Fair enough. But I like to start with a photo and go from there. One of my challenges is that 1950’s paint isn’t a great reference for my 1946 model era. And my other challenge is that I

wasn't plans for this car, featured in MR back.in the 60' mel perry

Rob, I know nothing about those cars, but do know a little about photography. So I pass along that the color palette of WWII era Kodachrome, which was the slide film stock used back then, had a very

Bob Chaparro wrote: I love the trucks you can see in the photo! Tony Thompson tony@...

Photo: Wabash Gondola 2963 (Undated) Photo from the State Historical Society Of Missouri: https://cdm17228.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/imc/id/42531/rec/7 Scroll on the photo to enlarge

Photo: Pacific Electric Boxcar 10069 (1947) Photo from the Los Angeles Public Library: https://tessa.lapl.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/photos/id/28746/rec/40 Use the slider to enlarge the

Rob; As I recall, there are those great Delano photos, as well as others, taken in Chicago during WW2 that include some CB&Q cars. Elden Gatwood

Eric; Yes, and converted back to GS thereafter, sloped drop doors being removed 1929-’45-ish. The two photos of coke racks on GSD we put in the book are instructive. Yes, I have, but do not

My error. Here is PE 2417. Bob Chaparro Hemet, CA

As noted in the Pennsy gondola book, the GSD cars were out of coke service by 1931. Several years ago when I was researching the coal fields of north-central West Virginia I stumbled across an

Hi there, I'm looking for some WWII era colour images of CB&Q wood boxcars as a basis for painting and weathering a model. I intend to go through the Farm Administration Library of Congress

Eric; Spot on. I was unable to find the correspondence on the GS cars that went into coke service, but it is clear they did so. They were such early cars, they may have pre-dated the H22

Elden, Some customers may not have needed the cubic capacity that an H22 could deliver. IIRC from a certain published source, GSD gondolas had some modifications for coke, too. Eric

Thanks, Jack! I have not seen the explanation on why PRR chose that flooring in doorways only, for their X53 class meant for “sensitive” coil on pallets, but it may have been from their

Thanks for providing that, Bruce! I am looking for the specifics on the PRR’s coke cars, and will update when I find info. I appreciate everyone’s input! Elden Gatwood

Good point, CJ! I have seen cars with rods across the width of the car, and also those that had angles welded over the top chord to stiffen the car. Elden Gatwood

Thanks for sharing that, Bill! Very similar to PRR coke cars of that era. It appears that most (if not all) coke cars of this type did have the original doors removed as here:

Here is a screen shot I snagged off a Herron Rail video of an empty Monon coke car headed back to Indy on an NYC freight out of Bellefontaine, OH in 1955. Bill Darnaby

Thanks, Mont! That sounds like very similar experiences from those I’ve heard of RRs around my hometown, where they generated a LOT of coke. Elden Gatwood

Bill - You are correct. Hastings was the "epicenter" of the Florida potato industry. Hastings was served by the FEC, but the ACL, SAL, and SOU all had seasonal salesmen assigned in Hastings to try