Headend cars on PRR mp54 commuter train consists?

@GG1 4877 posted:

Other information points to some of the 54 series cars going originally to the Long Island in 1906/07 where they ran on 3rd Rail electric power.  Yet other's went to the PRSL with trolley poles and 3rd rail shoes.  

As for rebuilds, yes, they had many rebuilds.  My favorite version is when the windows were replaced with the aluminum frames.  They gave the cars a more modern look.  Regardless, they served their owners well even if they were really uncomfortable to ride in.  Septa retired the last sets in 1981.  My uncle commuted from the Philly suburbs from 1965  to the mid 1990's and even as a railfan he still comments how much nicer it was when the Silverliners came online.

Time for a series in the PRRT&HS Keystone!

I left the Long Island and PRSL out since this was murky enough without them.  No doubt both got rebuilds as well as some new builds.  I grew up in Jamaica, Queens about a block and a half away from the LIRR mainline and saw lots of these owl eyed cars including the combine and full baggage version but don’t recall seeing any RPO’s.  I never did ride on any.

I found this link for LIRR information which includes P54 trailers and further down, the powered version.

http://www.trainsarefun.com/li...sengercarhistory.htm

@pennsynut posted:

I have developed an interest in the PRR mp54 cars hauled by steamers. I have read about combines and seen photos of mail/passenger commuter cars. My question is did these consists ever include the heavyweight 6 wheel trucked headend cars, such as BM70s and/or B70s? I read a post on another forum (site misplaced) that referred to a rule/directive that the p54 cars should not be placed between heavy steel cars or between the locomotive and a heavy steel car. Any thoughts?

Wouldn't this rule apply with the simple fact that the p54's were lightweight ping pong cars with the lighter trucks. There would be a concern with the heavyweights behind them, especially in a derailment, this would according the m54's given there lightweight.

When I pull our dinner train I feel the heavyweight shove on every hill, I barely notice the P54D's back there. The heavyweight is the first car in the consist.   

While the Long Island unpowered cars were referred to as ping pong’s and rode on a very light duty truck, the Pennsy P-54’s rode on a conventional trucks as other passenger equipment of the time.  Their intended use as steam hauled commuter service, plus there 64’ length, would have kept them out of long haul, heavyweight consists.

Thanks CSX and Dan.

Here you go. SP Meadowlark in front of four m54 ping pong cars.