Mixing streamlined and heavy weight passenger cars?

The railroads did it all the time, especially when the streamlined cars were first coming out and were in short supply.

The Premier name trains more than likely did not mess up the 'sleekness' of the streamliners with heavyweight baggage cars, RPOs diners or coaches.  However, to overcome this 'sore thumb' attitude, the Santa Fe painted some heavyweights to look as though they were stainless steel streamliners.  Someone in this forum may have some photos and post them.  Lesser passenger trains may have had heavyweight baggage cars, REA cars or off road cars at the head end.  Through Pullmans from connecting roads were not uncommon.  And of course the ubiquitous Pullman 12-1s were added as needed.  John in Lansing, ILL

The CB&Q's Ak-Sar-Ben:

 The 1st car's a heavyweight baggage, and if I'm not mistaken, the 2nd a converted troop sleeper and the 3rd car is a Flex-Van Flat.

An unidentified IC passenger with a mixed bag of Flex-Vans, heavyweights and streamlined cars:

NP's North Coast Limited:

New Haven's "Cranberry"

Rusty

Here are two examples of shadow-line striping, which imitates the look of the stainless steel streamliners (Budd cars were made from shot-welded, corrugated stainless steel panels, including the roof; PS and ACF cars were built with separate horizontal panels of stainless fluting applied over the basic Cor-ten sides, both above and below the windows, but not on the roof). Both photos are from the book Santa Fe Diesels and Cars.

Shadow-lined heavyweight cafe-observation No.1509

Shadow-lined smooth-side steel car Cimarron Valley.

1947 version of ATSF The Chief with mixed PA’s and head end heavyweight cars, transcontinental sleepers, and home road lightweight PS and Budd cars  

For me it’s what makes 1930’s-1950’s era passenger trains exciting! I love the juxtaposed consists. I also have matched trains such as the ATSF SC, El Cap, Espee Daylight, CZ, and so forth however whenever possible I build a consist with accurately placed heavy and light rolling stock.

1941-1947 Expo Flyer was always predominately heavy equipment with some light Budd cars  

1949-1956 prospector was always a mix of heavy and light gear 

The PRR did the second, esp with their Fleet Of Modernism passenger cars.

Nickel Plate Road always had a mix.  

The B&O did not own that many light weight passenger cars.  Their shops rebuilt heavy weights to look like streamlined light weights.  Most of B&O passenger trains I saw as a kid in the late 50s and 60s had a mix of the rebuilt heavyweight steamlined look alike and regular heavy weight cars mixed with a couple light weight stream lined cars.  

I remember seeing Pennsy passenger trains with a variety of old and new pulled by GG1s and others by E8s in Baltimore and along the NE corridor between Baltimore and Washington DC. 

I agree with Eric about the juxtaposed consists.  I really think the juxtaposed consists of the 30's - 60's were visually quite interesting and make for wonderful subjects to model, especially when including Pullmans, and thru equipment from foreign roads. 

The Chessie Steam Special ran mixed passenger in 77.  Here is my version:

TEXAS SPECIAL did the same with heavyweights from the Katy and run through from the PRR.