THE PULLMAN
PROJECT
Air Conditioning Topics
Copyright 2001 – 2010 Thomas C. Madden
Pullman installed an experimental ice air conditioning system in
12-1 sleeper McNAIR in 1929. Individual railroads began installing other types of
experimental AC systems in the early '30s, typically on diners. In 1932 Pullman installed the first version of their Pullman
Mechanical (PM) system on 31 Pullmans
and 39 railroad-owned cars. Included were 24 sleepers and 6 diners and coaches
for the C&O's "George Washington", 4 sleepers for pool service, 4
C&NW diners, 14 SP diners and 15 UP diners.
This marked the start of a program to air
condition all assigned heavyweight Pullmans,
a program that extended throughout the 1930s. Air conditioning equipment
evolved steadily throughout the decade, resulting in many variations. There are
many interesting aspects to this program, and links in the table below will
lead you to some of them. [Only one of the links is active - check in the
"What's New" section of the Home Page for updates.]
All lightweight Pullman
cars were delivered with air conditioning as original equipment.
Table of links
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Steam Ejector AC installations
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Santa Fe's SE AC program
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Milwaukee Road SE AC program
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Brine tanks on PM AC systems
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Sumps used on ice AC systems
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AC ducts
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Battery Box Upgrades
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Truck Upgrades
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York AC
installations
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Home
Tom Madden
pullmanboss (at) yahoo (dot) com