On Mar 9, 2017, at 12:44 PM, thecitrusbelt@... [STMFC] <STMFC@...> wrote:

The NP originally ordered the car because they had shippers that wanted a shorter car. The car was stenciled with MDT reporting marks when delivered but as stated below would be acquired by the NP a few years later as there was little added value provided by MDT.

From the Tacoma Public Library. Caption:

A Northern Pacific Railway refrigerator car is stationary on tracks in a 1957 photograph requested by the Pacific Car & Foundry Co. All vital information regarding the boxcar is listed on its side, including weight, dimensions and capacity limits. Apparently this was a newly engaged car as of September, 1957.

http://cdm17061.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p17061coll21/id/1792/rec/1699

 

Use the slider above the photo to enlarge it.

 

The photo shows that the car owner is Pacific Car & Foundry and NP is the lessee. A Northern Pacific document, Status Of Authorities For Expenditure (http://www.nprha.org/NP%20AFE%20Index/NP_1960.pdf), shows that this car was approved for purchase by the railroad on 1-8-60 and this action was completed 12-30-59 (an after-the-fact authorization probably for tax purposes).

 

As this car appears to be a one-of-a-kind, what happened to it? I would think its relatively short, forty-foot nominal length contributed to an early demise, but that is just a guess.

 

Thanks.

 

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA