MP72 World's Fair car alive and well in Rhode Island

I found this by accident and by no means am I promoting the establishment. The main focus is this well preserved MP75 converted to a static restaurant located in Melville, Rhode Island. I'm not sure if the number is original, but you have to check the modified Dashing Dan logo to fit the theme of the establishment. https://dashingdansclamcar.com/

Frankie: This is a 2900 series LIRR MP72 car dating from 1955-56 and not a 1963 MP75 "Zip" car.
This was a diesel (and even steam when these cars were brand-new) hauled coach.
The 1955-56 Pullman-Standard car fleet served the LIRR for 45 years on average.
These cars last ran in LIRR service in 2000 - hard to believe almost 21 years ago now.

There are ways to tell them apart: One being the round-window side doors and the larger windows.
The MP75 cars had smaller rectangular windows and square door windows with rounded corners.
On this car any overplating of the end vestibule windows and headlight would stand out had this
been a former MU coach conversion - as was the case in the 1970s when many MP72/72T and MP75
MU cars were converted from MU cars to be used in diesel service.

2900 series cars were built to be self-sufficient with their own generators for heat, lighting and
air conditioning. The former MU car conversions required power to be supplied from a cab unit
converted for this purpose with the push-pull concept.

One of the inside pictures shows the interior somewhat well - this is a MP72 remembering how
the windows/sills and red carpeting on the sides were installed in car overhauls during the 1980s.
MP72 cars originally were equipped with pull-down window shades - which were removed during
the 1970s. MP75 cars as a comparison when new had tinted glass windows.

The number 2943 most likely is its real LIRR number - the color scheme is the mid 1960s LIRR type
that was used during and after the 1964/65 NYWF up until the MTA and NYS colors began use after
1968. This car looks to have the correct LIRR lettering font - and their adoptation of "Dashing Dan"
is quite clever...Makes me wonder if the ownership have any LIRR connections...

The only color scheme differences that I see is that the LIRR gray is a darker "charcoal" gray and
the 2900 series car ends were not full orange - the window stripe line was matched on them.
MU cars MP72/MP72T and MP75 had full orange front ends.

Good to see the LIRR mid 1960s color scheme preserved in this interesting manner...MACTRAXX

Thank you so much for the lesson. I've learned a lot from your response. I also found another difference. The MP72 has 11 full side rectangular windows while the MP75 has 12 - probably the results of having smaller windows as you cited.

Welp, I know where I'm going for dinner next time I'm in Newport!

Long Island 2943 was sold to the Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad Co. which owns the clam bar.

Indeed. IIRC they had a couple problems in the past and weren't able to operate for a while - this is a pretty smart way to make up the difference.

MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Tue Jan 19, 2021 1:32 pm Frankie: This is a 2900 series LIRR MP72 car dating from 1955-56 and not a 1963 MP75 "Zip" car.
This was a diesel (and even steam when these cars were brand-new) hauled coach.

The number 2943 most likely is its real LIRR number

I agree that 2943 is the car's original LIRR number. For the record, this is a P72 class coach; it is not a MP72c or MP72T or T72 class multiple unit electric coach.

Thanks to the photographers for all the good photos from a more interesting era on the LIRR.

Kelly & Kelly wrote: Long Island 2943 was sold to the Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad Co. which owns the clam bar.

Is this car stationary or movable as a dinner train ?

From the pic,the car is"mounted" and tied into power,water and sewer.

I went here earlier today for some good food, so here's a photo of the car alive and well. I believe it's the only P72 in Worlds Fair Paint. Please spread the word about this gem and stop by whenever you're in the Newport/Portsmouth, RI area!

I see the windows were painted or treated to give the appearance of a MP75, compared to the square panes
of earlier MP72/P72.