Concerns about the cost of driving empty motor coaches and vans from site to site while keeping up with the train over each 1300 mile journey (times 27 journeys or more) led to a proposal to add five large auto carriers to the train.
There was discussion of putting the carriers ahead of the passenger cars in the main consist behind the power car, or running them as a separate train with a dedicated 3rd locomotive.
Two 41' motor coaches would fit in one 89' auto carrier (or on one 89' flat car), leaving plenty of room for other vehicles in the 4th and 5th carriers.
The idea didn't get very far. Had it progressed, it's possible flat cars would have been used instead of enclosed carriers.
How they would have been numbered is anyone's guess. Running with Locomotive #3 as #22-26? 30-34? 31-35? Or would a third locomotive and these cars have been integrated into the main train as locomotive #3 and cars 5,6,7,8,9?
Images: Original art by Joshua Moldover. Modified and used with permission.
