On Oct 28, 2022, at 12:33 AM, Ed Hawkins <hawk0621@...> wrote:



On Oct 27, 2022, at 6:47 PM, Gary Bechdol <garyeb1947@...> wrote:

According to my diagram book, WofA boxcar series 17700-17847 were rebuilt from series 17000-17147 in 1948-1949.  The series 17000-17147 boxcars were ARA XM-1 cars built in 1926 by Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, not USRA single sheathed boxcars. 

<snip>

Gary and Eric,

Gary, you are correct about the WofA 17700-17847 diagram that specifies the rebuilding in 1948-1949, as well as the origin of the original cars. The diagram for identical steel rebuilds A&WP 37700-37833 state the same information except for Miner hand brakes instead of a mix of Miner & Ajax hand brakes for WofA. 

Interestingly, ORER quantities for both railroads are quite contrary to the 1948-1949 period of the rebuilds stated in these diagrams dated May 1, 1952, of which I have copies.

18 WofA, 15 A&WP, 7/49

25 WofA, 26 A&WP, 4/51

35 WofA, 32 A&WP, 1/52

53 WofA, 54 A&WP, 1/53

57 WofA, 55 A&WP, 10/53

Per the ORER the quantity of 57 WofA cars remained steady from 10/53 thru 1/59, whereas the quantity of 55 A&WP cars remained steady thru at least 7/57 but reduced to 54 cars in 1/58 & 1/59. Unfortunately the only two photos of these steel rebuilds I have (same as on Protocraft.com) with readable data do not specify a rebuild date, but rather just the original build date & the most-recent reweigh date.

In this case I would side with the ORER quantities such that the rebuilding period extended from 1948 to 1953. 

Given that from March-April & June 1956 new A&WP and WofA 50’ & 40’ PS-1s received aluminum painted sides & doors with black ends, it’s certainly conceivable that these steel rebuilds may have been repainted in the aluminum scheme during the mid-to-late 1950s. 

Regards,

Ed Hawkins

I paged through Vol 17 of the Railway Prototype Cyclopedia and did not see a reference to Western Railway of Alabama owning USRA single-sheathed rebuilds. But I note the line is listed with the Atlanta & West Point and the Georgia Railroad in the 1943 ORER. The RPCyc has details and photos of Georgia Railroad USRA single-sheathed rebuilds. Possibly, some of these were transferred to WofA ownership in later years. I do not have a later ORER to consult. Do you have photos of these cars?

 

From the RPCyc, the Georgia Railroad rebuilt their USRA single-sheathed cars in the late 1930s. Steel sheets replaced the wood sheathing. Youngstown corrugated steel doors and AB brake systems replaced the original hardware. Hutchins roofs were installed on some of the cars. They were also renumbered.

 

The cars were painted freight car red. In the late 1950s, the car color changed to aluminum on the car sides and black for the roof and ends.

 

 

Eric Hansmann

Would anyone know what year the Western Railway of Alabama acquired USRA Steel Rebuilt Boxcar Series 17700?  What year were they painted Oxide Red? Did the Silver cars come later as a re-paint or were the silver cars a different year and series build?

Thanks,
 Eric Thur