At RMNE, we are putting the finishing touches on a 1920-era GATX tank car (this is the car that was offered by Houghton Chemical Co. about 6 years ago on this site).

The car is black, with white GATX lettering. We were able to find and trace the faint evidence of the old reporting marks and some of the other lettering, but we need a good photo of a typical GATX car end of the 1935-45 era to figure out some of the rest. Also, what was some of the small lettering on the center sill? The Car Builder's Cyc photos are a bit too hard to "read".

Are there any sources for old General American builder's photos? The AC&F images seem to be available and have been widely published in the model mags.

Any help would be appreiciated.

hpincus@mindspring.com

You may want to contact GATX directly, as I have heard that there are a number of individuals there who are respectful of their company's history. Another source would be to make several posts on the various Freight-Car yahoogroups looking for photos of this car, from any time. Later photographs may help to contextualize the lettering traces you found in preparing the car and would be useful in documenting its history.

Good Luck!
Tom

> Are there any sources for old General
> American builder's photos? The AC&F
> images seem to be available and have been
> widely published in the model mags.

> Any help would be appreiciated.


rrhistorian@hotmail.com

> Also, what was some of the small lettering
> on the center sill? The Car Builder's Cyc
> photos are a bit too hard to
> "read".

> Are there any sources for old General
> American builder's photos? The AC&F
> images seem to be available and have been
> widely published in the model mags.

> Any help would be appreiciated.

Howard,

There may not be a simple answer for you. In the era you referred to, there were ARA 'standards' for size of lettering and minimum data requirements. But many companies, owners, and lessors added optional markings to suit their own needs and records.

Typically, the ends and center sill had reporting marks and number in 4 inch size. The ends also had the capacity in gallons. After that (on the ends) there could be notes for the type of draft gear, type of brake beams, type of wheels (very common), spring travel, and class of tank construction. Most of the notes were about 2 inch in size; and notes limited to 1 to three items or additional lines.

The center sill also had a variety of data, which might include last repack date and location, often the last paint date for the car, owner and lessor info, special equipment such as outlet valve, steam coils, etc, type of lubricators, builder and mfg plant, and on.

There was not a uniform standard or system to apply this data and what to choose. You almost need to find a photo of a car in the class used in the same or similar service. Easy to say, tough to do. What do you know of the car's service history?

Also if this is for a new repaint in the classic era, the above comments are pretty typical, but if painted to represent an earlier scheme surviving into the mid 1930's, some of the data and info would be different.

There are a fair number of vintage tank cars photos on the Steam Era Freight Car website, some of which I helped find and locate. Maybe take a look there for some typical examples. Try this site -
http://www.steamfreightcars.com/prototype/

And just when you think you have all the info there is the question of font and style of lettering used! Egad.

Bob Kutella

68trolley@comcast.net

> At RMNE, we are putting the finishing
> touches on a 1920-era GATX tank car (this is
> the car that was offered by Houghton
> Chemical Co. about 6 years ago on this
> site).

> The car is black, with white GATX lettering.
> We were able to find and trace the faint
> evidence of the old reporting marks and some
> of the other lettering, but we need a good
> photo of a typical GATX car end of the
> 1935-45 era to figure out some of the rest.
> Also, what was some of the small lettering
> on the center sill? The Car Builder's Cyc
> photos are a bit too hard to
> "read".

> Are there any sources for old General
> American builder's photos? The AC&F
> images seem to be available and have been
> widely published in the model mags.

> Any help would be appreiciated.

Chicago
GATX Rail
500 West Monroe
Chicago, IL 60661
Tel: 312.621.6200
Fax: 312.621.6636
Map
Contacts:
Daniel Penovich, Vice President & Managing Director - Marketing and Shipper Sales; Tel: 312.621.6606
Daphne Carter, Administrative Assistant; Tel: 312.621.6313

I used to work for GATX Logistics before they sold off that part of the business.

Greg S


greg@nospam.skittercreek.com