Tom Cornillie, "rrhistorian," wrote:

Likewise, many of
these cars were built for Canadian National in 1957 (where they were
used in freight service) . . .

Actually there were three groups of these cars: 25 74'5" cars were constructed by Canadian Car & Foundry in 10-11/1956 under lot 2141 at 570400-570424. 50 more were built in 4/1959 under lot 2257 (570425-570474) for a total of 75 cars. There were also 75 shorter 56'5" cars built in 5/1959 under lot 2258 as 570700-570774.

The cars were renumbered as part of the 1966 renumbering: 74' cars became 730000-730073, 56' cars to 720000-720069 (obviously some attrition had taken place by then). Some subsequent renumbering saw some 720000-series cars renumbered to 720100-720139, and there was a planned renumbering of some 730000-series cars to 731000-731017 which was cancelled. Nearly all of the 74' cars were sold to Auto Train in 1973 (5 were left, with 730034 being a long-term survivor). One of the 56' cars was rebuilt into a double deck stock car

One of the 56' cars (570767) was rebuilt into double deck stock car 179000 in 1965, and quickly renumbered 820000. Drawings and photos of this car were featured in RMC some years ago.

Unless you're a CN or Auto Train modeller, these cars probably aren't of much use to you -- CN's cars were noted as "not for interchange", and I suspect that they didn't work well with the later autoracks. 15 cars found use in Newfoundland as auto transporters after being retrucked for the narrow-gauge operations there. Some also found employment on CN's "Auto-With-You" and "Car-Go-Rail" services, variations of Auto Train type services, one with the cars attached to the passenger train, the other moving the cars in regular freight service.

Over the years Bachmann and Walthers have offered models of the 74' cars, and Sylvan offers models of the 56' cars in resin.

Ian Cranstone
Osgoode, Ontario, Canada
lamontc@...
http://freightcars.nakina.net


(570400-570474)
74'5" Steel Auto Transport Boxcar - upper deck 5'9", lower deck 5'10", not for interchange service - 0 (to 7/56), ... (10/56), 25 (1/57-4/59), 75 (7/59-10/63), 74 (1/64-7/66), 36 (10/66), 4 (1/67), 0 (4/67 on).
Series listed as 570400-570424 (10/56-7/58).
Listed as 570400-570424 (25 cars) & 570425-570474 (... cars) (1/59-4/59).
Series listed as 570410-570472 (10/66).
Series listed as 570413-570460 (1/67).
570400-570424 built by Canadian Car & Foundry lot 2141 10-11/56, 570425-570474 built by Canadian Car & Foundry lot 2257 4/59. 570400-570424 renumbered 730000-730024, 570425-570474 renumbered 730025-730073.

(570700-570774)
56'5" Steel Auto Transport Boxcar - upper deck 5'9", lower deck 5'10", not for interchange service - 0 (to 10/58), ... (1/59-4/59), 75 (7/59-10/63), 72 (1/64-1/65), 71 (4/65-7/66), 40 (10/66), 6 (1/67), 0 (4/67 on).
Series listed as 570700-570773 (10/66).
Series listed as 570720-570773 (1/67).
Built by Canadian Car & Foundry lot 2258 5/59. Renumbered 720000-720069, 570767 rebuilt into stock car 179000 4/65.