hi, this is a very old thread but i'm wondering if anyone could direct me to a picture of the IC low-side hoppers converted from boxcars? it looks an interesting prototype. regards, ben

The single-door ATSF car is a Bx-3 or Bx-6 (ref 1). The taller double-door car, given that the panels aren't extra-wide, looks to me like an Fe-P. The Fe-P was a 40-foot car; classes Fe-Q and Fe-R

Once again I am reminded that I should read all the messages before responding to one. At least 3 gentlemen responded with an answer as good as or better than mine. Gene Green

Bill, Let's not reinvent the wheel. It is my opinion that the best source to answer your questions is the Dictionary of Terms found in the beginning of each Car Builders' Cyc. To answer your

Bill, I can't help with your specific questions. But to add to possible confusion, I do know that the terms stockpen & stockyard later became stock pen and stock yard in common usage. Believe the

Sure, Bill. The extensive "Dictionary of Car Terms" at the front of every issue of the Car Builders' Cyclopedias covers almost any term you might use and represents what was standard practice in

For what its worth, Claus, the term most commonly used by Santa Fe freight car historians/modelers is "sectional sheathed." Richard Hendrickson

Jim, the rationale for combination sliding door/plug door box cars was simple. Double doors made it much easier to load cars with fork lifts, but it was difficult to secure loads behind sliding

Dennis, Interesting point made about the plug doors failing. From what I read during my research, the plug doors were susceptible to early failure and required replacement much sooner than

Bill, Thank you for asking.  Do not the early Car Builder's Cyclopedias have a list of terms?   Good questions. Al Kresse

Jim, You are spot on about part of the commodities carried in this sort of box car. The 6' sliding door was used as the traditional opening to load grain into the car while the plug door stayed

Bill Welch wrote: Bill, I assume you mean as a supplement or extension of the extensive dictionary entry in every Car Builders Cyc issue? Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press,

Bill, This was the original purpose of the Car Builder's Dictionary, later the Car Builder's Cyclopedia, published every three or four years all through our period of interest. Just pick a year that

The large door opening was good for loading lumber, while with the plug door closed it could be set up with grain doors like a standard boxcar, which is something a double door car with standard doors

Good idea Bill....Go for it. Armand Premo

Does anyone have contact information or an email address for Thornton Waite in Idaho Falls, Idaho? Larry Sexton

Hi List Members, As one might expect, searching "railroad" in the images section of the San Francisco Public Library web site (www.spfl.org) turns up a lot of images of streetcars and cable cars. But

During the early-mid 50's some 40' combo door boxcars, as represented bu Accurail's 3800-series, began to appear on Western/Northwestern Roads. What was the purpose of providing a boxcar with both a

I realize I may be opening a BIG can of worms with the issue I am about to broach, but on the other hand, perhaps others have wondered about the same thing. The issue seems more pregnant as I continue

Andy, Is there some way you could provide some pictures of the truck you are offering? Thanks, Larry Platt