Grill Coach 561 (Delta Eagle car 760)

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  • November 2, 2015 at 1:53 am #5593
    benjamintickell53
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    From Yahoo Mopac group – March 2013

    Does anyone have any information as to why ex-Delta Eagle RPO-coach 760 was rebuilt to an eight-seat lunch counter grill coach?

    It would have been the only car of its type on the system. All other grill coaches (with the exception of the Valley Eagle cars)served at four tables adjacent to the grill. Car 561 had eight lunch counter seats, plus four tables. I also noted on the diagram sheet a cabinet for Travel-Tray storage. Any ideas?
    Dick Ryker


    The diagram for 561 (760) dated April 1960 lists 8 grill seats and 8 dining seats (two tables). However, the next two seats on each side of the car were set so that two more tables could be added, for a capacity of 16 “dining” and 8 grill. That would have been a heavy load for a one-man car.

    Finding the car assignment in the early-mid 1960 period might give our best clue, if the car happens to turn up in train consists. It would also be interesting to learn how and where this car was used from 1955-1960 (after its Delta Eagle service had ended.)
    Bill Pollard


    The McGehee-Tallulah segment of the Delta Eagle was discontinued in January 1952, and at that time the Memphis & Tallulah RPO was redesignated as the Memphis & McGehee RPO, still with a 15-foot space allocation [RPO-coach 760]. Memphis & McGehee RPO service ended in October 1954 at the same time that the Memphis to McGehee passenger train was discontinued. The last remaining segment of the Delta Eagle, McGehee to Helena, operated occasionally with the 7100 and a heavyweight combine or with motorcar 670 after it got a new power unit. So…. by late 1954, the original Delta Eagle cars were available for other use.

    R.H. Carlson photographed car 760 in use at Mission TX on May 26, 1955, presumably on Harlingen-Mission trains 115-116 which were connecting trains with the Pioneer at Harlingen. These trains were discontinued in early August 1955, so car 760 would again have become a “free agent”.

    I have seen records of locomotive 7100 in Memphis-Hot Springs service in 1960-1961, but it would be interesting to know where the Delta Eagle cars were reassigned.
    Bill Pollard

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