PREORDER Rapido HO 176005 Pacific Car & Foundry Economy Baggage Car Late Doors, Southern Pacific Baggage/Messenger #6792

Rapido is pleased to announce the Southern Pacific PC&F 66-B-2 Economy Baggage Car in HO scale!

Built by the Pacific Car & Foundry in 1962, this 100-car order was intended to replace aging mail and express equipment from the 1920s. The SP had invested in streamlined passenger equipment but had not ordered substantial quantities of lightweight postal or baggage cars. 65 cars (6701-6765) were classified as “Mail Baggage Express” cars which did not have any heating or sanitary facilities, while 35 cars (6766-6800) included messenger facilities, heating, bathrooms and four additional roof vents. Another spotting feature of the “Train Baggage Messenger” cars included the star above the SP road
number, signifying the TBM facilities.

These cars operated regularly across the SP system on famous trains such as the Lark, Coast Daylight, San Joquin Daylight, Sunset Limited, Shasta Daylight and many more. Just about any SP passenger train needing a baggage car could be equipped with these!

They also operated on the City of San Francisco and Golden State trains, which meant they were a common sight on the Union Pacific, Milwaukee Road and Rock Island. MBE versions of the Economy Baggage could also be seen on the trains of Baltimore & Ohio and Penn Central. They could even be seen pulled by Pennsylvania Railroad GG1 electrics in the Northeast Corridor. In 1971, after the formation of Amtrak®, Southern Pacific put most of their Economy Baggage Car fleet into MOW or yard storage service. In 1972, Amtrak® would lease a number of these for use on long distance trains with full SP lettering and paint. Ultimately, they purchased a few for service into the 1980s and painted into Phase II. Cars 295 and 298 would see service on Southern Pacific’s business train starting in 1984. First painted in the silver Sunset scheme, later they would both receive Daylight paint. But wait, there’s more! In 1997, Alaska RR purchased the two SP business fleet cars, which are still in service today. Many Economy Baggage cars still exist in museums across the country or as tool/support cars for excursion operations.

HO Scale Southern Pacific’s “Economy Baggage” Cars features:
Based on measurements and 3D scans of the prototype
Full underbody detail including separate air, steam and electrical lines
Separate metal grab irons, stirrups and end gates
Super-detailed SP Class 4-T-1 trucks with full brake rigging
Sprung diaphragms
Full flicker-free track-powered interior lighting
Accurate painting and lettering
Suggested minimum radius: 22”
MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC power