Did Milwaukee ever use 40' pulp wood cars? (40' flat cars with bulkheads) I have seen photos of them hauling pulp wood in gondolas. Just curious!!
Good question. I don't recall mention of such a practice. Nor seeing pictures. But that doesn't prove much. So, looks like you have an assignment. Find an answer for us! Boxcab E50
Actually, I had the "Mission Impossible" theme music running through my head. "Your mission, should you chose to accept it, ......." Boxcab E50
Not to my knowledge. The CMStP&P converted several 40' drop bottom gondolas, 40' rib side freight cars and several versions of old wooden cars for pulp wood and woodchip hauling. The best info I have found has been in Vol. 2 of the Guide to Milwaukee Road Freight & Passenger equipment. Information I have gathered shows that most of the pulp wood processors had pretty specicific configurations that they wanted the rail cars in. So, cars from different roads would look similar. This was to speed unloading and keep the costs down. Rail shippers generally had to haul pulp wood and woodchips gratis in order to get the contracts to haul the finished wood and paper goods. This would mean that any equipment used for the pulp wood purpose would be whatever could be had at the lowest cost. I would check out a copy of the book. It's still in print. I used it to research 40' woodchip cars. It was really the only good source of info, besides this site, that I was able to find in several months of researching the subject. Mark
Thanks Mark, I checked all the sites I new of and also the MRHA, nobody had anything on them so I guess they never exsisted. I do know that most of the other big roads had them! All I could find was pulp wood loaded in gondolas.
Dear Boxcab, Yeah, I've been busy. Finally bought a house in July so I have been busy and broke. I have the table set up, and am working on some projects. Mark
Mark- Know what you mean about the house stuff. We still haven't completely landed here. And it's been over 5&1/2 years. Anyhow, sure hope you'll share progress with us, on any future projects. Take care! Boxcab E50
