--- In STMFC@..., "Fritz Milhaupt" <fmilhaupt@...> wrote:

The one that I felt was most striking was the Murphy end made of two steel vertical panels with 8 vertical ribs per panel, as used on the PM's 85500-series Western Steel Car & Foundry DS boxcars, as shown at http://www.fritzmilhaupt.com/bbgraphics/85500EndSm.jpg

I've always assumed that there panels were stamped in the same dies as USRA box car ends, gon ends etc. Maybe they had different ends, sides, thicknesses of metal etc.

These panels were used as replacements in RDG hoppers, not only for the ends but also in the bodies.