ATSF Use of Express Service Box Cars Question

So I've had a set of these ATSF green & gold Map/Slogan Express Service box cars.



I assume that, since they had steam and power lines installed, that they would run up front between the motive power and the baggage cars. Is that correct?

Also, which passenger trains would they run these with? Was it typical that their named trains would have these? Grand Canyon? Scout? Chief? Was the Super Chief too prestigious a train to add these to the consist?

I'm not seeing many photos showing these in a typical Santa Fe passenger consist.

Thanks!

 

The Santa Fe had numerous mail and express trains on its major routes in addition to the name trains. These cars ran primarily on those trains, some of which had just a single combine for the crew. They never ran on the Super Chief, El Capitan, San Francisco Chief, etc. Depending on the year and specific circumstances, you might have found them on the Grand Canyon. They also ran through to New York on the NYC and Erie-EL, carrying Time magazine and other publications to the Western states.

 

Here are some of my references to published photos, scale drawings and articles on the express boxcars. They may be mostly roster shots but some show the trains involved.

#2125-2149
blt 1965 ATSF
#2141 photo in 1965 _Head End Cars_ (99) p.142
#2143 end view _Head End Cars_ (99) p.142
#2145 scale drwg _Head End Cars_ (99) p.143
ex #2145 in work train service 1972 _Head End Cars_ (99) p.142


#4100-4399
blt 1941-42 Pullman
52'length per 1957 Pass Eqpt Circular
FE-24 ATSF 4100-4399 series w frt & pass capy markiings
_Warbonnet_ 2Q97 p.25
scale drwg FE-24 50' double-door (4100-4299;4300-4399
_Head End Cars_ (99) p.138
4100-4399 class express boxcar, mid-distance in-service pix
_Santa Fe in the Lone Star State_ vol.1 p.42
#4179 w experimental Chrysler FR-5S trucks _Head End Cars_ (99) p.140
#4192 pix in 1960 _Head End Cars_ (99) p.139
#4213 pix, _ATSF Color Guide to Frt & Pass Eqpt_ p.23
#4224 in gray paint, 1968 _Head End Cars_ (99) p.140
#4242 pix, _ATSF Color Guide to Frt & Pass Eqpt_ p.23
#4310 (FE-24) _Head End Cars_ (99) p.143
#4336 FE-24 color pix _Head End Cars_(1999 ed.) p.155
#4398 color pix _Head End Cars_(1999 ed.) p.155
#10135 builders photo w Allied Full Cushion trucks
_Head End Cars_ (99) p.139
HO models: Athearn, Life Like/Proto 2000
according to chart (no pix) _Warbonnet_ 2Q 97 p.29

#9501-9510 wood
#9505 pix in 1905, gone by 1908 _Head End Cars_ (99) p.136
#9505 pix "Coach,Cabbage & Caboose" p.156

#9700-9749
blt 1952, ATSF
FE-29 #9700 w end doors, series 9700-9725
w frt & pass capy markiings _Warbonnet_ 2Q97 p.25
#9700 new in 1952/FE-29 shows end doors _Head End Cars_ (99) p.141

In the references, "Warbonnet" is the journal of the Santa Fe Rwy Historical and Modeling Society.
"Head End Cars" is by Frank M. Ellington & Joe W. Shine, Santa Fe Railway Passenger Car Reference Series- Vol.1 1999, Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society, Highlands Ranch, Col. 159 p.

Your original post mentions a "typical Santa Fe passenger consist." Gee, Santa Fe passenger trains were so varied, I don't know what typical would be. The BIBLE of makeup of Santa Fe trains is "A Quarter Century of Santa Fe Consists," Fred W. Frailey. 1974, RPC Publications, Godfrey, Ill. 208p.
The quarter century is the one from the end of World War Two to
the beginning of Amtrak. Organized by trains, this book gives
the consist- each car in the train from the front to the markers,
the type of cars and the number series of cars usually assigned.

I have concentrated on trains which went to and through the Houston area in the 1950s. #15/16 The "Texas Chief" was all lightweight/ streamlined through the 1950s and 60s, and mostly stainless steel corrugated, through with some occasional smoothside "semilightweight" baggage-express cars and "Valley" series smoothside sleepers. Usually no green express boxcars or express reefers.

The former "Ranger" of the 1940s lost its name to become just #5/6 when the "Texas Chief" went in, handled mail and express and passengers in heavyweight cars. Carried one express boxcar weekly for a big shipment of magazines and newspapers, and additional express cars as needed. A mostly heavyweight train.

Then there was the "California Special"/ "Texan" #75/76 which mixed-up streamlined and heavyweight equipment. The train had some through cars which went into the "San Francisco Chief" at Clovis to go to California. Those cars had to be streamlined to match the "San Fran Chief". But the cars that shuttled only between Houston and Clovis were mostly heavyweight. Mostly heavyweight baggage cars for the express.

Uh, which of these three very different-looking trains would be "typical"?

 

Thanks Ken! Very helpful. So it seems that these particular Express Service cars did see much service except in outlying areas and on less prestigious passenger trains.


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What I meant to say above was "So it seems that these particular Express Service cars didn't see much service except in outlying areas and on less prestigious passenger trains.?"

Thanks for the info focusing on Texas. I wish I had access to those photos you reference. Still interested in any info others might have on the use of these cars in other states & routes. Thanks!

 

Here's a good source that covers trains 7 and 8, the Fast Mail, primarily, but also covers the other mail and express trains on the Valley line. http://santafe.gmbus.com/ The page notes that the Grand Canyon sometimes handled overflow express traffic.