MP diners in the Jenks era

[Bill Pollard]

MP had several diner renovation programs underway in 1963 at the same time that cars were being renumbered and repainted blue.

ACF Diner lounges 42-43-44, all former T&P cars, were originally identical. 42-43 were modified, circa 1963, with one window removed on each side in the lounge end, the interior lounge configuration changed (two tables added, seating 8, for overflow diner seating), and with some significant truck and air brake improvements. The cars received Budd disc brakes, decelostats, a newer version D-22AR control valve and other modifications. Did car 44 ever receive these changes? I’ve never seen a diagram indicating that 44 received the modifications, and it was retired 3 years before the other cars.

Also, ACF diners 30-31 were originally built with 44-seat capacity including some serpentine tables. Car 30 was rebuilt in 1963 with conventional tables seating 32 and a lounge section seating 12. Was car 31 similarly rebuilt or did it retain its original configuration?

In 1962-1963, Sedalia converted three diners into diner-coaches (seating 24 in table area and 32 in coach area.) These cars served on a variety of routes before finishing up their career on the St. Louis-San Antonio Texas Eagle. The Official Guide does not reflect these cars being used until October 1970, showing “diner” until that time. Photo evidence confirms that the diner-coaches (580-581-582) had been assigned to the Texas Eagle well before that time, and indeed, the last four diners had been retired in 1969. Does anyone have MP passenger department circulars or other documentation showing when the diner-coaches replaced the diner-lounges, and what staffing reductions were made when the cars were used?

Thanks,

Bill Pollard

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