Scott,

While there is always the concept of; "Any port in a
storm", diagram books have their shortcomings.

I will give you an example: For some time I have been
trying to make up a list of the CB&Q standard flats
that were converted to TOFC service. When I still was
a member of The CB&Q Group I was told that I was
wasting my time because the diagram book already had
the flats listed and I was coming up with extra numbers.

Now you tell me, Did the CB&Q take a trailer of Meat
at Lincoln and send it to Baltimore on a standard flat?
This was the era, (and within this list's scope), where
the only way any trailers were loaded was circus style.
If these flats were not modified how did they load them?

Was I on a fool's errand or did the Company just not
bother to include all the numbers that had been done?
Considering that much of the TOFC Meat loading was at
Lincoln at that time, (American Stores Packing),
Havelock could have been doing flats as needed on a
"off the books" basis. The investment in time and
materials is not very much.

Yes, diagram books do have their place. I have at least
one GN book. Like almost any of this documentation they
have to be compared with other sources.

I am not going to stick my neck far enough out to say
that Camel did not make doors at all but I can not recall
that name being connected with anything but hardware on
any road.

Russ


Actually based on information listed in more than one GN Freight
Car
Diagram book the doors are described as 'Camel' and the roof is
described as 'Murphy ...' so I would count these as two more
items
that are basically correct in the caption (that would make
four?).
Also the draft gear is described as Miner - air brake is AB
(information in 1951 digram books forward). Westinghouse KC was
removed way before the time period focus of the book (late 60s)-
there is only so much room on a page ... (that one does not
count as
a negative strike against me).



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