Richard Hendrickson wrote: Interesting point. I've just spent time reviewing six John Signor SP books, along with about 2000 of my own SP photos, all transition era, with a view to this same

John, you didn't mention if you CASO site, but if you haven't this link might shed some light. http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/NYC-MODELS-FREIGHT.htm However others, Jeff English I suspect, will

Examining the video, The Big Boy Collection, 5 trains with a total of 278 box cars were viewed. One had a door partially open. The shots were taken in 1953. No sign of a fork lift <g>. Incidentally,

Gentlemen, I'm finishing about a half dozen HO NYC cars and am in need of help with heralds. Am using the new Speedwitch decal set on all the house cars--one each 1937 (Red Caboose), 1937 Modified

I'm not sure why the discussion of this topic has descended to the level of personal insults, but I think it's time to call a halt to what strikes me as offensive reverse snobbery. Most of us on this

Mike Brock wrote: The SP rule book in force in the early 1950s states in Rule 866: "Freight conductors are responsible for the security of freight while in their charge. Seals and fastenings of

While I'm at it, let's use the subject line to indicate what one's message is about. Many of the recent messages are more associated with general box car door operation rather than the Erie frt train.

More than I'd like to count. Probably the reason the doors were not as bad as some of the cars you experienced was they were in grain service and generally they had not experienced mechanical help to

Well...I see the photo of the Erie frt train with open doors on box cars has generated quite a few messages. I would caution the members to not criticize other members for comments that disagree with

Art Marr wrote: Of course I'm well aware that you do what you have to do. I have seen "fools" use a forklift to open several car doors without checking to see if they can be opened by

Peter ever opened. By the way Tony, those "idiot" fork lift drivers who slamed the doors open, were for the most part very experienced at their job and would never waste time to open a door by such

Believe it or not Peter, although most were blue collar workers, and except for some of us college students, we and they had a grasp on the proper door operating procedures and laziness had nothing

I might have missed it but I haven't seen anyone mention that the door was braked until you pulled the door lever over to engage the roller. Only the odd car needed *extra* help. Any use of forklifts

Tony, In the real world when the boss says get it open you do whatever it takes and if he says use a fork you use a fork. Has nothing to do with fools but actually getting the job done.After all you

Paul Nunes wrote: New box car doors of the type you describe could indeed be moved by one man and did indeed slide during hard braking. In later years, as you mention, rust was a problem, and

the sliding box car doors were not so easy to actually slide on the rails. They did not have modern roller bearing wheels on the bottom to roll on. Rather rusty steel rollers & as you mention, it

Tony, I'll concur with Paul on this one. I saw many a 'Bo heading North in the spring and south in the fall enjoying the scenery from an open door through Redding. This was especially true of the

I've posted a bunch of new stuff at Castle Graphics, CB&Q steam locos, C&S steam, CB&Q wood freight cars & waycars, BN locos in Q paint and more...enjoy! http://www.castlegraphics.com Cheers! Jan

you lived than where I grew up in the bay area. As a kid I could throw a rock out the window & hit the ATSF tracks, yet for some reason the SP was my favorite, maybe cause they still ran steam. Many

Paul Nunes wrote: My experience watching SP freights in the early 1950s in southern California is that doors were rarely if ever open on mainline trains. The Burbank and Saugus locals were