A combine car in North American parlance, most often referred to simply as a combine, is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight.[1]
Most often, it was used on short lines to carry passengers and their luggage, as a full car would not have been cost effective. One half (or less) of the car is built like a baggage car while the other half of the car is a regular passenger car. This type of combine is referred to as a coach-baggage. Another common type of combine in railroad use was the coach-RPO. A portion of this type of car was configured as a railway post office while the rest of the car was configured as a coach. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad operated a combine separated into an RPO and a smoking section. In 1893, Pullman produced a combine with a baggage area, buffet, barber shop, bathroom with tub and a smoking section featuring a fireplace.[1]: 48
When Amtrak took over in 1971, lightweight combines were used on most routes, particularly on trains that had used combines before Amtrak took over. As Amtrak started rehabbing their older cars to Heritage Fleet standards, the only combines which survived were the Baggage-Dorm cars. As Amtrak received the Superliner cars in all forms, including dorm cars, the only routes which required rehabbed single-level dorm cars were the East Coast routes (Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, Silver Star, etc.) due to low tunnel clearance. Because Amtrak had a surplus of single-level coaches due to the recent delivery of Amfleet coaches, baggage-coaches were unnecessary. Thus, baggage-dorm cars were the only cars that should logically be rehabbed. Rehabbed baggage-dorm cars were used on Amtrak East Coast routes from the early 1980s until 1996.
When Amtrak received its new Viewliner and Superliner IIsleeping cars in 1996, some of the Heritage 10-6 sleepers were turned into crew dorms, and the dorms became unnecessary. After Amtrak received the Superliner II coaches, some of the Heritage coaches which had been replaced were turned into baggage cars. Thus, baggage-dorms became unnecessary, and all were retired. The Viewliner II orders included 10 baggage-dorms and 4 are currently in service on the Crescent route.
Although Amtrak operates many cars in its Superliner fleet that are labeled as coach-baggage, they are not often referred to as combines. Via Rail still operates a few combines in the traditional sense, which carry passengers, baggage and supplies for villages en route. They are towed by freight trains in far northern Manitoba.[2]
Doodlebug (railcar), a self-propelled railcar most commonly configured as a combine car
Referencesedit
^ abAnthony J. Bianculli (2001). Trains and Technology: Cars. University of Delaware Press. pp. 46 - 48. ISBN9780874137309. Retrieved 13 June 2018. combine car (rail car).
^William D. Middleton (2000). Yet There Isn't a Train I Wouldn't Take: Railway Journeys. Indiana University Press. p. 64. ISBN9780253336996. Retrieved 13 June 2018. via rail canada combine car (rail car).
— photographs and short history of a Combination Car built in 1874.
January 01, 1970
combine, this, article, about, type, rail, other, uses, combination, disambiguation, combine, north, american, parlance, most, often, referred, simply, combine, type, railroad, which, combines, sections, both, passengers, freight, coach, baggage, display, cont. This article is about the type of rail car For other uses see Combination car disambiguation A combine car in North American parlance most often referred to simply as a combine is a type of railroad car which combines sections for both passengers and freight 1 A coach baggage on display at the Mid Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom Wisconsin Most often it was used on short lines to carry passengers and their luggage as a full car would not have been cost effective One half or less of the car is built like a baggage car while the other half of the car is a regular passenger car This type of combine is referred to as a coach baggage Another common type of combine in railroad use was the coach RPO A portion of this type of car was configured as a railway post office while the rest of the car was configured as a coach The New York New Haven and Hartford Railroad operated a combine separated into an RPO and a smoking section In 1893 Pullman produced a combine with a baggage area buffet barber shop bathroom with tub and a smoking section featuring a fireplace 1 48 When Amtrak took over in 1971 lightweight combines were used on most routes particularly on trains that had used combines before Amtrak took over As Amtrak started rehabbing their older cars to Heritage Fleet standards the only combines which survived were the Baggage Dorm cars As Amtrak received the Superliner cars in all forms including dorm cars the only routes which required rehabbed single level dorm cars were the East Coast routes Crescent Lake Shore Limited Silver Star etc due to low tunnel clearance Because Amtrak had a surplus of single level coaches due to the recent delivery of Amfleet coaches baggage coaches were unnecessary Thus baggage dorm cars were the only cars that should logically be rehabbed Rehabbed baggage dorm cars were used on Amtrak East Coast routes from the early 1980s until 1996 When Amtrak received its new Viewliner and Superliner II sleeping cars in 1996 some of the Heritage 10 6 sleepers were turned into crew dorms and the dorms became unnecessary After Amtrak received the Superliner II coaches some of the Heritage coaches which had been replaced were turned into baggage cars Thus baggage dorms became unnecessary and all were retired The Viewliner II orders included 10 baggage dorms and 4 are currently in service on the Crescent route Although Amtrak operates many cars in its Superliner fleet that are labeled as coach baggage they are not often referred to as combines Via Rail still operates a few combines in the traditional sense which carry passengers baggage and supplies for villages en route They are towed by freight trains in far northern Manitoba 2 Contents 1 See also 2 References 3 Bibliography 4 External linksSee also editBruck Combi aircraft Doodlebug railcar a self propelled railcar most commonly configured as a combine carReferences edit a b Anthony J Bianculli 2001 Trains and Technology Cars University of Delaware Press pp 46 48 ISBN 9780874137309 Retrieved 13 June 2018 combine car rail car William D Middleton 2000 Yet There Isn t a Train I Wouldn t Take Railway Journeys Indiana University Press p 64 ISBN 9780253336996 Retrieved 13 June 2018 via rail canada combine car rail car Bibliography editWhite John H 1985 1978 The American Railroad Passenger Car Baltimore Maryland Johns Hopkins University Press ISBN 978 0 8018 2743 3 External links editVirginia amp Truckee Railroad Combination Car No 16 photographs and short history of a Combination Car built in 1874 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Combine car amp oldid 1209879528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
