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Running Boards Variety On One Reefer

Jim Betz
 

Hi,

Since cars having this 'variety' in the running boards
are rare perhaps one of the following speculations
work ...

a) This was some kind of "test car" that was used to
compare the longevity or the quality of the footing
of the metal version - against the wood part.

b) Some other road replaced only the center portion
and used wood instead of metal - perhaps they
didn't have the correct metal type or something
like that.

c) Ice reefers had a 'known expiration date' in the
50's. The mech reefers had started to show up.
So "don't spend more money on the new tech
boards than we have to" (because the metal
ones will outlive the expected life of the car).

- just speculations on my part ... Jim B.

P.S. I use a color pic of a rail yard that looks down on
the tops of the cars as the background of my
computer desktop. You can pick out a lot of
different running boards in it. None of them
has this particular variant. And I've never
seen another shot of a car like this one.
Good Catch!

D. Scott Chatfield
 

Since the reefer has a diagonal panel roof I'm pretty sure it was built with steel running boards.


Scott Chatfield

Jack Mullen
 

Or perhaps the car was built with wood running boards, and when deteriorated sections were replaced, steel was used ?

Jack Mullen

riverman_vt@...
 




---In STMFC@..., <shhaycock@...> wrote :

Don,

Try scrolling down to see the picture.

Scott Haycock



Thanks Scott. That was not the problem but you made me try harder and
the solution was found. Can't help but wonder if this was the last of a group
of cars getting new running boards when it was found that there was not 
enough material left to complete the whole car so this was the best that 
could be done without cobbling things into a mess.

Cordially, Don Valentine




George Courtney
 

I think you have to be a member (free) of Railpictures to see the photos.  I'm a member and the link worked for me. Join up Railpictures and you should be able to see the link and many other photos.

George Courtney

rwitt_2000
 

Speculation:

Could it be a money saving update. The reefer company only placed "safety grid" metal running boards in the areas where workmen would be during ice loading. It seems to neatly done to be just a repair.

Bob Witt

Schuyler Larrabee
 

Don, scroll down quite a bit. It’s there. I was confused by this too.


Schuyler



From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...]
Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2016 4:56 PM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: Re: [STMFC] Running Boards Variety On One Reefer





Bob, the URL you provide gets me as far as Railpictures but no further. How does one get to the specific

photo? I did not see a search link to do that.



Thanks, Don Valentine





On Sun, 18 Dec, 2016 at 1:09, thecitrusbelt@... [STMFC]

<STMFC@...> wrote:



Notice the refrigerator car at the bottom of the photo. I'm guessing this was a temporary fix to allow the car to be kept in service with a perishable load:



<http://www.railpictures.net/photo/240806/> http://www.railpictures.net/photo/240806/



Any other explanations?



Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

NHJJ4@...
 

Just wondering how many people would model that car as is ?
 Heck I would.
 
 Jim Evans
 
In a message dated 12/18/2016 2:24:42 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, STMFC@... writes:

 

Bob Chaparro wrote:
Notice the refrigerator car at the bottom of the photo. I'm guessing this was a temporary fix to allow the car to be kept in service with a perishable load:


      The other thing I like in this photo is the gondola load. Many modelers seem to think cars like gondolas were always full when loaded, but of course the car just carried whatever the shipper needed to send. In waybill collections, you can find lots of loads under 10,000 pounds, bei ng carried in 50-ton cars.

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





Scott H. Haycock
 

Don,

Try scrolling down to see the picture.

Scott Haycock

 

Bob, the URL you provide gets me as far as Railpictures but no further. How does one get to the specific

photo? I did not see a search link to do that.

Thanks, Don Valentine





Tony Thompson
 

Bob Chaparro wrote:
Notice the refrigerator car at the bottom of the photo. I'm guessing this was a temporary fix to allow the car to be kept in service with a perishable load:


      The other thing I like in this photo is the gondola load. Many modelers seem to think cars like gondolas were always full when loaded, but of course the car just carried whatever the shipper needed to send. In waybill collections, you can find lots of loads under 10,000 pounds, being carried in 50-ton cars.

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





riverman_vt@...
 

Bob, the URL you provide gets me as far as Railpictures but no further. How does one get to the specific
photo? I did not see a search link to do that.

Thanks, Don Valentine



On Sun, 18 Dec, 2016 at 1:09, thecitrusbelt@... [STMFC]
<STMFC@...> wrote:
 

Notice the refrigerator car at the bottom of the photo. I'm guessing this was a temporary fix to allow the car to be kept in service with a perishable load:

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/240806/

 

Any other explanations?

 

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

Paul Doggett <paul.doggett2472@...>
 

Bob
That would make an interesting model thanks for sharing.

On Sun, 18 Dec, 2016 at 1:09, thecitrusbelt@... [STMFC]
wrote:
 

Notice the refrigerator car at the bottom of the photo. I'm guessing this was a temporary fix to allow the car to be kept in service with a perishable load:

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/240806/

 

Any other explanations?

 

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

thecitrusbelt@...
 

Notice the refrigerator car at the bottom of the photo. I'm guessing this was a temporary fix to allow the car to be kept in service with a perishable load:

 

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/240806/

 

Any other explanations?

 

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

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