Doug Harding wrote:

"Now for some questions:

1) Was the paper on the inside or outside of the car? I would speculate
the outside, otherwise the hogs would rip it off and harm themselves with
whatever fastener was used to hold the paper in place (staples?)."


I can't imagine the task of papering the outside of a single sheathed car and would tend to believe the cars were lined on the inside. Additionally, covering up the reporting marks and car data would enter into the equation. From AAR Freight Claims Bulletin No. 1110 (October of 1951); "During periods of stormy or severe cold weather the side of the car should be lined (up to four feet or more in height) with heavy paper, or battened in order to provide additional protection. This prevents a draft on the animals and raises the temperature of the car considerably." I would interpret "lined" as being inside the car."



"2) Would the paper have been similar to the paper later used in grain
doors? Or was it felt paper, ie 15lb rolled roofing paper, which was
commonly used to weather proof buildings, esp before siding was installed."


Very similar to the heavy rolled paper which was used for lining and padding cars far in advance of paper grain doors. Paper grain doors were double layered with steel banding embedded between the layers. There is little chance that roofing felt was used inside a stock car.


"3) Did they use slats or lath to keep the paper in place?"


Lath may have been used, the paper could have been stapled, nailed with felt or umbrella nails or, as was highly recommended by the early 1950s for paper lining, it could have been taped.



"5) Why reuse the same cars? If they can paper one car, they can paper
any car."


Why go to the added expense of papering more cars when you already had enough to serve the purpose? Again, it wasn't a requirement to clean and re-bed stock cars after each unloading.


Guy Wilber
Sparks, Nevada













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