I don't know a whole lot about the MoPac. I was watching RFDTV's Trains and Locomotives show last night and learned that the road owned dome cars, having ordered three from Budd. I'm not sure where they saw service or what happened to them in latter years. The western roads owned deep rosters of domes, but I'd never thought about the MoPac. I'll bet these were beautiful cars.
While in an MP mode, here are some freight cars I've found over the years, these three at Montgomery, AL in April 1993.
The 13000 series were road cabooses. Although they resembled something like the spartan transfer cabooses that the MoPac had used in it's larger rail yards. Only the difference was that this series of home-built cabooses was packed with the latest in modern details for road service. They had a small interior because the extra room and furnishings of traditional style cabooses was not really needed, which in turn translated into saving money.
I worked for the Santa Fe in their Chicago HQ as a college kid during a summer in the Operating Department. I consistently heard admiration from staffers about excellence at the MoPac and the Frisco. Both roads were well run and portions would have perhaps been good fits for the Santa Fe which lacked southeastern gateways. Seeing Russell's picture helped me to recall that I had two photos of MP power, both from 04/11/1987 at Mt. Vernon, IL.
Road number 893 was one of five dome cars built for MP (and its subsidiaries) by Pullman-Standard. Details about the various Budd and P-S MP dome cars and their eventual disposition is available at the DOMEmain website: http://www.trainweb.org/web_lurker/WebLurkersDOMEmain/ http://www.trainweb.org/web_lurker/MP/
I worked a few "power by the hour' payback consist both for the BN and SP. And some of the worst power ever was MP. They always sent power with no DYN brakes, when DYN brakes were required by run thru-agreements. We often pondered if this was by design, as we had no power that didn't have DYN brakes. A special slap in the face were these units; http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/other/j_glenewinkel/MP2305/MP3145.jpg https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...ved=0CA8QjRxqFwoTCJjI2Yftr_wCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK Please note, No dynamic brakes.. And even more, note no cross-way provisions at all on these MP units. Just like an old Blue Box Athearn model locomotives, a solid bar across were crew members would cross between units in consist. OK, that alone may not mean much. But think about when you are moving and there are issues that need addressed (bell ringers). With these MP units, you gotta stop the entire train, go down the steps, walk to the trailing units, climb back up the steps, to reset a breaker or similar. Well, it dont take very long to see why these units were a priority for use in "pool assignments". (I been there, done that). I also know there are some great MP stories. Just wish I remembered one.
Just about everything you ever wanted to know about Dome cars, MP's and every other carrier's. http://trainweb.org/web_lurker/WebLurkersDOMEmain/
The MoPac (former CE&I) crossing of CR (former PC/NYC) at Momence, IL was protected by MG Tower (aka Pence Tower). The tower was closed and razed in the late 1990's. Momence had three towers at one time and it all gets pretty confusing to me. This is the CE&I's depot there. [Both pictures 04/17/1987]
I posted these photos in the "Men at Work" thread but figured they would fit in here as well. Amtrak's old Mopac Station in Kirkwood, Mo.
