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Re: Last Train #75, The Lark at San Jose
Author: Jim
Date: 02-05-2010 - 12:38
Those "ugly cars" were of course the Harriman commute cars, some of which lasted in service until 1985. Not sure what you observed about the roofs being torn up, but most of them were very well maintained up until the end. They were extemely well maintained at least until SP became anti-commute in the 1970s. I was told at that point, they still maintained them for safety purposes, but didn't really care what the passenger compartment looked like. Most of them had the restrooms closed off by the late 1970s.
Perhaps you saw some recently retired cars. I believe the last of the old 60 foot cars was retired in 1968.
The first of the original 75 harrimans, as pictured on the right in the Lark photo, was retired in 1968 when SP got the last 15 of the pre-Caltrain galleries. They had an intact fleet of 75 harriman from 1927 (when the last group was delivered) until about 1968. They retired 20 - with 55 lasting into the mid-1970s. Then as commute patronage started declining, they gradually reduced the number of harrimans. When I was old enough to start serious train watching in about 1977, they had 29 in service. At the end, I think they had about 27 left.
Perhaps you saw some recently retired cars. I believe the last of the old 60 foot cars was retired in 1968.
The first of the original 75 harrimans, as pictured on the right in the Lark photo, was retired in 1968 when SP got the last 15 of the pre-Caltrain galleries. They had an intact fleet of 75 harriman from 1927 (when the last group was delivered) until about 1968. They retired 20 - with 55 lasting into the mid-1970s. Then as commute patronage started declining, they gradually reduced the number of harrimans. When I was old enough to start serious train watching in about 1977, they had 29 in service. At the end, I think they had about 27 left.
