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Early Piggyback project (1940-1957) late steam early diesel & some of the very first 85-89' cars in 1957-1959!

markermarkerOGR Forum Member

A note about Missouri Pacific Piggyback trailers.

 

Most of the 3 rail manufacturers get the Missouri Pacific Loewy paint scheme wrong, as do others.  The Key Model imports Alco PA's and E units had the correct colors.  Those are the same colors that the Piggyback trailers pictured on the last page should be, a great scheme.

Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
I don't think any of the 3rail manufacturers have done a MOP trailer yet have they?

Originally Posted by marker:

       

A note about Missouri Pacific Piggyback trailers.

 

Most of the 3 rail manufacturers get the Missouri Pacific Loewy paint scheme wrong, as do others.  The Key Model imports Alco PA's and E units had the correct colors.  Those are the same colors that the Piggyback trailers pictured on the last page should be, a great scheme.

Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
This model is just marvelous. Came today from a guy back east. I've already 2 railed the trucks. Couplers are next.

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MTH "pup trailers" are fantastic! The flat car is a bummer. I still wonder why these trailers are equal in every way to the Lionel trailers while the flat car seems like an existing product forced to work with some smoke and mirrors. Truly it seems the MTH trailers act is if they could have been a 3rd variation on Lionel's project. Once MTH got a hold of it they moved the fifth wheel pin to the very front of the trailer so it would work on the chunk plastic they call a fifth wheel hook up. Really designed for longer trailers; I suspect re-used like the flat car from another project. Look I am grateful I think the MTH "pup trailers" are just magnificent too bad I need to buy the kit and kabootle to obtain them. So these are a minimum of $25 a trailer after spending $50+ on the car set.
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markermarkerOGR Forum Member

I don't think any of the 3rail manufacturers have done a MOP trailer yet have they?

You're right Erik.  It's a another typical Mopac oversight.  I've spent two hours on the internet and can't find another picture of a trailer in the Eagle paint scheme.  There are pictures of later trailers with the buzz saw.  

 

I don't know if prototype that Lionel does (like the Berkshire Valley) lasted past the mid 60's.  Probably too short by then.  I remember seeing one abandoned (around 1965) in the middle of nowhere, wondering why it was there.  It was so good looking, I still remember it.

 

I'm now thinking that a picture may be unavailable.   

Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Happy Pappy:

       
Originally Posted by Erik C Lindgren:
I can get started weathering l!
Erik,
I'm in, "The Peanut Gallery", enjoying your fantastic work. IMHO Please, don't spoil all of your long hours of hard work. MY GOSH! It's so very, very nice. Oh Well!, Go Ahead.

God Bless,
"Pappy"

       


You are very kind "happy"-

I think the rest of the guys are bored out of their minds of my little project.
Last edited by Erik C Lindgren
rex desiletsrex desiletsOGR Forum Member

Found this information on another site. Unfortunately PRR service started outside my self-imposed timeline:

Default Timeline of TOFC services, 1950s-1970s

 
Dear Intermodal fans,

Here's a stab at a timeline of TOFC service, focusing on the 1950s and 1960s.* I put this together by using the Wayback Machine to find a copy of the Tioga Group's wonderful Intermodal Timeline (http://web.archive.org/web/200509142...om/page22.html), supplemented by a few academic articles that aren't readily available to those who aren't connected with universities. Please note that I've focused on TOFC involving conventional trailers (leaving aside Roadrailers, double stacks, containers, etc.). There are doubtless sins of omission and commission below, so please correct any you find. Altogether missing is a timeline of specific trailers... about which I know zilch.

I hope this is useful, and doesn't contain too many mistakes (which I hope you'll correct).

Respectfully,
Bryan Pfaffenberger,
Charlotessville, VA



I. PIONEERS (1920s to mid-1950s)*

The economics of early TOFC service favored short-haul (250-600) routes on a single carrier -- and, thanks to adverse Federal regulations in 1931, within a single state. A few lines developed point-to-point TOFC services but there was little interchange with other roads.

1920s-1950s Early TOFC innovators include the North Shore (1926!), Chicago Great Western, Denver & Rio Grande; the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; and the New York, New Haven & Hartford [2].

1953 SP's LA-SF service is introduced, using proprietary equipment and operated independently of trucking firms (except SP's Pacific Motor Trucking); a half-dozen railroads offer similar services on segments of their lines, including PRR and NH [1]

II. TOWARD INDUSTRY-WIDE ADOPTION (mid-1950s to 1963)

Legality of interstate TOFC service clarified, Trailer Train formed, but regulations were not established for interchange of TOFC loads; interchange occurred only among contracting roads (e.g., WP, GN, and ATSF in 1954). With certain exceptions (e.g., PRR, NYC), TOFC flats appeared infrequently in freight consists, with few trains containing more than one or two such cars.

1954 Key ICC decision clarifying legality of interstate TOFC traffic and interline service. Quickly joining the ranks of the pioneers were Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Chicago & North Western; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Erie; Great Northern; Kansas City Southern; Lehigh Valley; Missouri-Kansas-Texas; New York Central; New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate Road); Pennsylvania; and Wabash [1, p. 69]

1954 WP, GN, and ATSF begin TOFC service between Seattle and LA via the Inside Gateway (northern Calif.). [

1955 Illinois Central begins piggyback service

1955 N&W, PRR, and Rail-Trailer form Trailer Train [7]

1956 Trailer Train starts operations with 500 ex-PRR 75-foot flatcars; B&M, CB&Q, MKT, MP, SLSF, Wabash join Trailer Train [7]

1957 Nickel Plate establishes interline TOFC service [3]; 1957 Interstate Highway Act increases trailer length from 35 feet to 40 feet, rendering Trailer Train's fleet of 75' cars obsolete; C&NW joins Trailer Train [7]

1958 Trailer Train introduces the trailer hitch on its new 85' cars, increasing efficiency of TOFC loading/unloading; the cars are designed to carry two of the new 40' trailers [7]. Faced with low clearances, NYC initiates its doomed Flexi-Van service (these vans had detachable wheels, enabling them to be loaded as containers) [7] First 85' TOFC flats built by Pullman-Standard; they were equipped with bridge plates and full decks for circus-style loading [10]. These cars were painted mineral red with off-white lettering and a serif reporting mark [10].

1959 WP initiates TOFC service between SLC and Oakland; 1959 General American introduces 85-foot flatcar with retractable hitches; C&O enters TOFC market [7]; ACL, GM&O, IC, L&N, NYC&StL, SSW, & WP join Trailer Train [7]. ACF builds first 85' TOFC flats [10]

1960 ATSF, C&O, CMStP&P, DT&I, GN, KCS, NP, RF&P, SP, SR, T&P, TP&W, and UP join Trailer Train [7]. Bethlehem builds first TOFC flats [10]

1961 CofG, CGW, RDG join Trailer Train

1963 D&RGW, E-L, WM join Trailer Train

III. PROGRESS AMID CRISIS (1964-1980)

TOFC service expands to most carriers during this period, but innovation is held back by the railroads' worsening financial situation and resistance to innovation by Trailer Train, which sought to preserve its enormous sunk investment in conventional flatcars [1].

1964 ICC clarifies interchange regulations for intermodal service. TOFC service reaches 5x the 1955 levels. 225 carriers participate in interline services. [1, p. 72]. SP develops prototype Piggypacker to overcome problems of "circus-style" TOFC loading/unloading [5]. FEC, NYC, CRI&P join Trailer Train; NYC abandons Flexi-Van container service [7]. TTX begins to use a sans-serif font for its reporting marks [10].

1966 First production use of Piggypacker (MiLW's Bensenville Yard) [7]; ICC research reveals top 25 goods shipped by TOFC

1968 PC-90 Piggypacker in service (this is the prototype for Wheels of Time's model; see [5]).

1969 Pullman-Standard 89-foot flatcar introduced [7]. According to [1] UPS began using intermodal services this year.

1970 Trailer-Train introduces its yellow paint scheme [9]

1980s All regulation of intermodal transport ends; TOFC service expands by nearly 40 percent from 1980-1985 [1].
AGHRMattAGHRMattOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
Originally Posted by Erik C Lindgren:
I am checking out MTH's pup trailers. They also are near Lionel quality. I ordered one and I am eagerly awaiting the model for inspection. The flat car looks terrible however.

;-)

They look beautiful and add that variety we need so desperately in early era piggyback. I think these are Trailmobil vans roughly late 40's vintage.
imageimageimage

I agree -- the trailers are nice, but the flats are in serious need of improvement. I have one apart and masked so I can paint the decks (it's on a shelf at the club in the workshop), but I've been thinking of just sanding the deck down and finishing it with wood instead.

Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
Great stuff!

Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by rex desilets:

       

Found this information on another site. Unfortunately PRR service started outside my self-imposed timeline:

Default Timeline of TOFC services, 1950s-1970s

 
Dear Intermodal fans,

Here's a stab at a timeline of TOFC service, focusing on the 1950s and 1960s.* I put this together by using the Wayback Machine to find a copy of the Tioga Group's wonderful Intermodal Timeline (http://web.archive.org/web/200509142...om/page22.html), supplemented by a few academic articles that aren't readily available to those who aren't connected with universities. Please note that I've focused on TOFC involving conventional trailers (leaving aside Roadrailers, double stacks, containers, etc.). There are doubtless sins of omission and commission below, so please correct any you find. Altogether missing is a timeline of specific trailers... about which I know zilch.

I hope this is useful, and doesn't contain too many mistakes (which I hope you'll correct).

Respectfully,
Bryan Pfaffenberger,
Charlotessville, VA



I. PIONEERS (1920s to mid-1950s)*

The economics of early TOFC service favored short-haul (250-600) routes on a single carrier -- and, thanks to adverse Federal regulations in 1931, within a single state. A few lines developed point-to-point TOFC services but there was little interchange with other roads.

1920s-1950s Early TOFC innovators include the North Shore (1926!), Chicago Great Western, Denver & Rio Grande; the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; and the New York, New Haven & Hartford [2].

1953 SP's LA-SF service is introduced, using proprietary equipment and operated independently of trucking firms (except SP's Pacific Motor Trucking); a half-dozen railroads offer similar services on segments of their lines, including PRR and NH [1]

II. TOWARD INDUSTRY-WIDE ADOPTION (mid-1950s to 1963)

Legality of interstate TOFC service clarified, Trailer Train formed, but regulations were not established for interchange of TOFC loads; interchange occurred only among contracting roads (e.g., WP, GN, and ATSF in 1954). With certain exceptions (e.g., PRR, NYC), TOFC flats appeared infrequently in freight consists, with few trains containing more than one or two such cars.

1954 Key ICC decision clarifying legality of interstate TOFC traffic and interline service. Quickly joining the ranks of the pioneers were Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; Chicago & North Western; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Erie; Great Northern; Kansas City Southern; Lehigh Valley; Missouri-Kansas-Texas; New York Central; New York, Chicago & St. Louis (Nickel Plate Road); Pennsylvania; and Wabash [1, p. 69]

1954 WP, GN, and ATSF begin TOFC service between Seattle and LA via the Inside Gateway (northern Calif.). [

1955 Illinois Central begins piggyback service

1955 N&W, PRR, and Rail-Trailer form Trailer Train [7]

1956 Trailer Train starts operations with 500 ex-PRR 75-foot flatcars; B&M, CB&Q, MKT, MP, SLSF, Wabash join Trailer Train [7]

1957 Nickel Plate establishes interline TOFC service [3]; 1957 Interstate Highway Act increases trailer length from 35 feet to 40 feet, rendering Trailer Train's fleet of 75' cars obsolete; C&NW joins Trailer Train [7]

1958 Trailer Train introduces the trailer hitch on its new 85' cars, increasing efficiency of TOFC loading/unloading; the cars are designed to carry two of the new 40' trailers [7]. Faced with low clearances, NYC initiates its doomed Flexi-Van service (these vans had detachable wheels, enabling them to be loaded as containers) [7] First 85' TOFC flats built by Pullman-Standard; they were equipped with bridge plates and full decks for circus-style loading [10]. These cars were painted mineral red with off-white lettering and a serif reporting mark [10].

1959 WP initiates TOFC service between SLC and Oakland; 1959 General American introduces 85-foot flatcar with retractable hitches; C&O enters TOFC market [7]; ACL, GM&O, IC, L&N, NYC&StL, SSW, & WP join Trailer Train [7]. ACF builds first 85' TOFC flats [10]

1960 ATSF, C&O, CMStP&P, DT&I, GN, KCS, NP, RF&P, SP, SR, T&P, TP&W, and UP join Trailer Train [7]. Bethlehem builds first TOFC flats [10]

1961 CofG, CGW, RDG join Trailer Train

1963 D&RGW, E-L, WM join Trailer Train

III. PROGRESS AMID CRISIS (1964-1980)

TOFC service expands to most carriers during this period, but innovation is held back by the railroads' worsening financial situation and resistance to innovation by Trailer Train, which sought to preserve its enormous sunk investment in conventional flatcars [1].

1964 ICC clarifies interchange regulations for intermodal service. TOFC service reaches 5x the 1955 levels. 225 carriers participate in interline services. [1, p. 72]. SP develops prototype Piggypacker to overcome problems of "circus-style" TOFC loading/unloading [5]. FEC, NYC, CRI&P join Trailer Train; NYC abandons Flexi-Van container service [7]. TTX begins to use a sans-serif font for its reporting marks [10].

1966 First production use of Piggypacker (MiLW's Bensenville Yard) [7]; ICC research reveals top 25 goods shipped by TOFC

1968 PC-90 Piggypacker in service (this is the prototype for Wheels of Time's model; see [5]).

1969 Pullman-Standard 89-foot flatcar introduced [7]. According to [1] UPS began using intermodal services this year.

1970 Trailer-Train introduces its yellow paint scheme [9]

1980s All regulation of intermodal transport ends; TOFC service expands by nearly 40 percent from 1980-1985 [1].
Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
Agree- the flat went on eBay. ;-)

Originally Posted by AGHRMatt:

       
Originally Posted by Erik C Lindgren:
I am checking out MTH's pup trailers. They also are near Lionel quality. I ordered one and I am eagerly awaiting the model for inspection. The flat car looks terrible however.

;-)

They look beautiful and add that variety we need so desperately in early era piggyback. I think these are Trailmobil vans roughly late 40's vintage.
imageimageimage
I agree -- the trailers are nice, but the flats are in serious need of improvement. I have one apart and masked so I can paint the decks (it's on a shelf at the club in the workshop), but I've been thinking of just sanding the deck down and finishing it with wood instead.
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CharlieCharlieOGR Forum Member

Thanks for the great thread Erik.

 

I'm not a freight guy, but I do like the piggy back cars/history and especially the early one like you are discussing.

 

One questions for you or anyone else reading this thread.

 

To the best of my knowledge, the Chicago Great Western (C&NW-UP) was first here in the states to try the concept with a flat car (no line mentioned in the article) hauling two CHICAGO-DUBUQUE MOTOR TRANSPORTATION COMPANY trailers.

 

I can not find any information on this test/trial and was wondering if: 1; is this information correct? and 2: are there any images of Chicago-Dubuque trailers anyway on line? If so, I would really like to try a project like to are showing above.

 

Thanks.

 

Charlie

Last edited by Charlie
Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
A little better light. It's time for me to get back to doing studio shots again. I'm lazy!? That's it.

Still need to modify The flats. Removal of the chocks when not in use or a wood deck addition. I will work on this later. I am planning on doing several with jacks and chains. John Sethian where did you get your parts? Or did you fabricate?

Thanks Ron and Charlie.

I'm not sure about M&StL; however as a kid back in Iowa I recall a fellow in Mason City, Clark Probst had the neatest piggyback train. It was early like this and he was an avid M&StL guy. Everybody was back there. If you weren't M&StL you were into CNW or CRIP. ;-)

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PP Prewar PappyOGR Forum Member

Erik,

I'm truly enjoying your thread. Your work is unbelievable. I realize that you're doing almost entirely east coast carriers on your TOFC train. Have you ever come across any of the, "blue-eyed indian" which was, Navajo Truck Lines, and of course the one I ask about earlier, Southern Pacific Railroad's Golden Pig Service? Perhaps these are a little too modern for your train.

Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
Woha boy!

Only thing eastern is PRR; the CP and the CN are both.

I'm not eastern at all.

Ringsby is Denver!

Rio Grande Motorway well that is a no brainier there. ;-)




Originally Posted by Happy Pappy:

       

Erik,

I'm truly enjoying your thread. Your work is unbelievable. I realize that you're doing almost entirely east coast carriers on your TOFC train. Have you ever come across any of the, "blue-eyed indian" which was, Navajo Truck Lines, and of course the one I ask about earlier, Southern Pacific Railroad's Golden Pig Service? Perhaps these are a little too modern for your train.

PP Prewar PappyOGR Forum Member

Erik,

You got me there. LOL! I drove 17 Western States for many years(too many) I stand corrected. I suffered a brain freeze. Yes, I recognize many of the Roadnames. There's quite a few that bring back memories. I remember when Ringsby got shut down(what a mess). I just got homesick for the road after all these years. I thought of the ones not around any more, that's a sad part. Ones like TransCon, PIE, ONC and System 99 to name a few. I'll go back to my corner now. I'm just an old phart living in my memories for a while. Sorry to disturb you. 

Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
Working out some of the tarps and covers for the open trailers.

This was a very common sight on these early trains from my research. It is difficult to find a early 1950's era trailer on flat car consist without open top trailers.

First victim was my Weaver Santa Fe 1955 post scheme 34' van. I love the look especially with the wipe out method weathering. Cabling will follow with EZ Line. imageimageimageimageimageimage

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Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
One more model worth noting is the First Gear 1956 Ford F800 truck and trailer set. Simply a wonderful model in 1:50! Marvelous.. I'm impressed! Werner of Omaha and many other private carriers shipped these open top trailers with produce loads to market. A little bright and shiny; after some weathering I think it will turn heads!

imageimageimageimageimage

I think Lionel used this tooling on thier truck and trailer sets of recent manufacture.

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Copyright: (C) photo Lionel Corporation used for reference only.

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Erik C LindgrenErik C LindgrenOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by Happy Pappy:

       
Erik,
You got me there. LOL! I drove 17 Western States for many years(too many) I stand corrected. I suffered a brain freeze. Yes, I recognize many of the Roadnames. There's quite a few that bring back memories. I remember when Ringsby got shut down(what a mess). I just got homesick for the road after all these years. I thought of the ones not around any more, that's a sad part. Ones like TransCon, PIE, ONC and System 99 to name a few. I'll go back to my corner now. I'm just an old phart living in my memories for a while. Sorry to disturb you.

       


It's ok man!

Santa Fe all the way to New York- on a through sleeper. ;-)

I will plan on picking up a Espee set soon. I had a fabulously done US Hobbies pair of trailers and a PRR F series US Hobbies flat. Sold them not thinking. Oh well- they really were a little late for my taste.
Last edited by Erik C Lindgren
Robert MacfieRobert MacfieOGR Forum Member

Scratch built is indeed difficult , getting the cross members to form properly was my biggest problem and as you can see the center pole is not quite centered all along .

 

This unit was made from a broken or separated K-line plastic trailer, the sides are  plasticized carton upon which I glued  wooden  uprights then then attached metal cross bars.   Sewing the tarp was perhaps done with a bit too thick thread ( especially for close up photos)   the tarp was simply a cloth materiel saturated in  artistic paint and left to set on the trailer poles.

 

Our Canadian stake and racks were a bit different from the American soft top, and or the tarp trailer    as the side racks were a good 6 feet in height. This allowed  the carrier to ship pretty well any thing  that one could put in a van . When the units were empty the racks poles and tarps were taken off  so another trailer  could be set on top and at times a third flatbed would be added , then the set  would be  piggybacked to where it had originated  saving the trucking company some rail fees.

 

I remember as a young lad , when it was slow in the office , to go out and help built the racks for several of these  units as  Speedway  began making their own flat bed trailers as it was cheaper than buying from Freauhauf  or Trailmobile   the tarps came ready made from Canning,  the undercarriage from other scrapped units, the rest was  made in house ... those were the good old days let me assure you

 

 

 

Speedway Oct 13 007

Speedway Oct 13 008

Speedway Oct 13 012

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Tags: PRR, Early Piggyback, Intermodal, Trailer on flat car, Piggyback, f39, tractor trailer, TOFC
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