I'm closing in on what my future layout will be modeling-inspired by Oregon, modeling SP&S and SP, late 1930's-today and overlooking things like Mergers. I really like the US Army hospital cars for some reason and not the Pullman Passenger box cars, but the converted or purpose built hospital cars. I hope to find a correct one someday soon that isn't model power but rather is similar to the one I got to see in Utah since I really liked that unique car. I'm wondering if the Army trains made their way through Oregon after finding out that a lot of their stations were on the east coast and I think California. I'm just wondering if: 1, did they run through here before I try to get one, and 2, what would their consist have been? I'd imagine the pullman army kitchen and sleeper cars would have been in them, right? Also, did the railroad get to power them? I really hope so, that way I can use my future little steamers. Thanks
As far as I am aware, power was always that of the host railroad. I do know they were referred to as "Main" trains. By all railroads? That is a question I have. Yes. They most certainly passed through Oregon. That is how my father got from western Washington to California, for embarkation to Australia, etc, February of 1942. Most certainly Northern Pacific RY from Camp Murray to Portland, then SP to San Francisco. When were these cars built? Wasn't it later during the war?
"Army trains", at least the WW2 versions, were made up of whatever passenger cars were available, A lot of heavyweight cars , and the pullman sleepers and kitchen cars, as well as lightweight cars were put in service. Army locos are normally used at army depots to move cars and put together trains.......sometimes they would move the trains to and from an interchange with a main railway where the home RR locos would take over. There was a lot of traffic thru the pacific northwest during the war
The special built troop cars, as far as I can find, came along after mid-1943. Due to a shortage of other available passenger cars.
I know the hospital cars (at least as far as I know) were repurposed passenger cars/purpose built just because of their nature. Aside from the medical stations and kitchens, they needed the double doors for the litters. Something normal rail cars couldn't handle. The one I got to see wasn't exactly spacious and I doubt the ride was great. Three stretchers high, but I think that one had AC or ice cooling. Side note, Having grown up in Oregon I know we did a lot of unsung work for the war effort. Oregon and Washington provided a lot of timber for everything, or steel mills and ship yards made a ton of support craft, and I think the ports moved a lot of food, but I'm not sure on that one. We um, also had forced relocation trains too...... I think most went to Tule Lake.
Those where the boxcar looking passenger cars by Pullman and I think a few others. The design made them cheap and fast to build compared to 'normal' passenger cars. From what I've read they were cramped and the kitchen cars didn't have seating so you got to eat on your 'bunk.' At least the trip was free I guess.
If you have not seen this, it might be helpful: https://www.trainmuseum.org/index.php/us-army-medical-service-ambulance-kitchen-car-usa-89601
Nice, I've never seen that model of kitchen car before. Looks a lot better then the box car ones. This is the car I was talking about. I like the stream liners a little more. Plus that kitchen looks a lot bigger. This is the car I was talking about. http://railwaysurgery.org/Army.htm It's like a recovery wing on wheels and is really one of a kind.
The car I noted is also pictured about 3/4 of the way down this last page you linked. I can remember when it came in to the museum. As stated, it had never been used. It was great fun to look through what was actually a brand new car, 35 years later.
You know, I'm wondering if the hospital car wasn't a rebuilt or based on a Business car. The windows and body look right, plus they have kitchen but I'm a not exactly knowledgable on them.
If there is not something noted about concept, that museum web site, good question. There was a fellow I once had contact with, who helped me with some military RR info a couple of times. It has been many years now. His name was Tim. Remind me tomorrow and I will dig around to see if I can locate him again.
Yes, 28 total, and they were converted into just about everythign that DIDN'T need a set of double doors. Coaches Lounge Diners, Parlor cars, a business car, but nothing in the mail or baggagae combine. The number range of the Rapido Monon coaches are a part of the Monon's HC fleet, although the models themselves are just fooby painschemes on cars that are "close looking" According to Monon:The Hoosier Line written by Gary and Stpehan Dolzall, the Hospital combines are 44-5 built "new" product. Probably using old trade ins belonging to the US Army, but not rebuilds from the other railroads. they used the 6axle trucks to smooth the ride for the injured,
The fellow I was thinking of last night is Tim Moriarty. If you Google up U.S. Military Railroad History, he should show somewhere. I believe he was living in the D.C./Virginia area.
Weird, I thought they had been rebuilds, but new is interesting. Then again new would sound right since they are specialized cars. Thanks, I'll have to try and look him up.
Walthers made kits 40-50 years ago for the Army Hospital cars as built, as converted to Monon passenger cars, and as converted to cars for Ringling Bros Barnum and Bailey circus. I believe in HO. Shown in the book Walthers Passenger Car Plans. Book is 40-50 years old too. I'm surprised nobody has suggested it. I don't think any other models of the hospital cars were ever merchandised in any scale or form with the possible exception of brass.
I'll have to try and find that book. OMI made the hospital car and I think Walthers made a lot of army boxcar kitchen and sleepers dressed in C&O. I wonder how many of those found their way into MOW?
Most of them, although mostly as storage boxes. most of the roads out there picked up the Troop boxes and had them converted into express cars or storage cars for through mail contracts. A lot of MOW trains had older Heavyweights assigned and didn't needthem replaced with smaller kitchens and sleepers.
