Need help finding pictures of a C&NW 200 ton flat car.

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Maybe someone out there has pics of one of these 200 ton flat cars.

Only 2 of them were made for the Chicago and North Western.

The car numbers were 48053 and 48051.

Would really appreciate pictures of the cars.

Thanks

Happy railroading[(-D]

James

2

Do you mean the double truck cars similar to the Athearn model?

Dave Nelson

3

I am not a member of the Chicago & Northwestern Historical Society, but I would think that this organization would be a good source of information about these 200 ton flat cars. And it is possible that at one time or another they might have published something about them. I myself went looking for information about them via the internet and was not able to come up with anything.

CANADIANPACIFIC2816

4

Yes those are them. Do you know what color they are?

Canadianpacific- thanks for the help. I will give the cnwhs a look.

Happy railroading[(-D]

James

5

Do you mean like this Athearn model?

6

There is an article about these 2 flat cars in the publication of the C & NW Historical Society, “North Western Lines”, Number 2, 2006. There are several pictures and drawings included in the story. Back issues are probably available from the organization. I got my copy from a hobby shop, even though it was not the current issue, so that is another possible source.

7

The Athearn model now seems available in yellow but I strongly doubt if the prototype cars were ever painted yellow. The photos I have seen are black and white but do not look like any color other than standard CNW boxcar red.

Surprisingly I have yet to find any photos on the internet of the prototype cars. However the 1937 Car Builder’s Cyclopedia shows the car on page 211 and a detail drawing of the special bolster, on page 213. Since that is a collector’s item book I suspect you do not have a copy (although some very large public libraries MIGHT have it in the reference section). Fortunately the photos have been reprinted in at least two Train Shed Cyclopedias, which might be out of print but which are seen at many swap meets. I have it in Train Shed Cyclopedias Nos 17 and 46. Interestingly the Pennsylvania Railroad class F-34 flatcar was virtually identical.

My best guess then is that the cars were boxcar brownish-red with white lettering more or less centered in the thickest part of the center of the car side.

Dave Nelson