The GS&F Equipment rosters of 1903, 1913, 1919 respectively shows coal cars, 40 ton - numbered 600-639. However, on the 1925 SR Equipment Roster, the coal cars have disappeared...no mention of being renumbered by Southern Railway. Does anyone have information on these cars? They were roughly 34' long from coupler to coupler. Were these steel or wooden? If you were to model one of these jewels, what car could you use? The Bowser 55 ton USRA could be used???

-- Mark Mosely (MarkMosely@aol.com), August 04, 2003

Answers

"If you were to model one of these jewels, what car could you use?"

Judging from the dates (years) you have mentioned that the cars were on line, as well as the 40 ton capacity it is reasonable to believe that these were wooden cars that may or may not have had some sort of hopper or drop bottom doors to allow unloading. Because of the primative nature of the cars it is likely that they did not last long though some hardware may have been used on other cars.

The Bowser hopper likely is no where close to being like these cars, being a later, all steel design.

-- Jerry M. LaBoda (laboda@bellsouth.net), August 05, 2003.