[Jim Overland]

Hi Gary,
Did you find more information on the Pullman 16 section sleeper, so called tourist cars?
There was not a diagram in those GNRHS notes

thanks

 

[aopagary]

in RS178, the initial consist (1929) was described as including "three (sic) sixteen section sleeping cars". all other places that consist is listed, however, only states there were 2 tourist sleepers. this is the only place i've seen the sleeper type qualified as a number of sections.

but from: http://www.northeast.railfan.net/classic/CARdwgs4.html
it says 16-section Pullman production ended by 1918, so those cars were almost 20 years old by the time the EB started to run, thus maybe only ran for the first few years if that.

my guess is that the tourist sleepers were Pullman pool cars, and i'm even doubting they were lettered EMPIRE BUILDER but rather, maybe, PULLMAN.

but you're right. you'd think that RS110 would at least mention the 16 section type if they were ever in a GN consist.

i may try to follow-up with a question to the society. i picked up a few other Ref Sheets and discovered it was cheaper to join and get the society discount. may as well use the annual membership!

cheers...gary

 

[Jim Overland]

Gary,
Sounds good. In another GN book I found that these car were probably left over from the 1910s and were probably not labeled
Empire builder, but that they served for quite a while.
that thery were 16 section is added information to me. This is important as we are trying to help Pete Comley develop the EB consist in 1:32
Keep me informed!
thanks

jim

 

[aopagary]

i guess a second reading worked. RS110 does mention Pullman 16 section sleepers (page 7) as in the #4000-4295 range built as Pullman plan 2412. it also gives an exact 1945 consist(s) including cars #4065, #4148 and #4290. now, cross-referencing those numbers to the Pullman Project database; all three of those cars are plan 2412 (-T or -U).

so i'm fairly convinced the tourist sleepers were, at least most days, 16 section cars. and they are also all air conditioned (at least from 1935 on), so probably partially rebuilt from the original plan.

cheers...gary