MRC 10-6 C&O sleeper

[central.vermont]

Yesterday I picked up an MRC C&O sleeper in its original box for cheap money and wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. Just couldn't pass up the deal and their such good looking cars. I know it is supposedly a C&O prototype but was wondering if it could pass as something else such as maybe something New Haven or B&M, BAR or CN, just trying to justify me keeping this or passing it on to someone else that could use it.

Thanks, Jon

[thomasjmdavis]

C&O originally ordered more cars than they needed, and so many of the cars (plan 6167) ended up with other owners. The spec sheet from Brass Car Sides lists some owners:
http://www.brasscarsides.com/pdf%20tech%20sheets/IC10-6N.541.pdf (note that some roads removed the fluting- the BCS version is not fluted).  I think several other side manufacturers also have versions of this car.

In later years, CN did purchase some of these (part of the "River" series, although I think it was applied to a variety of 10-6 floorplans).  I think they purchased ex-NKP units and removed the fluting, but you might want to check photos to get specific names and fluting/no fluting details.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1831421

It is also worth noting that C&O leased out many of their cars (even with the reduced orders, they bought too many) and so the cars ran in many other roads trains and in tours during high volume periods.

I've also found those old Rowa/MRC models useful as cores for sides, because unlike most of their contemporaries, the interiors were separate pieces, and (IIRC) they are full length and not cut off to 80' (6").

[nickelplate759]

These are terrific cars if you get one in good shape. The most common problem is for the roof to be deformed (bowed, twisted or both), and that's really hard to fix.

They weren't used on the NH, B&M, BAR or  alas. They were used on the C&O, B&O (center skirts removed),   NKP and D&RGW, and then later with the fluting removed on the B&O, CN (!) and IC (maybe elsewhere too, I'm not certain).  They found their way to Amtrak (phase I paint only) both with and without fluting.

There's a small error in the body casting - the hand brake mechanism is molded on both ends, and should only be on the vestibule end. Easily fixed if you are going to repaint anyway.

Jerry Laboda's work is your friend here : http://passcarphotos.info/ and http://n-scalevarnish.info/index/varnish/UsersGuide/

George

[Mark5]

Decent info on these here:

http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/protopass4.htm

Mark

[jmlaboda]

It is also worth noting that C&O leased out many of their cars (even with the reduced orders, they bought too many) and so the cars ran in many other roads trains and in tours during high volume periods.

Cars were leased to Pullman as soon as they entered service with most remaining in Pullman lease until around 1966-67.  As such they could have been used nearly anywhere Pullman operated sleeper service though because of the non-standard floorplan (Double Bedrooms in the center of the car bracketed by Roomettes) they may not have been very desirable.  NKP on the other hand saw their cars used in conjunction with Lackawanna and Erie Lackawanna trains with though sleepers being operated.  NKP cars, like the C&O cars, remained in Pullman lease until 1966-1967.

As for the sleepers that went to Rio Grande, all were configured as 5 Roomette - 6 Double Bedroom - 5 Section so as to provide for revenue space for military personnel since the government wouldn't pay for anything above a Section.  These cars, unlike some that went to B&O, were never C&O with the order being picked up by Rio Grande before they were built.

Illinois Central was another road that used this type of 10-6 sleeper, rarely found on non-IC trains save for peak operation periods.