In 1943 the Santa Fe rebuild five 4-6-2 1337 class steam tenders into steam generator cars to run with freight diesel consists in passenger trains. They were also sometimes used in stationary service....... and were retired in 1967/68. ATSF N Scale Models 3D prints by Shapeways in the new GRAY and CLEAR resin. If sufficient interest I will consider adding these (kit consisting of shell, chassis and trucks, unpainted, no couplers, handrails DIY brass wire) to the website.
Some other railroads had cars for the same purpose (train heating/steam for passenger cars) but these models are pure and only Santa Fe......
So, most steam-era passenger trains used steam for heat. Hence the issue with running passenger trains early in the transition from steam to diesel locomotives. What did passenger cars on electrified lines use for heat? Did they have their own power pick-ups for electric heat, or were there electric steam generators used for steam heating the passenger cars?
Well the GN used heater cars on its electrified line and those cars used oil fired boilers. Even with the steam boilers in the later diesels they used them for additional heat in severe cold snaps.
Yes. Adapted old tenders, or used such as modified old EMD F "B" units. GN, NP and MILW quickly come into mind.