Here's a series of letters relating to some of the remaining wartime emergency waycars converted from boxcars. Other than the bay window on each side, they were almost identical in appearance to company service bunk cars.
On March 25, 1952, C.E. Melker wrote to J.J. Ryan, terminal superintendent at Denver:
"It is noticed at Denver Terminal you are using standard way cars in your switching runs, with the result that cars are being shook to pieces, making them unfit for road service.
"The construction of our way cars is such that they will not stand heavy switching movement, and with the number of box way cars on our railroad we would recommend these be used in your switching runs. Should you not have enough box way cars in Denver, suggest you handled with Mr. Potarf [then GM of Lines West], with the thought of there being some box way cars not in use at other terminals.
"It is noticed Box way car 14813 is setting at McCook not being used, and it is quite possible this car could be moved to Denver for switching service."
The box waycars were not being used, wherever possible, because crews hated them, and with no end platforms they were quite dangerous, especially in switching service. But the issue of their use at Denver was now "public" and would have to be dealt with. It became an even bigger issue with this March 27, 1952, when Potarf addressed Ryan:
"Referring to Mr. Melker's letter of March 25, file 413.018, to you, copy to me, stating that the Denver Terminal is still using standard waycars in switching runs. This was handled with you verbally by Mr. Harris some time ago, and at that time it was agreed that this practice sould be discontinued.
"Please have it thoroughly understood that standard road waycars are not to be used in switch service. We cannot maintain them for road service, including radios, if they are used on transfer runs. If you need additional box waycars, I will endeavor to secure them for you."
Dressed down by the general manager, Ryan had no choice but to comply, and he placed into transfer service the four box waycars then sitting idle in Denver. On April 3 he was able to address everyone involved in Denver terminal operations:
"The followoing Box Waycars, as of this date, are mechanically OK for Yard Transfer Service at Denver:
14872
14877
14881
14882
"Effective at once these four waycars are to be used as Yard Waycars at Denver, and the absolute discontinuance of Road waycars in Transfer Service.
"You will further instruct crews that, when they return from Transfer Service with waycars they will be placed ont he Way Car Track or track where they will not be switched with -- in order to keep the Box Waycars in proper condition for service.
"There must be no violation or change in these instruction as these four waycars will, ordinarily, handle all Transfer Service at Denver including the industry jobs.
"Trainmasters and Yardmasters acknowledge receipt."
Thus, on April 15 Ryan was able to write Potarf:
"Mr. Potarf's letter of March 27th, file 110 - Waycars:
"We have discontinued entirely the use of Road Waycars in Yard Service at Denver, but should have three of the yard waycars now in service at Denver replaced with yard waycars in better mechanical condition as the Mechanical Department at Denver advise that three of the yard waycars now in service are in very poor mechanical condition and will soon be beyond repairs due to the fact aht it takes four yard waycars at Denver to handle the Transfers.
"Will you please send three additional yard waycars to Denver to replace the worn-out ones now in service."
>From the disposition of these four cars, it is clear they -- and all the rest of these "wartime emergency" class NE box waycars -- were in very poor shape by the early 1950s. In fact, with one exception, the last of the 91 cars turned out between 1943 and 1945 was scrapped in 1956. As for the four Denver cars: 14872 sold to McCook Rendering Co., 7-10-1953; 14877 and 14881 scrapped at Denver, 10-9-1953; 14882 scrapped at Lincoln, 12-8-1953. In 1954 the first 35 NE-12 all-steel waycars were completed at Havelock, and Denver -- and other yards -- went back to using wooden road waycars for yard and transfer serice.
Hol
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