 |
Freight Car Roster
Freight Cars Used on the South Shore and Mineral
Range
The tables on this page list the freight cars that the Duluth, South
Shore, and Atlantic Railway (DSS&A) was using in the Autumn of 1922.
I have also included a freight car roster for the Mineral Range Railroad
(MRRR) for the Autumn of 1922. The Hancock and Calumet Railroad (H&CRR)
is not detailed since it owned no cars in 1922. Lastly, I include a
short summary analysis of the distribution of freight car types.
I have also included tables listing the cabooses of the DSS&A and
MRRR.
To learn more about the freight cars of the DSS&A and MRRR you
should consult the sources listed after the following tables. The sources
I used will also tell you more about the freight cars that were used
and sold off before and after 1922. In 1922, some cars purchased before
that date were already disposed of or worn out. More cars were purchased
after that date. For instance, steel ore cars nos. 9400-9674 were purchased
after 1925 (Dorin 1985).
DSS&A Freight Car Roster, Autumn 1922
Please note that on these rosters the range of numbers assigned to
cars were not all used, occasionally only odd or even numbers were used.
Also, it appears that not all the numbers were assigned in a range.
I assume they started assigning numbers at the low end of the range
and moved to the higher end as new cars in the same class came in.
It was very difficult for me to come up with the number of cars the
DSS&A owned in 1922. Frankly, this is my best guess given conflicting
information. I would not be surprised if I end up changing these numbers
as I find better evidence. I already know that these numbers do not
agree with the DSS&A annual reports. Nevertheless, the proportions
are similar.
The feet and inches in the table refer to the length of the car.
| Car Type |
Number |
Range |
Details |
| Box |
2 |
3515 and 3575 |
Built by Marquette, Houghton, and Ontonogan Railway, 1887, 32
feet, 10 inches 40,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Box |
85 |
3600-4354 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1888, 33 feet, 6 inches
(possibly 32 feet), 50,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe.
Cars numbered 3600-4349 were fitted with end doors. Nos. 4020 and
4161 were exceptions, they did not have end doors and were 32 feet,
10 inches. Mr. Schaddelee warns me that these box cars may
not all have been manufactured at the same time, but all the 50,000
lbs. cars may have been regrouped and renumbered into a single series. |
| Box |
245 |
8000-8598, even numbers only |
Built by Wells & French Co., 1893-1895, 33 feet, 4 inches,
50,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. Cars numbered 8000-8198
were fitted with end doors. |
| Box |
190 |
11000-11199 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1905, 36 feet, 60,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Box |
394 |
11200-11599 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1909, 36 feet, 60,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Box |
199 |
11800-11999 |
Builder Haskel & Barker, 1918, 40 feet, 80,000 lbs. capacity. Note
that the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, Wisconsin,
has a DSS&A box car in its collection built in 1916 by American
Car and Foundary Co., as New York Central, no. 258905, but it was
eventually owned by the DSS&A and given no. 18052. Perhaps
it was originally an 11800 series car. |
| Box |
83 |
45000-45198, even numbers only |
Built by Wells & French Co., 1893-1895, 33 feet, 4 inches,
50,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. These cars had end
doors. According to Mr. Schaddelee, before 1913, these cars
were once listed as "Canadian Pacific Despatch" cars.
The DSS&A was required to separately report the mileage
or per diem reports for these cars. After 1913, they are listed
as regular box cars, but still with separate reports. This
is probably because the cars were owned in partnership with the
despatch company. |
| Charcoal |
4 |
1881-1884 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1888, 35 feet, 7 inches,
50,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Charcoal |
1 |
3003 |
Built by Marquette, Houghton, and Ontonogan Railway, 1887, 30,000
lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Coal, Hopper |
18 |
800-834 |
Built by DSS&A, 1890, 30 feet, 50,000 lbs. capacity, wood
body and underframe. According to Mr. Schaddelle, this series
of cars were recorded in the 1917 Official Railway Equipment
Register as:
800-807, 40,000 lbs. capacity, 4 cars
808-834, 50,000 lbs. capacity, 14 cars
835, 60,000 lbs. capacity, 1 car
847-854, 60,000 lbs. capacity, 8 cars
836-846, 80,000 lbs. capacity, 11 cars
|
| Coal, Hopper |
10 |
835-844 |
Built by DSS&A, 1906, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs. capacity, wood
body and underframe. No. 835 might have been 60,000 lbs. capacity. |
| Coal, Hopper |
10 |
845-854 |
Built by DSS&A, 1907, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs. capacity, wood
body and underframe. These might have been only 60,000 lbs. capacity. |
| Flat |
253 |
1001-1449 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1888, 34 feet, 40,000 lbs.
capacity, wood underframe. Cars numbered 1043, 1066, and 1435 were
converted into gondolas. |
| Flat |
27 |
1450-1793 |
Probably built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1882, 34 feet,
40,000 lbs. capacity, probably wood body and underframe. |
| Flat |
2 |
1584 and 1771 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1882, 34 feet, 40,000 lbs.
capacity, wood underframe. |
| Flat |
19 |
1800-1823 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1895, 36 feet, 50,000 lbs.
capacity, wood underframe. Cars numbered 1803, 1806, 1807, 1809,
1812, 1813, 1814, 1816, 1817, 1819, 1821, and 1823 were fitted out
with bunks (bulkheads for transporting timber). |
| Flat |
27 |
1825-1879 |
Built by DSS&A, 1900, 36 feet, 50,000 lbs. capacity, wood
underframe. Car no. 1826 was fitted with bunks. |
| Flat |
99 |
12000-12101 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1905, 40 feet, 60,000 lbs.
capacity, wood underframe, may have been used as log cars. |
| Flat |
194 |
12202-12401 |
Builder unknown, 1906, 41 feet, 80,000 lbs. capacity.
(Not listed in 1917, perhaps purchased second-hand since they were
built in 1906.) |
| Flat |
100 |
13000-13099 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1912, 41 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, steel underframe. |
| Gondola |
19 |
1829-1880 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1888, 32 feet, 9 inches,
40,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. Note that
the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North Freedom, Wisconsin, has
an 1888 gondola in its collection. It was given the no. 996
in 1934, perhaps it was originally a 1800 or 2000 series. |
| Gondola |
15 |
2001-2024 |
Built by La Fayette Car Co., 1888, 32 feet, 40,000 lbs. capacity,
wood body and underframe. |
| Gondola |
39 |
10000-10039 |
Built by Barney & Smith Car Co., 1905, 37 feet, 6 inches,
80,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Gondola |
99
|
10040-10139 |
Built by Barney & Smith Car Co., 1907, probably the same details as nos. 1000-10039. |
| Log, Russell |
50 |
6000-6049 |
Built by DSS&A, 1905, 36 feet, 40,000 lbs. capacity, wood
underframe. Nos. 6011, 6016, 6022, 6024, and 6035 were of 50,000
lbs. capacity. |
| Ore |
53 |
4214-4283 |
Built by DSS&A, rebuilt 1909, 22 feet, 40,000 (or possibly
50,000) lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
375 |
7100-7500 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1899, 26 feet, 60,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe |
| Ore |
300 |
7501-7800 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1910, 22 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, composite body and steel underframe. U-1 class. |
| Ore |
400 |
9000-9399 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1913, 21 feet, 11 inches
(or possibly 20 feet, 4 inches), 100,000 lbs. capacity, steel body
and underframe. U-2 class. |
| Refrigerator |
5 |
5001-5014 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1888, 27 feet, 9 inches
50,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Refrigerator |
9 |
5015-5024 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1901, 31 feet, 11 inches,
60,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Refrigerator |
10 |
5025-5034 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1907, 33 feet, 7 inches,
60,000 lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
Sources: Dorin 1985; ICC 1916b; Kieckhefer 1994; The Official Railway
Equipment Register, December 1923, 392-393; Perron Collection, Freight
Car Binder; Letter from Leon Schaddelee, Holland, MI, to John P. DuLong,
20 July 1997; Email from Alan Heglar to John P. DuLong, 9 November 2007.
DSS&A Caboose Roster, Autumn 1922
| Caboose Type |
Number |
Range |
Details |
| Caboose, small |
8 |
500-512 |
Built by Michigan Peninsular Car Co., 1888, 18 feet, 4-wheel,
wood body and underframe. |
| Caboose, small |
3 |
520-524 |
Built by DSS&A, 1900, 18 feet, 4-wheel, wood body and underframe. |
| Caboose, small |
2 |
525 and 526 |
Built by DSS&A, 1906, 18 feet, 4-wheel, wood body and underframe. |
| Caboose, large |
13 |
550-565 |
Built by La Fayette Car Co., 1888, 30 feet, 8-wheel, wood body
and underframe. |
| Caboose, large |
4 |
566-569 |
Built by DSS&A, 1910-1911, 26 feet, 8-wheel, wood body and
underframe. No. 568 is preserved at the Mid-Continent Railway
Museum, North Freedom, Wisconsin. |
| Caboose, large |
3 |
570-572 |
Built by DSS&A, 1914, 26 feet, 8-wheel, wood body and underframe.
No. 570 is preserved at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum, North
Freedom, Wisconsin. |
Sources: ICC 1916b.
 |
|
Would the
gentleman standing in front of the caboose's number please
move over. Does anyone know the number of this caboose?
Was the DSS&A using cabooses with side doors in 1922?
Photograph courtesy of Jack Deo's
Superior View Photographic Collection.
|
MRRR Freight Car Roster, Autumn 1922
| Car Type |
Number |
Range |
Details |
| Box |
49 |
2000-2098, even numbers only |
Built by by American Car and Foundry Co., 1903, 36 feet, 60,000
lbs. capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Coal, Hopper |
33 |
1-65, odd numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1900, 38 feet, 65,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. Possibly gondolas used to carry
coal. |
| Flat |
65 |
67-203, odd numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1900, 41 feet, 60,000 lbs.
capacity, wood underframe. |
| Flat |
3 |
313, 321, and 343 |
Builder and year unknown, 30 feet, 60,000 lbs. capacity, wood
underframe. No. 343 might have been renumbered to 305 by 1922. |
| Ore |
172 |
2-350, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1901, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. Nos. 347 and 349 were used as
gondolas. |
| Ore |
100 |
352-550, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1903, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
50 |
552-650, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1905, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
60 |
652-770, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1906, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
49 |
772-870, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1907, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
49 |
872-990, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1909, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
2 |
992-994, even numbers only |
Built by DSS&A, rebuilt 1913, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs. capacity,
wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
100 |
1000-1198, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1902, 26 feet, 60,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
94 |
1200-1398, even numbers only |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1910, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs.
capacity, wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
7 |
1400-1412, even numbers only |
Built by DSS&A, rebuilt 1913, 30 feet, 80,000 lbs. capacity,
wood body and underframe. |
| Ore |
100 |
1500-1599 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1913, 28 feet, 100,000
lbs. capacity, steel body and underframe. |
| Ore |
100 |
1600-1699 |
Built by American Car and Foundry Co., 1916, 28 feet, 100,000
lbs. capacity, steel body and underframe. |
Sources: ICC 1916c; The Official Railway Equipment Register,
December 1923, 836.
MRRR Caboose Roster, Autumn 1922
| Caboose Type |
Number |
Range |
Details |
| Caboose, small |
12 |
600-612 |
Built by DSS&A, 1900, 18 feet, 4-wheel, wood body and
underframe. |
Sources: ICC 1916c.
Summary
The distribution of wheel arrangements for the DSS&A in 1922 is
shown in the following table:
| DSS&A Car Types |
Number |
Percent |
| Box |
1198 |
35.9 |
| Charcoal |
5 |
0.2 |
| Coal, Hopper |
38 |
1.1 |
| Flat |
721 |
21.6 |
| Gondola |
172 |
5.2 |
| Log, Russell |
50 |
1.5 |
| Ore |
1128 |
33.8 |
| Refrigerator |
24 |
0.7 |
| Total |
3336 |
100.0 |
The distribution of freight car types for the MRRR in 1922 is shown
in the following table:
| MRRR Car Types |
Number |
Percent |
| Box |
49 |
4.7 |
| Coal, Hopper |
33 |
3.2 |
| Flat |
68 |
6.6 |
| Ore |
883 |
85.5 |
| Total |
1033 |
100.0 |
What is interesting in these tables is what is missing. Note that there
are no tanker or stock cars. Also, with the MRRR at 85.5 and the DSS&A
at 33.8 percent ore cars, it is easy to see what their main business
was in the copper and iron regions. Clearly, the MRR concentrated on
transporting copper rock. The DSS&A offered box car service and
was heavily involved in transporting lumber. The flat, gondola, and
Russell log cars were all used to move timber. Lastly, the most of these
cars were made of wood. However, the DSS&A and MRRR were starting
to move towards steel cars as seen in their most recent purchases of
flat and ore cars.
Please contact me should you have any questions or comments.
I am particularly interested in hearing from you if you have any additions
or corrections for this roster.
This page, and all contents, are Copyright
© 1997 by John P. DuLong, Berkley, MI. Created 6 May 1997. Last modified 2 December 2007. |