Order of Passenger Cars

The dining car should be about halfway or in the center as most railroads didn't want people to walk the whole length of the train. The observation car should be near the rear of the train so you can see out better. If you have a steam engine the pullman or sleeping cars could be two to three cars back to cut down engine noise, whistle at crossings. Baggage cars or RPO goes up front after the engine.

This is what I would do. I have been on Amtrak once where the dining car was in the center. First class was near the front of the train.

Lee Fritz

Last time I was on Amtrak, the Diner and/or the "dome" car represented the line of demarcation between coach and first class. The sleepers (first class) were behind the "dome" car at the rear of the train. In the case of the Coast Starlight, there were two "domes" -- one on either side of the diner with the one at the rear being for the sleeper passengers.

There seems to be some logic for placing the diner between the coaches and the sleepers as passengers in the sleepers paid more and wouldn't want a ton of people walking past their compartments on the way to the diner. Seems more logical that the observation car with its special seating would be for the first class (i.e. sleeper) passengers which would place the sleepers at the rear of the train.

All that said, though, it really depends on the individual railroad's practices. Also, you had some trains that were all coach so that would change the dynamic.

I have no idea what order the different kinds of Pullmans were run, but from what you have listed, it looks like an all-1st-class train.

If I had that selection, I would probably have the two diners coupled together, kitchen to kitchen, so the passengers could enter a dining room from either end, and the staff of the two kitchens could communicate with each other without having to traipse through a dining room. As stated above, these would be located in the middle of the train, with two Pullmans in front and two behind.

Aaron

There really wasn't a particular order for Pullman cars.  What everyone else has mentioned is right on.  Observation on the rear, diner in the middle, sleepers on either side of the diner.  The second diner probably wouldn't be found on a train of that size, but typically there would be a dining car and a lounge about mid train.

As was already mentioned, a few baggage cars on the head end or express reefers would really enhance your train and provide separation from the locomotive.  One other consideration on an all Pullman train would be the crew sleeping quarters commonly referred to as the crew dorm.  In the heavyweight era, the dorm would normally have been mid train and be part of the lounge car.

It was not uncommon for the all Pullman trains to be overnight trains while have a daytime train that was all coach.  Classic examples include the Santa Fe Super Chief as the all sleeper train vs the El Capitan as an all coach train, the SP Lark & Daylight and the PRR Broadway Limited and Admiral.

Have fun with your train!

As a general rule head end cars were profit-making versus money losing passenger cars. The head end cars typically included the revenue producing RPO[mail] and REA [express]units. Many photos show 5-6 head end cars on overnight passenger trains.

For a time,Southern Railway President Brosnan had a policy of coupling mail,express and Fruit Grower's reefers or other freight on the rear of name passenger trains.

Generally in the steam era, the better accomodations, ie Pullman, parlor etc were toward the rear of the train, and the coaches at the front.    This was both for noise and dirt when open windows were still available.    As everyone mentioned, a diner was usually placed between first class and coach.   And head end cars were generally at the front near the tender.   Of course each railroad may have had unique circomstances to do something different.   I have heard of an express car being on the back to ease a setout for example.

I think mail cars may have been first in a train and then express and then baggage.   Sometimes passengers may have wanted access to their baggage for pets or what not in the day, and the RR would not want them having access to the express if any, and PO would not allow them to pass through a mail car.   

When I bought the MTH/LCT Christmas set, it came with 3 cars, two coaches and a observation car.

One of the coaches has a box coupler on one end and a straight coupler on the other.  It is designed to be a transition car to link to the box coupler on the front where the tender has a box coupler, and a straight coupler on the back, to link to the other 2 straight coupler cars.

So I buy the two add on cars, an additional coach and a baggage car.  I planned on putting the baggage car after the tender then the coaches.  Can't do it!  The add on cars have straight couplers on both ends, so you're forced to put a coach first.

Hmmmmmmm....

Ed

John, like you stated, "it's your railroad....... be the boss and do what "YOU" want to do.  You are President of your own railroad.  After looking a vintage (40's - 50's) passenger consists, mostly in west and southwest US, the railroads did everything with the cars.  Mix and match, old with new, and positioning them as they had them available to use. 

TEX

Steve

a few years ago I found the order as this;

Passenger car train order

Motive Power
Railway Post Office(s)
Baggage Car(s) Combo Car (baggage/coach)
Coach Cars
Dome Car(s)
Dinner
Sleeper Car(s)
Observation

The Sleeper Cars were placed as far from the Motive Power as possible so sleeping passengers would not be 'disturbed', also the Dome Cars were placed as far from the Motive Power so the smoke from the steamers wouldn't obstruct the view.

Here is how my MTH Railking Scale Amtrak FP-45's and premier 10 car phase-1 "pointless arrow" consist are set up.

FP-45's back to back

RPO

Baggage

Baggage

Coach

Coach

Coach

Diner

Full Dome

Sleeper

Observation

Everything everybody said so far is about right. The sleepers were behind the diner so "coach folks" didn't walk through the more private sleeping areas to eat each meal. on some trains the tailcar, "obs" was a first class area, i.e. sleeping car people.

SAM

Seaboard Air Line was reported to operate their cars with the vestibule towards the rear with the aisle side of the car facing inward so that the room side would not be hit if there was an accident with oncoming trains.  I'm sure that didn't happen 100% of the time, but it makes sense as far as safety goes (or at least a false peace of mind for the passengers).

On most PRR limited trains there were no coach cars all sleeper cars until the money crunch in the 50's.

Of course there were all coach long distance trains like the Chicago to NYC - TRAILBLAZER

Guess it depends on what railroad and what era you are modeling.