It’s been about 2 weeks since my past collection of pics – busy with Halloween. I decided it was time to do another collection of freight cars (in action) – preferably vintage era.
I came across this classic C&O boxcar, but I can’t tell for sure whether it’s real or a model! The shadows and backdrop tell me the pic was taken outside. But, the track and weeds between the track suggest a model shot – can’t tell for sure though. Also, look at the interior of the hopper beyond the boxcar – not your typical beat-up hopper. If it is a model, the painting and weathering is fantastic!
Speaking of models – This is a real pic of an early Santa Fe Piggy-Back. But it looks like the prototype for the old plastic Mantua model! The flatcar is actually a CB&Q. The second trailer is an open top with a tarp.
What a great study in RR freight! I can’t tell exactly the era, but the old delivery truck suggests ‘20s to me – or maybe ‘30s. It looks a little bit like an early Ford – but can’t tell. The center boxcar is a Big Four with a NYC emblem – perfect for our railroad! Check out the wheeled bins packed with freight that is either coming or going. The steel support structure on the left suggests a pretty good sized overhead crane. The boxcar doors are 3-panel without ribs. These doors appear to be the Creco doors which were built in the mid-‘20s (I believe an ARA standard). The structure behind has the classic warehouse concrete structure with steel framed windows.
Here’s a pic from Washington, D.C., circa 1926. This is the Washington Flour mill on K Street, formerly Water Street, in Georgetown. The caption says that the Washington Flour brand had a retail presence at least into the late 1960s. Again, there’s a vintage delivery truck in the foreground – possibly a Mack. The structure has the same concrete and steel window look as the previous pic. The concrete silos are a perfect touch. The 50’ boxcars would have been rated furniture and/or automobile. The middle one with the double doors (automobile) appears to have the remains of a grain door on it. The PRR boxcar is single sheathed / outside-braced. The tracks run down a cobblestone street.
I always seem to find a CP or CN photo that’s on topic. I can’t tell if they’re loading or unloading. The freight appears to be crates of fruits or vegetables coming off a wood reefer.
…Another CN car being loaded
This is a shot from Marshall, TX showing a lumber storage yard. None of the boxcar doors are open, but they would have been loaded with lumber within inches of the roof. The most visible boxcar is a T&P steel car. But the boxcars on either side are single-sheathed / outside-braced. The one closest to us is also a T&P.
Here’s what those stock pens with car loading ramps are supposed to look like! The stock car is a CP. Note the difference in ballast from our region – the mainline tracks have a darker gray ballast, while the stock pen spur has what appears to be light colored limestone. Ballast comes up just below the top of the ties – this photo is probably at least 30 years old.
We’ve seen a lot of models of freight car ferries – Here’s a pic. This freight barge is backing into Brooklyn. Looks a bit wet! The boxcar looks fairly modern – no roof walks (and not recently removed). It looks like it might be a RailBox.
While the topic is vintage freight, I had to throw in this shot from 2015 of Simpson RR #1201, an EMD SW1200, in Shelton, WA. The Simpson RR serviced the Simpson Mill. Shelton is a little south of Seattle where the bay closes down into a lot coves / outlets / tributaries. This lone switcher is switching one of the mills shortly before the RR shut down. This pic has a lot of interest value.
…Back on topic. How relevant is this to our layout? An overhead crane loads tractors onto a flatcar. This is the International Harvester Company’s Tractor Works in Wisconsin. These are 10 to 20 HP McCormick-Deering tractors going on a CP flatcar.
Sticking with the agricultural aspect, this is a Ford Model TT dump truck loading grain into boxcar, 1925, Joan Montana.
How about another look at that loading chute – different dump truck, but roughly the same era.
I had to throw in an icing platform. This is the SP in Roseville, CA, 1948.
The caption of this photo suggests that there probably aren’t many photos that show a steam tractor, on a flatcar, on a car ferry, on ice! What a story shown in this pic! The Buffalo-Pitts steam tractors are on a Michigan Central flatcar. The ferry is the City of Detroit on the Detroit river near Detroit (in the winter). There’s an old wood PRR boxcar on one side of the flat, and an Cornplanter tank car on the other side. All cars sport archbar trucks and trussrod frames, so this is probably within a decade either side of 1900. …And it makes you cold just looking at it!
Enjoy – Thx,
Kevin
Kevin
You told me about your posts but I just have not taken the time to look at them.
I am going to forward your website to the Cincinnati Chapter National Railway Historical Society that I am also a member and let them have the opportunity to view such great archived photos that you have created.
I will be at Ross on Sunday but not Saturday as I will be out of town all day Saturday.
Thanks
Frank