lincoln.
Melker to Moody, Chicago, 4/10/1953:
414.014
Referring to Mr. Urbach's letter of March 27, of which you have copy, in
regard to inspection to be made of parlor-dining cars 330 and 332, recently
released from company service.
Diner-lounge 330 was unloaded at Chicago and billed to Lincoln, April 1.
Moody to Urbach, Denver, 4/10/1953:
Parlor-Diner Car 330 to Lincoln for Storage
412.013
Your letter of April 6, file 414.014, about parlor-dining car 330 being
moved to Lincoln for storage.
Windows on this car have been boarded up at Lincoln.
That concludes a lengthy exchange (10 letters) over a comparatively simple
matter -- and all for naught, it would turn out. Neither car ever saw service
again, the 330 being scrapped at Eola in September 1957 and the 332 at Hannibal
in December 1955, apparently not having been used as a building at North St.
Louis. It's interesting to note that the proposed use of the 332 in North St.
Louis was as "eating quarters." Such use would not have necessitated that the
car be removed from its trucks, and it remains possible that it was used for
this purpose. Another similar car -- dinette-lounge-solarium observation car
221 "Riverview" -- was placed in the yard at Lincoln in the mid-1950s, still on
its trucks, for use as a lunchroom. First painted white with no lettering, it
was repainted Pullman green in the early 1960s and numbered 250051 in May 1967.
On to another subject: retirement and reuse of the old open platform suburban
coaches in the 7000 series, made surplus by the arrival of new stainless steel
gallery cars beginning in 1950. One note: C.E. Melker in late 1952 was
assistant superintendent of motive power for Lines West but was soon to be
transferred to LInes East, succeeded on Lines West by C.A. Moody:
Urbach to Melker, Chicago, 11/4/1952:
412.003
We have been requested to have the following 14 suburban cars, now being
held at Lincoln for disposition, inspected to determine whether or not any of
them would be suitable for conversion to bunk cars or for use as buildings.
7004, 7007, 7015, 7023, 7024, 7025, 7038, 7041, 7046, 7048, 7053, 7055,
7057, 7058
Please have this inspection made immediately, and let me have your
recommendations.
The following 12 Pullman tourist cars on hand at Lincoln should also be
inspected promptly to determine if any or all of them can be converted to
company service.
1108, 1344, 1462, 1784, 2250, 2299, 2383, 2392, 2416, 2593, 2640, 2652
Please advise.
Between 1947 and 1954 the Q purchased at total of 69 all-steel tourist sleeping
cars from Pullman at real bargain basement prices for conversion into anything
the company might think appropriate. Six were converted during 1948 into
drovers' cars 5760-5765 (though "conversion" is probably to strong a word, as
the cars were simply painted mineral red with black roofs and had reporting
marks and numbers applied). The vast majority -- 49 cars -- were painted
orange and placed in company service, primarily as bunk cars. And the
remaining 14 were either scrapped at Eola or sold for scrap between 1959 and
1963. One of these cars, tourist sleeper 2645, became company service car
250275 in January 1949 and today may be seen at the Galesburg Railroad Museum,
once more sporting its original 1921 Pullman name, "Meath." But back to the
suburban coaches: From Havelock on Nov. 18, 1952, Melker copeid Urbach's
letter to master mechanic Bloom and, when he had not heard from Bloom in what
he considered a reasonable time, wrote:
Melker to Bloom, Havelock, 11/26/1952:
Suburban Cars Suitable for Conversion to Bunk Cars
412.003
Please refer to my letter November 18, above subject and file.
Please reply promptly.
Bloom to Melker, Lincoln, 12/2/1952:
Suburban Cars Suitable for Conversion to Bunk Cars
412.003
Your letter of Nov. 18, file 412.003, on above subject.
All of the cars listed in your letter are practically in the same
condition and all are OK to be converted to outfit cars.
Melker to Urbach, Havelock, 12/3/1952:
Suburban and Tourist Cars Suitable for Conversion to Outfit Cars or
Buildings
412.003
Your letter November 15, file 412.003, regarding above subject:
All of the suburban cars listed in your letter are suitable for conversion
to Bunk cars, or for use as buildings, and all of the Pullman Tourist cars
listed in your letter are suitable to be converted to company service cars.
Melker added a P.S. to Bloom:
I presume the above is what you intended to say in your letter of December
2, as your letter does not give desired information.
Urbach to Moody, Chicago, 1/19/1953:
412.003
Referring to correspondence ending with your [actually Melker's] letter
December 3, file 412.003, in regard to suburban cars on hand at Lincoln
awaiting disposition.
Confirming converstation with your office recently, suburban cars 7032,
7043, 7040 and 7039, which were leased to the North American Steel Company at
Camanche, Iowa [on the DRI&NW between Davenport and Clinton], were released to
us on December 31, and Mr. Fee has authorized Mr. Simmons to move them to
Lincoln for storage.
After these four cars have shown up at Lincoln, please make necessary
inspection, and advise it they are suitable for conversion to bunk cars, or for
use as buildings.
Moody repeated Urbach's letter in his own message to Bloom on Jan. 21, to which
Bloom replied:
Bloom to Moody, Lincoln, 1/27/1953:
Suburban and Tourist Cars Suitable for Conversion to Outfit Cars or
Buildings
412.003
Your letter of Jan. 21, file 412.003, on above subject.
The four suburban cars mentioned could be converted to bunk cars or can be
used as buildings.
Moody relayed the information to Urbach on Jan. 28, and nothing more was heard
on the subject until June:
Urbach to Melker and Moody, Chicago, June 8:
412.011
We have been requested to furnish a coach for use during the summer months
by a Careful Handling Committee at small terminals, such as Pacific Junction,
Bonneville, Seneca, Gillette, etc., for the purpose of showing motion pictures
in the interest of careful handling, claim prevention work, safety first, etc.
Suburban car 7041 set aside at Lincoln has been selected for this purpose,
and it is being released for Aurora Shops today. On arrival of car at Aurora,
it should be thoroughly cleaned, and any items in need of attention should be
taken care of.
Mr. Carter will instruct the shop people as to what should be done in
connection with changes in wiring, lights, etc., and he should be contacted
promptly on arrival of car at the shops so instructions can be given.
Please arrange accordingly.
Simmons to Moody, Chicago, 2:38 p.m., 6/11/1953:
SUBURBAN COACH 7041 NOW AT LINCOLN BEING RELEASED BY MECH DEPT TODAY FOR
DH MOVEMENT TO AURORA SHOP HANDLE ON CONVENIENT FREIGHT TRAIN DH TO AURORA ILLS
FOR SHOP.
Later that year another of the old suburban cars was put to use:
Urbach to Moody, Chicago, 10/9/1953:
412.011
Mr. G.P. Henson is in need of a second old suburban car for use at Morton
Park, and wish you would please arrange to select one of those now stored at
Lincoln, remove the seats, and have it ready so it will be able to move on rear
end of freight train.
Please advise number of car selected, and when it is ready to move so that
I may notify Mr. Simmons to have it moved to Morton Park.
Prompt handling will be appreciated.
As usual, Moody forwarded the request to Bloom. Before he received a reply,
Moody heard from Urbach again:
Urbach to Moody, CHicago, 10/26/1953:
412.011
Referring to my letter October 9, in regard to removing seats from one of
the old suburban cars set aside at Lincoln, and have car ready so it can move
on rear end of freight train to Morton Park.
Please advise present status promptly.
When Moody contacted Bloom again he at last received a reply:
Bloom to Moody, Lincoln, 10/29/1953:
Old Suburban Car for Use at Morton Park
412.011 Q
Your letter of October 12, file 412.011 Q, on above subject.
Old suburban car 7038 was ready last Friday [10/27] and moved out Lincoln
on rear end of freight train. Understand from Mr. Henson that he has received
car.
The next day, Moody passed the news on to Urbach, and that was that. Anyone
know what the cars were being used for at Morton Park?
All for now.
Hol
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
CBQ-digest@yahoogroups.com
CBQ-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|