Sure would not want that catching my clothing, that's always a thought on the railroad. No loose clothing, my grandfather lost a brother that way on the Frisco.
They look like grain doors to me. Haven't been able to figure out any other explanation, either, of what they may be? Brad, going back to your Ft. Leonard Wood photo, I looked back at the ORER and am now noticing the second entry for the for the 13000-13349 w/35'11" inside length , making up 50 of the 298. Only 3" less inside length than the line item above it. That puzzles me but there has to be a good reason. If it's been discussed here, I neither remember nor can find it by searching the site. Curious.
Gary and Chris, those are grain doors. Grain doors could be made from cardboard reinforced with wood slats or from thin, wide planks of wood. They would extend up near but not to the top of the door opening so a grain chute (pipe) could be directed into the car.
Jim, you have more gumption than I do. With any resin kit, I think my hands would be too shaky from worry over botching things as I try to model an open door. Would gladly read any post on how you go about that, techniques, tips, etc. Best Regards,
Very nice Jim, I burned a lot of Grain Doors in Aurora, years ago. The railroad was lousy with them. Any of the grain facilities had stacks of doors laying around.
Bill, when were you stoking the fires in Aurora? My mom, dad and I lived there in the early 60's then moved to Neosho after a couple of years, we moved again in 67 to the Tulsa area. I remember the cardboard laying around the grain mill yard but didn't notice them being burned. Joe
Joe I would estimate around 78 or 79, we burned them in the yard, not too close to the mill. They blow ya know. Hot headed ! We had a guy as Roadmaster that wanted everything cleaned up, so the whole territory was cleaned, I spent months cleaning ditches with a bulldozer.
Yes that's me. That was up by Washington Avenue, east of the foot bridge. I did a lot of cleanup their for vegetation violations by the city. During the 70's I cut most of the Grade for the welding plant and Switches we laid. I also went out with the wrecker cat pack, to derailments. Generally I made the road into areas we derailed but couldn't get to. I worked the now famous "Billy Goat Cut" derailment. That was quite fun, the cars see-sawed and had to be drug out one at a time. Adding to the fun a car of potatoes caught fire and Whew !. As a young guy, we also had a car of Mag wheels, that the gum shoes keep a eye on.
[Frisco Boxcars by Acme Cement Plaster Buildings], photograph, 1909~ Larger image at: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth610888/ (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth610888/: accessed March 23, 2019), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .
The Acme Red River and Northern RR, Acme was quite a town back in its heyday. That is a great image, thanks for posting.