Re: Silverton train question

The car that you bring with the door up could be Combine 212 which was used as an observation post like baggage car 126 before both were converted to concession cars. Yes, they did have and still do have open sided roofed cars for the fair and not so fair weather. They were converted from pipe gons starting in the early to mid 60's. As to the pipe, I am not sure what it is for, but I know that coach 257 has a pipe matching that description, and there may be others that I am unaware of. I don't have any idea when the cars would have been painted red, because as far as I know, except possibly for movies, the cars have been gold since the mid 50's. Hope this helps.