by Gilbert B Norman
Of interest but not fully researched, there were eighteen 24-8 Budd Slumbercoaches built "on spec". Four were sold immediately during '56 to the "Q" named (of course) "Silver--" followed by two to the B&O named "--land". That meant twelve were in "inventory".
During '59, Budd found the twelve "homes". Four to the NYC (numbered), Four to the NP named "Loch --" (alliterating to the "thrifty Scot"), three more to the B&O "--land" and one to the MP "Southland" as their contribution to a Wash-San Antonio line.
The twelve were leased from Budd. When those leases expired, the NYC and the B&O - MP cars were bought by the NP adding them to the secondary train as well as shops/protects.
All eighteen eventually found their way to Amtrak, but not without some "drama" on the two B&O owned cars. Details of course "sketchy", but some kind of "middleman" got in the act and those cars went to Amtrak at an inflated price - and who knows divvied up that loot.
During '59, Budd found the twelve "homes". Four to the NYC (numbered), Four to the NP named "Loch --" (alliterating to the "thrifty Scot"), three more to the B&O "--land" and one to the MP "Southland" as their contribution to a Wash-San Antonio line.
The twelve were leased from Budd. When those leases expired, the NYC and the B&O - MP cars were bought by the NP adding them to the secondary train as well as shops/protects.
All eighteen eventually found their way to Amtrak, but not without some "drama" on the two B&O owned cars. Details of course "sketchy", but some kind of "middleman" got in the act and those cars went to Amtrak at an inflated price - and who knows divvied up that loot.