I ran across this photo of a very interesting car body in Independence, Iowa.
What kind of car is this?
Is it a milk car as the photographer himself speculates?

(PS. Clicking on the photo will take you to the photographer's site on flickr).

Thanks.


Independence Oddity - 2 by gbw305, on flickr

The end door suggests a horse car or an early carriage/auto car. This car was end-loaded, which would not make much sense for a milk car.

Mike

A similar item survives at the Katelman Junk Company in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I photographed it last year. I understand that it isn't a railcar, but a container that rode on a flatcar. It was built during World War II to transport fuselage sections for the Boeing B-29 bomber. They were built by the CB&Q at Galesburg. Issue #15 of the Burlington Bulletin has the full details.

What a cool potential display!

I'll second that and also add the extra coolness potential of adding to it one of the newer Boeing boxes in the future that could help to explain the origin and development of these unique pieces.

Kevin

David -

Thanks for the info. I guess I am confused a bit, by the statement that it isn't a railcar, but a container that rode on a flatcar. If that is so, I wonder why the end ladders, grab irons and the roof walk? Unless the containers were PERMANENTLY attached to the flatcar. I'm not doubting what you have said, but since I don't have the issue of the Burlington Bulletin you referenced, just curious. Maybe other containers have (had) ladders and walks, it's just that off of the top of my head, I can't think of any.

Les

Note the cleats on top of the container/box. Those were for the roof boards. Remember that if this container fit on a regular flat car, you'd need those ladders and roof boards so the brakemen would have to have some way to climb on the car to "walk the tops" which was pretty common back in the 1940s and before. Remember telltales and all the other necessary appliances now long gone from the "railscape" that only us geezers can remember.

I would love to see a photo of one of these in service. There was a huge B-29 assembly plant located at Offutt Field some miles below Omaha operated by the Glenn L. Martin. They built over 530 B-29s there after production of Martin's B-26 medium bomber ceased in 1944. The CB&Q served the base.

Thanks!

Les, as Jim said about the ladders, etc., think more of an auto rack than a container.
Mike Tillger

Maybe "temporary body" is a better description than container. Since I don't see any lifting eyes that would allow the box to be removed from the car for loading and unloading, I suspect they stayed on the car. Why not build completely new cars? Likely faster to adapt existing flats for what was sure to ultimately be a temporary situation... either the war would end, or the military would shift production to even bigger bombers, which would have different transportation needs.

Sure would like to see a photo of one of these "car bodies" sitting up on a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy flat car. I second (or third) the idea of one of these ending up at a rail museum somewhere. Surely there must be a steam era CB&Q flat still around. Anybody know if there might be a "junk" B-29 (or B-50) sitting someplace where the fuselage might be used for a display? Yeah I know....fat chance!

Les

I am always on the prowl for milk car bnes, but these B-29 containers are even more rare. Thanks to all for sharing pics and info.

Rob

Now, it just so happens the Delaware-Lackawanna's Diesel Shop and ELDCPS' storage facility in South Scranton, PA are adjacent to one of the plants that built the wings for B-29's. This promotional banner and associated memorabilia was sold on eBay in 2007:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/u ... b-29-plant

I wonder if the wing sections were shipped in similar containers.