I have a 1950's era passenger car diagram book, which indicates that the car's original number was 21; the diagram book doesn't list a builder; it only lists a build date, September 1905. The original number, 21, and date are sufficient to find the postal car in my 1908 and 1909 roster books. The dimension in the diagram book match the external dimensions of the car. In both cases, the car is listed as being rebuilt, but no other details at given. The hand-written notations in both books seem to have been written sometime from 1910-1916. Barney & Smith built the car during September 1905, and it seems a bit odd that a 3 year old car required rebuilding. There aren't any other 1905-built Barney & Smith cars in the book. There is, however, a combination coach-baggage car number 20, which Barney & Smith built for the O. & C.C.; is 122, nee 21, also an O.&C.C. car? Frisco 1909 Roster, my collection. The car carried a steam line for heating as well a Baker Heater. The Baker heater allowed the car to be used in mixed train service. By inference, I believe that my May 1923 ETT still lists the 122 as a full postal car. My October 1932 ETT no longer lists the 122 as a full postal car. The car diagram indicates that the Frisco rebuilt the car during October 1936. In its final configuration, the car had a 15'-3", windowless RPO section with 3-foot, side doors; a hopper toilet was located in one corner. The RPO end was blind. The baggage compartment, 44'-7" long, had two, 7'-0 side doors and a vestibule door. The car had a messenger's desk, and it, too, had a hopper toilet. The car used a #557 Duplex water heater to heat the car. The car had a steel under-frame, a wood frame, and steel and poplar siding. The Frisco used a turtle-back roof on the car, which weighed 130,000 lbs. The Frisco retired the car during 1958-1959. The Frisco likely sent the car to Springfield, where the railroad burned and scrapped the car. With some wild speculation can we say: 1. As built, the 122, nee 21 was an "all wood" car with a clerestory roof. 2. We have no direct evidence with regard to door and window configuration. 3. During its first rebuilding, the car received a steel under-frame 4. Between 1923 and 1932, the Frisco converted the postal car into a Baggage-RPO 5. During the 1936 rebuild, the Frisco added steel sheathing and an arched roof. 6. The Frisco used the car in local service or mixed service. Do you have a picture?
Thank for all the information on car #122, Karl! A friend has a partial-view photo of the car. I'll see if I can post it here.
