Photo: C&O/Pere Marquette/ Gondola

Photo from the Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, MI:

https://www.michigansteamtrain.com/about/equipment/chesapeake-and-ohio-gondola-31262

Related photo of Pere Marquette gondola 18400:

https://www.michigansteamtrain.com/application/files/4215/8506/7599/PM_Gondola_18400.jpg

Diagram of PM 18400-18649 gondolas:

https://www.michigansteamtrain.com/application/files/3115/8506/7603/PM_Gondola_Diagram.jpg

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

Poultry Car Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5HZ4Hy8Rcw

This basically is a short video about a G scale poultry car with a narrative on poultry shipping. It does feature two photos of prototype LPTC 779 at 1:03 and 1:54. There are low-quality photos of two other poultry cars at 0:55 and 1:24.

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

I have a long list of HO RTR and Kits for sale with more to come.  The list is attached as a PDF file.  However, if you need to have either and Excel or a PDF mailed direct to you please ASK OFF LIST and I will zap it to you.

To be courteous to others, please send questions to me OFF LIST to allencaintn@gmail.com or just click "Reply To Sender".

This list is based on a running inventory that I have kept over the past 30 years.  Once you let me know what you are interested in I will put my hands on them and inspect them before asking for payment.

Postage will be added based on your preferred shipping method of either USPS Priority Mail or First Class Mail.  If you desire, insurance can be added at your cost.

I accept PayPal FRIENDS AND FAMILY payments, PayPal Standard Payments with 3% fee added to the cost, or a check with shipment held for a week for the check to clear.

Thanks for looking!

Allen Cain

On Fri, May 8, 2020 at 08:12 AM, David Allen wrote:

Consider NP 70049-70073, 35T cap, IL=33'1", IW=7'11", IH=5'9". Plans in American Engineer 70, 1896, pg34

Yes, I think you nailed it.  Plans match the photo. Thanks!
Here's a link to the cited issue, from the Linda Hall Library.
http://lhldigital.lindahall.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/rrjournal/id/6045

Jack Mullen

Stilwell's Oyster Car

An article from the Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission, The Preservation Of Fishery Products For Food by Charles H. Stevenson, published in 1898:

"A railroad car for the special transportation of live oysters, invented by Mr. A. E. Stilwell, of Kansas City, Mo., has been used to some extent during the last year or two on the Kansas City, Port Arthur and Gulf Railroad. The interior of the car is 34 feet long, 8-feet wide, and 4 feet high, the space being divided into four compartments, each of which has two ventilators in the top through which the oysters are loaded, and two unloading spaces in the side. The floor and sides of tile car are constructed of 3 inch white pine, calked and pitched in the manner of ships, so as to make the compartments water-tight. These compartments are first nearly filled with oysters, and then sufficient sea water is added to cover them."

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

Lookin’ good Bob,

Bob,

Great work!  How did you fade the body color?

Jim Brewer

Bob 

Bruce Hendrick of Brea, CA, commented:

"To build this car today I would think scratch-building in Evergreen styrene would be far easier than the wood & metal kit in the unlikely event one could be found. Printing the zero perspective Smithsonian photo and the kit instructions diagram to the proper scale provides a workable template.

If I were to build this I would seek out a 36’ gondola or reefer as a donor for floor, underframe, truss-rods, and such. Does anyone make the proper trucks or something close?

A question. I do not recall seeing a North American freight car “numbered” with letters. Can someone explain how these cars came to be A, B, and C?"

The LIRR had regular ‘fisher-man’ trains East that included modified combines/baggage cars with internal tanks, and coolers for the catches. No visual outside differences-except some small signs to inform the fishermen. The tiny town of Blue Point had oysters that were considered one of the best. The LIRR ran regular reefers daily from the Blue Point (&East) to the city in the 1890’s. I hope they were dedicated cars. Oyster smell and produce don’t mix well! I know of no reefer photos of the cars used. William Smith

And here are some models as seen on WorthPoint:

    The middle one is Red Ball and I would guess there might be a lot of these kits around, someplace!:-D

-- 
Jon Miller
For me time stopped in 1941
Digitrax  Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI User
SPROG User
NMRA Life member #2623
Member SFRH&MS

Oyster Cars

Here is a modeling article from the Cannon Ball, the official publication of the Sunrise Trail Division/NMRA:

http://sunrisetraildiv.nernmra.org/Cannonballs/4403Fall2014.pdf

The article starts on Page 1.

And here are some models as seen on WorthPoint:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ho-scale-custom-kcp-32-stilwell-1825096945

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ho-hon3-stilwell-oyster-car-wood-cast-1864614923

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ho-craftsman-kcp-stilwell-oyster-car-2021794799

Bob Chaparro

Moderator

Railway Bull Shippers Group (Including Fish & Salt Water Bivalve Mollusks)

https://groups.io/g/RailwayBullShippersGroup

On Fri, May 8, 2020 at 12:50 PM, Hudson Leighton wrote:

https://www.shorpy.com/node/25590

What a great photograph. The clarity of the 8 x 10 glass plate negative is remarkable. A lot of interesting details. Can't make out the name on float barges, but appears to be 12 letters - Pennsylvania?  All the way on right - two tugs towing at least three sailing ships. New York require this as ships under sail were difficult to control in the harbor traffic.  

As usual, you should be able to get a higher resolution scan of this photo from the Library of Congress site.
I've not tried with this one, but the information needed to find it should be in the Shorpy description:
"Williamsburg Bridge and East River waterfront."

Tom E.

J, et al,

Actually, there were three Stillwell Oyster Cars that were built. Car A, Car B, and Car C. Cars B and C were involved in a train wreck enroute to the railroad from the builder and were completely destroyed and never replaced. Car A survived and was used for a short time, however, was discontinued because the loading and unloading process and the inability to keep the oysters fresh by changing out the water in the brine tanks brought about its demise. There are great pictures of Car A, however B and C may not exist. I've post up pictures of Car A for everyone. I am having the top vents and decals made for all three cars. Cars were painted dark blue, which is very rare for the era, as blue pigment paints were not readily available and the pigments didn't last under the effects of the sun. Letting is either white or silver.

Levi