It's been noted that ACL wound up having little use for its all-roomette Island series sleepers, with most of them being put into storage by Pullman or loaned out to foreign roads. Several if not all of them retained their Purple letterboards throughout their careers. Did this also hold true while in SCL service as well? Thanks for all replies.

-- Bob Venditti (bobvend@bellsouth.net), January 19, 2003

Answers

Bob:

Not all of the 21 roomette sleepers owned by the ACL kept the purple letter boards. ACL leased some of the cars to the Rock Island where they had the purple letter board removed leaving it bare stainless steel. in addition, the lettering was changed to a different style more in keeping with the Rock Island lettering. If my memory serves me, a photo of "St. Simon's Island" in this scheme is shown in Wayner's "Pullman and Private Car Pictorial". I will see if I can find it tonight and will post it to you tomorrow.

-- Michael W. Savchak (Savchak@mnr.org), January 21, 2003.

I have always understood the cars kept their purple letterboards as long as they were around. It appears they didn't last long under SCL - in the March 1968 Passenger Equipment Register, 4 cars in the series are listed (Edisto, Roanoke, St. Simons, and Sullivans Island) but all are gone by the March 1969 Register.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), January 19, 2003.