I know Pullman sold some stainless sheathed cars with a cor-ten structure. Budd, of course, were all stainless construction. My question is how much of the sheathing was stainless? I suspect there was some variation among orders so let me give a specific case. The C&O based Rowa/MRC/Con-Cor cars only have bottom fluting, no top strip above the windows. I suspect only the fluting was stainless since everything above it was painted by the C&O and later D&RGW. It’s my railroad and I can do what I want (they would also look good either way), but I would like to know. Were the sides sheathed in stainless, or only the fluting?
Thanks!
Only the fluting was stainless. It was applied with clips that were welded to the steel car sides. Budd patented the “Shotweld” system allowing them to use continuous stainless rolled sheets whereas the Pullman method required clips to attach the fluting much like chrome strips on the automobiles. The Pullman fluting was single, narrow strips.
There was a small filler piece tapped in place between the flutes to cover the clips or screws.
Behind this stainless cladding was a perfect environment for moisture to collect and begin corroding the steel side sheets. Many railroads stripped off the fluting and filled or patched the steel and applied only paint. Sometimes this made for a very “ripply” car side!
Ed