Checked my OER and it's a 50 FT alright, noted as being for paper loading. I missed that the NH's were 40 FT and not like the one I found.
From 03/08/1987, Tropicana TPIX 239 at Wildwood, FL, built 04/1980. Built to haul unit trains of orange juice north to NJ, these were beautiful cars back then. The juice cars still roll today, but the cars I see are white and covered in graffiti.
Amen to that brother Location means a lot as well and if it's not your own photo, the photographer or source should be listed so proper credit is given
Ooops, found a few more Q cars. CBQ 47363 from 04/12/1987 at Mendota, IL. CBQ 86183 from 08/19/1989 at Atlanta, GA CBQ 85146 from 03/1988 at Montgomery, AL
The spotting feature, which helped give it away, was the sliding door - versus the plug door used on the NH (and BAR) 40' insulated cars.
From 04/25/1993 at Montgomery, AL, GN 319428, built 04/1970 per the stencil, a few months after BN. Lots of Sky Blue touch up paint there.
The Big Sky Blue cars like that looked great when they were new. It seems many derided GN for that scheme but I have always liked it. Doug
Former Southern Pacific GE (flashing ditch lights)leading a westbound Z train into Bertram, IA. September 6, 2023 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have no issues with what some others have dismissed as "meaningless" "pretty pictures" if they lack date and location info. Apparently, there are different interpretations of this thread's title, which is "Random Railfan Prototype Photos for All."
When I created this thread, I supposed it would be populated with random photos taken by members, random as in geography and in topic. It's morphed into much more and that's fine. The images you find and sometimes post sans detail are of such unusual excellence that they often spawn good conversation as we seek to fill in the blanks.
Loading a box car at the Champion Paper mill in Houston, Texas. May 1943. John Vachon photo. Library of Congress collection.
I agree with Hardcoaler up to a point. But I disagree in that I recognize many of the locations and/or equipment, but am frustrated because I can't recall where, or what, or when. I'm sure it's due to being 88. Possibly also because I've been many places and ridden many trains for more than 80 years, and enjoy recalling those memories with a little help. So please, a little consideration and compassion would be appreciated. Thanks, Hank
No disrespect intended @Hytec and I completely understand. I always enjoy your recollections, especially those of New England railroading. So much has changed up that way that it's hard for me to understand what once was. Your posts on the Corkscrew Division had me rereading my copy of Shaughnessy's Rutland Road.
I would have thought that paper products would have been shipped in a more solid car, even in wartime.
An ES44AC leads the Virginian heritage unit on NS 25P, past the decaying remnants of the platform canopy in Wernersville, PA, on 09/05/23, last Tuesday.
