THE OTHER ROLLING STOCK IN ouR COLlECTION
Pullman Car James Watt 14 Berth Tourist Sleeper
Pullman Car James Watt: This Pullman built s a former 14 berth Pullman sleeping car. The James Watt that came to the collection in 1986. 11 of the 14 berth remain in the car in it’s unrestored state.
Due to the kind donation of Arline Cowden and the Cowden family who bought it from the scrap dealer at their costs. This was possible due to the efforts of Southwest Chapter member, Laurie Barfitt, Arline Cowden’s daughter, and Karen Marston. Built and owned by the Pullman Car Company in October 1926 Lot #6012, Plan #3958. leased to the Santa Fe for service on the California Limited. The car made regular trips between Chicago and Los Angeles on the Santa Fe Railway. It was sold to the Santa Fe in December 1948. Later the Santa Fe made it into a Dormitory Car 1307, assigned it M/W and wreck service with number 194298 in La Junta Colorado. Later used as a Dormitory car in Maintenance of Way service. The car sat for years at Border Steel while we struggled to raise the money to purchase the car. The Southwest Chapter is deeply grateful for this generous gift.
14 Berth Pullman Sleeper James Watt. Photo by Robby Peartree 12-21-21
Photograph of the Pullman Car James Watt in the mid 1990s in the FreePort McMoRan Copper Refinery. The car was spotted near the brickhouse. The 30 inch narrow gauge in the photo is used internally inthe copper refinery for its operation. At one time 27 miles of narrow gauge track in the plant in operation. Photo by Robby Peartree
Southern Pacific MW Tank Car 6512
This view of SPMW 6512 was taken in 1995 by Robby Peartree. Note the loss of paint between this view and the one below due to sun exposure.
Southern Pacific MW 6512 at El Paso, Texas. Photo by Robby Peartree 12-21-21
SPMW 6512 This tank car came to the collection in 1983 due to a donation by the Southern Pacific Transportation Company. The car was constructed by General American Transportation Company, at Sharon Pennsylvania in September 1928. Apart of a 175-car order by the Southern Pacific, the order of cars were built to SP specification CSF 313-D P-371 with a capacity of 12,525 gallons. The original numbers for the order were 58400 to 58574. The cars were delivered painted Colonial Yellow Common Standard Color no, 201(this included the bottom sheet) and the words “FOR GASOLINE SERVICE” was stenciled on them. In 1956 the S.P. renumbered these cars were a part of the general renumbering of the freight cars on the S. P. The 103 remaining tank cars of this class of cars were renumbered from 62625 to 62797 with our car receiving the number of S. P. 62783. In January 1971 the car was reassigned to maintenance of way service hauling diesel fuel and assigned the number SPMW 6512. Scheduled for eventual dismantling in February 1981, SPMW 6512 was formally donated to the city of El Paso on August 16, 1983. It was moved to the water works off of Fred Wilson just before 3420 left for the copper refinery. (El Paso City resolution 19-623).
The car was originally constructed with air K brakes it was converted to AB brake valve while in service. Our tank car has an S painted on it which indicates it can carry Liquid Sugar Service. (The history of this car is from observation of the car and use of Tony W Thompson’s book, Southern Pacific Freight Cars Volume 5: Hoppers, Covered Hoppers, Tank Cars. and Southern Pacific Maintenance of Way Equipment 1895- September 11, 1996 by Kenneth W Harrison )
In the Photo above you see the receiving socket for a polling pocket that was a dangerous maneuver used to move a car on an adjacent track. this procedure could lead to fractured poles at inopportune times causing sever injuries. Photo by Robby Peartree Date 12-21-21
The image above shows the double yoke draft gear connection to the frame. This assembly would eventually have issues with fatigue racking This type of assembly is no longer allowed in interchange service. Photo by Robby Peartree 12-21-21
The photo above shows the SPMW 6512 tank car’s previous number. Photo taken by Robby Peartree 12-21-21
Southern Pacific MW Flat Car 5683
This flat car was a part of an order of 300-cars. The car was built to CSF-324-A specifications and this order was designated as the F-50-13 class of flat cars on the S. P. The order of flat cars built from December 1929 to March 1930 by the Southern Pacific Equipment Company at Sacramento, California which was a subsidiary of the SP. After this order, due to the great depression, the S. P. would not build freight cars until 1936. (Southern Pacific Bulletins July 1936 pg. 3, 4 and Oct 1936 pg. 4,5) The flat cars were built at the SP Sacramento Shops. The 50-ton capacity cars featured 16 stake pockets on each side, straight side sills, flush decks, deep solid steel center sills, Columbia steel trucks drop vertical shaft hand brakes and K brakes. It was later upgraded to AB brakes. The class was initially numbered 43791 to 44090 with 5683 initally numbered 44030. . On 5/5/1941 the flat car was renumbered to Texas & New Orleans Maintenance of Way 2538 at Eagle Pass, Texas. The car was upgraded to AB brakes at Houston, Texas in 1956. When maintenance of way cars on the Texas & New Orleans were transferred to the Southern Pacific roster the car was given the number 5683 on 12/28/1961. It was formally donated by the SP to the City of El Paso on August 16, 1983. (El Paso City Resolution 19-623). The car had most of the deck removed by chapter members due to its poor condition in the late 1980’s.
SPMW 5683 photograph taken by Robby Peartree 12-21-2022.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC MW 7522
The car was first numbered for the Central Pacific was 10014. The car was constructed by the Pullman on 12/10/12 (SP class 72-D-2 lot 4030 Specification C.S. 230. Pullman floor Plan 2666). The car was built for the Southern Pacific subsidiary Central Pacific Railroad. The Central Pacific was legally separate from the rest of the Southern Pacific at that time. Both railroads were owned by the Common Standard Lines of the time that E. H. Harriman had brought together. Later the Central Pacific was merged into the Southern Pacific. Later after the merger of the Central Pacific and Southern Pacific, the dining car was numbered SP10014. As constructed the car was one of 10 steel diners that were the first for the Southern Pacific lines. They were built with both Pintsch gas lights and electric lights feed by an electric generator in the baggage car and the electricity feed by overhead wiring and conduits. The kitchen stove was coal fired. Water to the kitchen, pantry and toilet were supplied by overhead tanks. The restroom, walkway, and lobby had red and green tile. The dining area had worsted carpet and the kitchen had a lead floor with flexible steel mats. A linen closet ad under body storage were provided. The car weighed 104,800 lbs. and the trucks weighed 40,200 lbs. for a total of 144,800 lbs. They were painted Dark Olive Green with Gold Leaf Lettering.
This car was reconfigured as a 34-seat café lounge car SP 10914 on 9/3/37. During this work Waukesha AC was installed. It was assigned to the San Diego & Arizona trains No. 3 and 4 after the installation of Waukesha AC. The San Diego & Arizona Eastern operated between San Diego and El Centro, California via 44 miles of track in Mexico passing through Tajuana and Tecate, Mexico. (Formerly leased by the San Diego & Arizona Eastern 12/25/40 to 4/7/41) The car was given back its number SP 10014. to a dining car on 6/22/42 WWII caused a shortage of dining cars on the Southern Pacific and the car was converted to a 34 seat Dinner on 07/09/1942. The seating was increased to 44 seats on May 12, 1944.
The car was removed from active passenger service in July 20, 1951. 2/17/53 it was placed into dormitory Maintenance of Way service and given the number SPMW 646. The car was used with rail fissure detector and possibly with magnet crane SPO-67. The car was renumbered SPMW 7134 in November 1979.
The car was in this service until retirement and donation to the City of El Paso in 1982. Sources (Correspondence with Gordon Y. Mills of Phoenix AZ, Southern Pacific Passenger Cars Volume 4 Dining Service Cars Table 3-3 and 8-4/ published by the SPH&TS multiple pages)
Three axle trucks under SPMW 7522. Notice the use of coil and leaf springs in the suspension. The trucks are stenciled for the San Diego & Arizona Eastern. Photo by Robby Peartree
LN type brake valve on SPMW 7522. Photo by Robby Peartree
A photo of our former Southern Pacific Dining Car awaiting restoration. Photograph of SPMW 7522 taken 12-21-2022 by Robby Peartree
AT&SF WAYCAR or CABOOSE 999388 and 999392
Waycar is the name that the Santa Fe used for a caboose. In 1929 the Aitchison Topeka & Santa Fe placed a 125-car order numbered from 1650 to 1749 from American Car and Foundry. The two Waycars in the collection 999388 and 999392 were originally built as a part of the 1929 order by the Santa Fe. Frank Elington Book Santa Fe Waycars, states that the cabooses were originally equipped with eagle estate stoves, Giessel water coolers, and oil lights, Ajax handbrakes, wood roof walks, two roof laterals on the right side. Originally built with K brake valves they were latter converted to AB. Waycar 1860 was one of the first two equipped with a radio in Oct 1946 for service between Chicago, Illinois, to Kansas City Kansas, for fast freight along with fellow waycar 2035 and Santa Fe steam locomotives 3274 and 3260. In 1968 the Santa Fe started rebuilding selected cabooses and renumbered starting at 999000. The cars were rebuilt in San Bernardino in 1969 to the CE-2 specifications including waycars 1860 which was renumbered to 999388 and 1868 became 999392. (atsf.railfan.net s. Roger Kirkpatrick).
Above: AB Brake control valve with air reservoir on the left edge of the photograph. The Emergency portion is on the left, the pipe bracket in the center, and the service portion on the right.
Axle driven generator, battery box on the far end of the car body, Bettendorf caboose truck. and stencil details on AT & SF 999392.
AT&SF 999388 in the above photograph by Robby Peartree. Taken in 1995 on track five in the Freeport McMoRan Copper Refinery.
AT&SF 999388 on 12-21-2022 photograph by Robby Peartree.
AT & SF 999392 photographed on 12-21-2022
Waycar 999392 in service on the Santa Fe. Photographer unknown. Robby Peartree Collection