Bruce,

You wrote:

(snip)

What might be some good roadnames for 53'6" AAR 50 ton flats
transporting
goods (especially military cargo) on the PRR in 1944? (I have one each
of
the NKP and CNW from the 1st release).

Much like boxcars, there was a shortage of General Service Flat Cars
during WW II continuing on until the early 1950's. In a speech before a
Chicago Traffic Club in January 1951, RAILWAY AGE reported that John
McCafferty, President of International Harvester, complained that the
shortage of flat cars was causing Harvester to seek other means to
transport farm equipment from factory to customer.

In June 1951, the B&M finally got their flat #33509 back on home rails
after a two and a half year hiatus in order to convert its K brake
system to AB - the B&M had been trying to get #33509 back on line for a
year, but it was being reloaded, once as close as New Haven CT, and
routed away. Only with the cooperation of the MoP and NYC who put a "no
loading" tag on it did #33509 return to the B&M.

General Service Flat Cars like Boxcars were free rollers, reloaded and
routed to consignees with little regard to the direction of the home
road. This was most pronounced during WW II, but continued on until the
1950's. Just about any General Service Flat Car could show up on any
road. During the War, the War Dept. was not too concerned with whose
flat car carried what piece of equipment.

Tim Gilbert