I posted this in the SP/SSW fallen flags forum, but got no replies: When and where did SP run the silver 50' overnight boxcars? What locomotive usually pulled them? Were they just for freight similar to what UPS and FedEx ships today?
The service they were advertising was for the Coast Merchandise, basically for LCL freight like the UPS/FedEx priority stuff today. This was San Francisco - Los Angeles. The cars were built for this service but individual cars could be found anywhere as shown by photos taken all over the country, and could be seen in trains (as regular boxcars) through the '70s, at least. I don't know the start date of the paint scheme (early to mid-1950s) but these cars were renumbered 163049-163349 from the black ones, if that helps anyone else figure the date.
Sheldon, Go to George Irwin's site: http://www.irwinsjournal.com/umtrr/index.htm Click on "2004 releases" and the click on "20760" to get a little info.
Thanks Nelson! That was helpful. I would imagine there isn't any difference in the use and timeframe from the 40' to the 50' (besides - it's only for my own knowledge. I'm not trying to be exactly prototypical)
