I am looking for good sources for reference so I know what rolling stock to use to carry products. Some are obvious, like oil in tank cars and vehicles in autoracks. However, others appear to fit more than one car type and there are those that are confusing as to type used for carrying. So is there a good reference place to match up railcars and products carried?
The Car Builder’s Cyclopedia often features this sort of information. They tend to be pricey collectibles. The popular Trainshed Cyclopedias are reprints of portions of them and are more affordable (and more findable) but focus on vintage steam-era years rather than modern.
Dave Nelson
Quote: “what rolling stock to use to carry products. Some are obvious, like oil in tank cars and vehicles in autoracks…”
Not necessarily so obvious.
“Oil in tank cars” Actually, oil up through transition era in ICC103 /AAR mechancical designation TM tank cars: non-pressurized, expansion dome-- often with riveted seams; or ICC104/ AAR mechanical designation TMI, non-pressure, expansion dome but with insulation jacket. The jacket often covered with sheet metal relatively thinner than actual tank walls, and this thin jack would be welded and might extend slightly over the edge of the end cap, making it slightly recessed.
“Vehicles in autoracks”…or back in boxcar era, in automobile boxcars, 40’ or 50’ cars with double doors on each side, sometimes end doors. Had tilting racks inside so 4 autos could fit in one car. Cars would be classified XA usuable ONLY for automobile loading, or XAP for auto parts, sometimes with special inside racks, or XAM usable for auto loading AND general meerchandise.
INSULATED boxcars with plug doors like modern refrigerator cars, but without any refrigeration mechanical or iced. AAR mechanical designation XI. Used for loads that required SOME protection from temperature, such as baked goods, beer. “State of Maine” potato cars from Bangor and Aroostok and New Haven had heaters to protect potatoes from freezing. D&RGW had boxcars called “Cookie Box”.
Otherwise ordinary boxcars specially dedicated to food service, kept clean and not allowed for general use. AAR mechanical designation XF.
Old beatup boxcars dedicated exclusively to ANIMAL HIDE service. Smell will ruin them for anything else.
Box tank cars-- boxcar superstructures which contained tank inside for compressed gases. Used by Linde Air Products and National Cylinder gas. Very subtle different appearance from ordinary boxcars.&nb
Hello Storknest, You’ll probably find a lot of the information you’re looking for in Jeff Wilson’s book, “The Model Railroader’s Guide to Freight Cars,” published by Kalmbach Books and available under “shop” on this Werb site if it’s not at your local dealer. Merry Christmas, Andy