An article beginning on page 605 of the Railway Age magazine dated April 9, 1932 describes the GATX Dry-Flo tank car which was essentially a tank car with loading hatches along the top and an unloading outlet centered in the bottom. Intended for dry granular material, unloading was accomplished with "two drag-chain conveyers within the tank which draw the lading from each end toward the center discharge opening."

I have a copy of the above mentioned article.

I discovered an M&StL AFE indicating the M&StL leased one Dry-Flo car. Neither the purpose of the lease nor the length of the lease is included in the AFE.

I have enough material for a brief article in a historical society magazine except there are no photos. Copying the photos from the copy of the above mentioned article would be of quesionable ethics but, more importantly, would yield really crummy photos.

Can anyone suggest a source of a photo of any GATX Dry-Flo car?

I have already checked with Mr. Hendrickson and have checked the Nat'l Archives of Canada index to the Merrilees collection. Any suggestions would be welcome.

I am not interested in anyone's suppositions about the M&StL lease or the commodity that might have been hauled.

Thanks in advance for the overwhelming response I know I'll get. ;)

Gene Green

--- In STMFC@..., "Gene Green" <bierglaeser@...> asked:

Can anyone suggest a source of a photo of any GATX Dry-Flo car?

If I'm not mistaken there's a photo and a line drawing of one of these cars in a CBC. I think the page is reprinted in the tank car Trainshed.

Ed

Thanks Ed, I'll have a look since I have a pretty complete collection of CBCs
Gene

Gene, are you only interested in the 1932 vintage car? GATC had "Dry-Flo" cars pictured in the 1961 CBC: UP 19249 and GACX 50000. I know of an RMC article as well for these later cars.

KL

Kurt,
I'm not sure but probably only the 1932 vintage car. I sold all my Cycs dated after 1950. Darn! I'll search for the RMC article. Do you have a citation?

Gene Green

--- On Fri, 5/1/09, Gene Green <bierglaeser@...> wrote
<Kurt,

I'm not sure but probably only the 1932 vintage car. I sold all my Cycs dated after 1950. Darn! I'll search for the RMC article. Do you have a citation?



Gene Green>
Gene,There are are 2 photos and 2 drawings in the Train Shed Cyc #12  p351. The date is 1937. It would be an interesting model with the chains exposed outside the ends. Must have been a problem with dirt and wet collecting on the outside and then transfered inside.
CJ Riley






















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RMC 11/90. It has photo of CB&Q 85301 and listing of the 3500 cu ft Dry-Flo cars. Production started in 1958. I also recall a photo in the Classic Frieght Cars volume on large LOs.

KL

--- In STMFC@..., cj riley <cjriley42@...> wrote:

Gene,There are are 2 photos and 2 drawings in the Train Shed Cyc #12  p351. The date is 1937. It would be an interesting model with the chains exposed outside the ends. Must have been a problem with dirt and wet collecting on the outside and then transfered inside.
CJ Riley

The design couldn't have been too successful or there would have been more of them. The covered hopper we are used to seeing had no moving parts. That has to be an advantage.

What struck me was that such a small, conservatively run railroad as the M&StL would try something that departed so far from the norm.

Gene Green

I didn't know or didn't recall that GATX used the term "Dry-Flo" to refer to later products of the covered hopper type.

My question was about a tank car using a pair of conveyer belts to move granular material to the center of the tank car for unloading. The external characteristics of note were small loading hatches along the top of the car on either side of the dome. There was also a "houseing" at each end through with the conveyer belt ran.

Gene Green

I looked at that RMC article for years. the kitbash described used two Eastern Car Works Airslide flat kits. I finally built it, but only because Eastern Car Works came out with a kit. The kit has two sets of Airslide sides and newly tooled roof and floor. You have to cut up the sides and reassemble, but the job is easy and the results are good.

SKay