Pullman Heavyweight Cars - Purchasing Options? Applicable Time Period?

Lionel has done a few set that include some cars lettered for Pullman. K-Line did one set of 5 cars lettered for Pullman plus three individual cars. MTH did 4-5 sets of cars where all cars are lettered Pullman. In general sleepers, diners, observations might be Pullman cars. Head end cars and coaches never or rarely.

Pete

@rattler21 posted:

If you had your Internet address in your Profile members could send direct to you photos and films of their passenger trains.  If you choose not to do so, please contact me off list.

I am mostly looking for opinions and options, pictures are nice but not necessary

@Norton posted:

In general sleepers, diners, observations might be Pullman cars. Head end cars and coaches never or rarely.

Very interesting and good to know. Were these head cars, etc, painted in Pullman Green also?

I like the Pullman name because I can run them behind any loco road name. I do have the set that came with the Commodore  Vanderbilt, and I think that they’re great. Good weight and nicely detailed. They have passenger silhouettes which some like and some don’t. I like them, and they add to my sense of nostalgia.
I sold the engine despite it having perhaps the best steam whistle ever because the shovel nose has never had any appeal to me. The paint scheme being wrong bugged me only so much. The silver body was good looking, but not being able to very well read the white lettering irked me some. I just couldn’t get past the shovel nose deal.
Alan

The Pullman name as the main lettering in the letterboard started coming off of Pullman owned and operated cars in 1944 when Pullman lost an anti-trust suit for owning and operating their fleet of cars.  The cars were then transferred to the host railroads and the large letterboard started to appear with the hosting railroad's name while the Pullman name was in the little letterboards on the far end of each car.  Prior to that it was common to have the host railroad listed in the small letterboards on the end.

This was true for heavyweight cars as well as streamlined cars.  As has been mentioned, head end cars and coaches would not have the Pullman name as the Pullman company was invested in providing sleeping and dining car service and the crews to staff those cars.  After 1944, the Pullman company separated into two separate entities.  One produced passenger and freight cars, while the other provided staff for sleeping and dining cars.  The Pullman company that staffed cars ceased operations in 1969, while the Pullman Standard Company stopped producing passenger cars with the final delivery of Superliner I's for Amtrak in 1981.  As an aside they produced their last sleeping car in 1956, the last single level "traditional" streamlined coaches for KCS in 1965, and also produced the original Comet cars for NJDOT / Erie Lackawanna in 1971.  Many of those cars are still in commuter service in the west. 

However, as I always say.  It's your railroad.  Run it how you want to! 

Enjoy!