Jim,

The Bowser F-30a 50' flat is good for conversion to the first PRR and LV pig flats, as that is what both these roads exactly did: convert an existing flat by adding the side rails, tie downs and end plates. The LV had AeroVans (although the LV were 33' 4") and AeroVans were commonly used as pig trailers. The M&StL is one that comes to mind.

"Early" is one of those relative terms. July 1954 is a key date (but late for the steam era), when six roads (LV, PRR, Erie, B&O, Wabash, NKP) started. The DL&W had started in June 1954. By the end of 54 more roads had joined in. The New Haven stated in the early 1930's and was handling 50,000 trailers a year by the mid-50s. The Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee, an interurban, started 1926. The LIRR is generally credited as the first US road, handling farm wagons on flats in 1884. A Nova Scotia road was before the LIRR (forget name & date right now)

Search the archives for "steam era trailers on flat", "early piggyback cars", "40's and 50's trailers" and "steam era piggyback flatcars". There's a good amount of info on prototypes and models from prior discussions.

Take Care,
Rich Chapin

Tony writes:

"Interesting data. The SP began piggyback in May of 1953 and by the
mid-1950s, was acclaimed by _Trains_ magazine as the "piggyback champ" due to its
traffic volume.

For a whole lot more on this topic, I really recommend David DeBoer's book,
_Piggyback and Containers_ from Golden West Books.

Tony Thompson"




But as we all now realize, it took a PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD President to pull
the pieces together and make the whole thing make common sense nationwide
by starting TRAILER TRAIN Corporation. That was 50 years ago.

Greg Martin

Rich Chapin wrote:

"Early" is one of those relative terms. July 1954 is a key date (but late for the steam era), when six roads (LV, PRR, Erie, B&O, Wabash, NKP) started. The DL&W had started in June 1954. By the end of 54 more roads had joined in. The New Haven stated in the early 1930's and was handling 50,000 trailers a year by the mid-50s . . .

Interesting data. The SP began piggyback in May of 1953 and by the mid-1950s, was acclaimed by _Trains_ magazine as the "piggyback champ" due to its traffic volume.
For a whole lot more on this topic, I really recommend David DeBoer's book, _Piggyback and Containers_ from Golden West Books.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Greg Martin wrote:

But as we all now realize, it took a PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD President to pull
the pieces together and make the whole thing make common sense nationwide
by starting TRAILER TRAIN Corporation. That was 50 years ago.

Ah, these Pennsy guys. If history isn't on their side (and sadly, it often isn't), they rewrite it. Gene Ryan (most certainly NOT of the PRR) founded Rail-Trailer, which had the original PRR and other contracts, and was the basis for Trailer Train when it was formed in 1955. But Pennsy people did dominate the early staffing of TT.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

The article that Tony referenced is on page 21 of September 1956, "Piggy
Back Champ", by William D. Middleton. Several good photos to go along with
5 page article. 61,575 trailers handled in 1955 per article.

Art Marr
Reno, NV