Using combines and baggage cars in consists

I can't think of a photo, but I can see a scenario in which a train in the old south would

have run a Jim Crow combine at the front of the train, behind headend postal or

baggage, and possibly another regulart combines at the end, with its baggage compartment at the rear, maybe to be dropped off in route.  In both these cases, there would be no movement of passengers through the baggage compartments.  The train

might even be made up of just those two cars.  In the same era and geographical

locations, two regular combines could be run with baggage compartments abutting,

to achieve the same effect.  And, two combines might be run, one serving as a caboose or crew car, with just train crew aboard, as was common on some short lines, while passengers rode the other.

Plenty of photos and even film footage of trains in the NE mostly running multiple baggage cars and/or combines. I bought a few Weaver PRR baggage cars to add to my passenger trains.

I was going to post a link to the Keystone Modeler website but I keep getting a big WARNING about it being infected.  They should have plenty of data IF you can get in.

Can't comment about two combines on the same consist. In answer to your other questions; yes, and yes. Near the end of the Steam era, Mail and Express cars were key to generating revenue needed to keep passenger trains running.

Gilly

A combine would most likely be for baggage, or maybe newspaper delivery on a local.    Many baggage cars were used by REA in passenger service.   This was for shipping small packages via express.    So an REA baggage and a Combine in the same train would probably happen often.    There is probably prototype someplace.