In a message dated 8/7/2017 12:51:28 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
STMFC@... writes:
It looks
like the gon coupled to the boxcar was here moved with the drop doors open.
While we are at it, the boxcar was probably moved with the door open as
well...
Though I cannot speak for the era in the photo, I've seen plenty of boxcars
moving with one or both doors open and hoppers, but not drop-bottom gons, with
dump doors open but certainly fewer than boxcar doors. Hopper doors could
strike grade crossings while boxcar doors created drag. I can only image
if the lateral doors of a drop-bottom gon struck some object. Of course,
since they were outside the gauge, there was probably less opportunity for this
to occur. Either way, don't be too surprised that rules/instructions
weren't strictly adhered to ...
David Payne
Who once flagged down a train dragging an open hopper door ...
