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Richmond Pullman: LARK Shopping dates 1949 - 1952

The Lark herald was displayed in center of car, with numbers at corners of the letterboard. The separator stripes also continued through the vestibule door. Pullman photo

  In July of 1941 Southern Pacific purchased from Pullman two complete streamline train sets to reequip their crack Los Angeles - San Francisco overnight luxury train, the Lark. The businessmen making up the bulk of travelers were soon asked to step aside as the Lark became a major link in the movement of troops during WWII
  Between May of 1949 and May of 1952 all of the Lark sleepers were received shopping and renaming into the Southern Pacific number system. . PULLMAN was removed from the letterboards of cars that had not had it done yet, and SOUTHERN PACIFIC went in its' place with Pullman in smaller lettering at the ends of the cars. In July of 1950, the four 6-6-4 ( 513-516 renumbered 9162-9165 ) sleepers were replaced with four new 10 roomette- 6 double - bedroom cars 9049 - 9052 from Pullman- Standard. Two 22 roomette cars 9305 and 9306 were also received at this time for Lark service.

Lark cars were repainted with Southern Pacific in the letterboard   Don Munger Photo

   Shop record May 4, 1949 to May 5, 1952 by release date.

SP 9162 was painted 7/14/54 in Richmond for San Francisco Overland service, as were 9164 (7/15/54) and 9165 (9/16/54). Don Munger Photo

Southern Pacific Lark eastbound through the Chatsworth rocks on its way to Los Angeles. Southern Pacific Photo

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