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Seaboard B3 boxcars
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ThisIsR@...
In reference to the SAL B3 boxcar discussion: I have a few
questions and comments. 1)Mr.Hendrickson:How could I get copies of your photos of the SAL B3- B4-B5 boxcars? I have a bad copy of a B3. 2)What exactly are "lumber doors?" I cannot see any indication of doors in the car ends. Also the ends of the car appear to be flat... no corrugations that I can see. I also have a copy of SAL's Condensed Roster of Equipment dated Dec. 31,1949. There is no notation of "lumber doors" associated with the B3/B4 classes. In 1949 Seaboard had 468 B3s and 633 B4s in operation. I also have a roster dated 3/24/39. Again there is no notation regarding "lumber doors." FWIW...in 1939 Seaboard had 926 B3s and 946 B4s in operation. The war was certainly tough on rolling stock! Richard Stallworth Seaboard Air Line...Through The HEART of the South!!!!! |
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Richard Hendrickson
In reference to the SAL B3 boxcar discussion: I have a fewRichard, the easiest way would be for me to send JPEGs if you can use them. 2)What exactly are "lumber doors?" I cannot see any indication ofThese were small doors in the upper part of one end (almost always the A end, though perhaps not on these cars) through which long pieces of lumber and similar cargo could be loeaded one piece at a time, back in the days when labor was cheap. They were common on cars built prior to WW II for the northwestern RRs like the GN and MILW, though less widely used in other parts of the country. The corrugated ends were applied only to the B-3 class. The other two classes had flat riveted steel ends with internal posts like those on the Pennsy X29s. Richard H. Hendrickson Ashland, Oregon 97520 |
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ibs4421@...
Dr. H. writes:
They were common on cars built prior to WW II for the northwestern RRs like the GN and MILW, though less widely used in other parts of the country. His student and admirer replies: It does not suprise me that there might be plenty of these cars for SAL or other SE RR's as there was a thriving lumber industry going on in the South from 1900-1930, especailly so during and just after WWI. I was unaware just how widespread this was until I got a copy of "Logging Railroads of Alabama." There were still vast stands of virgin timber in central and lower Alabama (L.A.) into the 20's. My grandfather ran a logging/timber/lumber business in East-Central Alabama until the Depression wiped him out. As I understand it, there was a similar volume of logging going on in other SE states during the same period. That being said, it does not suprise me that the SAL and others may have had a significant number of boxcars with "lumber doors." Warren Dickinson |
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Dave & Libby Nelson <muskoka@...>
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-----Original Message----- ICC data from 1950 indicates the deep south shipped 1/3 of the limber tonnage in the U.S., with Georgia and Alabama leading with 6% each. From other sources I recall gaining an understanding that the ICC set rates for lumber in a manner that effectively allocated markets (as was their practice) and that the boundary line that divided southern from western supplied markets moved over the years -- generally opening up more and more of the upper midwest and eastern markets to west coast lumber. But in the earlier years (perhaps those cited above) low rates from the South ensured they provided lumber to most everywhere east of the Mississippi river. Dave Nelson |
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Hi guys,
Replying to the question 22 years ago about the mysterious lumber doors on Seaboard SAL B3 and B4 boxcars, they were located at the top right of the flat plate riveted ends (X29-style) on the B4 cars. I believe this picture of a B4 in Seaboard MW service shows the vestigial lumber door. I have not seen an A-end-view of a B3 boxcar but they had corrugated ends. Maybe in 22 years... Owen Thorne, Cecil County, MD  -- T. Owen Thorne Cecil County MD USA owen at udel dot edu |
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