The Howard Branch trains were mixed trains until 1960. This page will focus on the combines specifically mentioned by James Burke as operating on the Howard Branch circa 1950. Unless otherwise stated, the photos come from Burke.

2301

The 2301 was delivered with a steel underframe and the distinctive ATSF sill along the bottom of the car. It was constructed in Pullman lot 3778 in 1910 as smoker 867. It became coach, baggage & caboose in October, 1939. It had a wood body and was sheathed with steel plates and wood screws in the thirties and had vestibules at both ends. In a very distant photo, it appeared to have 7 coach windows and a toilet on one side.

Other cars from Lot 3778 became combine 2300 and 2348.

Photos of 2302, 2303, and 2306 are in the Society Chair car book, pages 80-86. Here for a floor plan of sister car 2300.

2535

The 2535 was built in 1904 as Pullman lot 3038, 72' Buffet-library 1309, San Francisco. It was converted to combine service in June, 1925. It was part of the 2530-2543 series. Click here for a floor plan of the 2532-2537 series conversions.

2601

2601 was Pullman lot 4023 built in 1912. It also had a 70' body. It was constructed as steel underframe Coach and Mail #44. These had a 30' mail room. It became coach, baggage and Caboose 2601 in November of 1931 and lasted in service until July, 1959, when it was sold. It served some time in motor trailer service. This car had a vestibule in one end only. An article on these Smoker-Mail Cars is in the Santa Fe Modeler 4:3, May/June 1981, p. 10+.

A number of the Pullman 4023 cars were rebuilt into combines. Below are some photos of these cars from John McCalls, Coach, Cabbage & Caboose. None are exact duplicates of the 2601, but they should give the modeler some ideas. Cars from this lot include: 2098, 2383, 2384, 2643, 2644, 2645, 2656, 2647, and 2649.

2645

2647

Click here for a floor plan of 2601.

2650

Drawing by Frank Ellington (with second side by Steve Sandifer) from Caboose Cars of the Santa Fe, second edition. Click on the drawing for a larger image.

The 2650 started life as Pullman lot 3301 in 1906. It was wooden coach 729 and was converted to coach, baggage and caboose in August, 1929. After its years of service, John McCall reported that the carbody was seen on the ground at Emporia for a while. Another photo appears in the Society chair car book, p. 65.