Tag Archives: Hopper

East Thomas Yard – Birmingham, Alabama

by Frisco.org Posted on December 3, 2014
East Thomas Yard, Birmingham, Alabama
East Thomas Yard – Birmingham, Alabama

East Thomas Yard – Birmingham, Alabama.

Frisco.org resident expert Karl Brand explains that the Illinois Central and Central of Georgia are on the left and the Frisco on the right. On the left is GoG 305, an SW9, built during July 1952. It appears that its switch crew is preparing to add a caboose to the cut of cars on the track for which the switch is thrown. The Frisco ice house and ice dock and stock pens visible as are several coaches, which are scattered about. Given that Birmingham was the last bastion of Frisco steam, it seems odd that nary a single steam locomotive is visible in the vincinity of the coal tower and sand house. We might date the photo circa 1953-1956.

Note also SL-SF gondola 107339, hopper 90175, and hopper 89110.

A special thank you to both Bob Dye and Karl Brand for their assistance with the introduction of this image.

Posted in BD Collection | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Two-Bay Hopper 86941

by Frisco.org Posted on October 15, 2014
Two-bay hopper 86941 (date and location unknown)
Two-bay hopper 86941

Two-bay hopper 86941 at Memphis, Tennessee in June 1942.

Note that the car was built in May 1923 and rebuilt in June 1942.

This photograph was taken at the Frisco’s freight car repair shops at Yale Yard (YA). At this time these shops largely specialized in building and repairing the railroad’s open top cars including gondolas and hoppers.

When originally built in 1923, this was a rib side open top hopper. It is a clone of an United States Railroad Administration (USRA) two bay hopper car design. Frisco originally owned 3,500 of these then standard 30 foot length twin hoppers.

This car has just been rebuilt with replacement panel sides. These were sometimes referred to as blister sides. These panels were designed to increase the car carrying capacity by approximately 2%. Union Metal Products and Standard Steel Railway Supply are among the manufacturers of the panels.

Over time, these replacement panels fell out of favor. Due to their shape, the lower portion tended to retain moisture and rust out. Also, due to their multiple unique shapes it meant keeping a full inventory of car panel sets for repairs, which became an undesirable inventory expense when compared to flat sheet steel.

In addition to having been rebuilt, the car is freshly painted. It will very soon be moved to the yard’s weigh scale. Shortly afterward the final weigh data stencil will be painted to add the car’s load limit (LD. LMT.) and empty light weight (LT. WT.).

Special thanks to Mark Davidson.

Posted in BD Collection, Rolling Stock | Tagged , | Leave a comment