I should have explained to those who have never used an ORER that it is the Official Railroad Equipment Register, a book which has been published since 1885 showing all the freight
equipment (and, until about 1933, passenger equipment) owned by each railroad. Details included the road numbers, type, dimensions, capacity and the number of cars in that group. The frequency of publication has varied over time.
Originally it was Sechrist's Hand-Book and Railway Equipment & Mileage Guide, later the Official Railroad Equipment Guide and then the ORER.
Whilst it is only as accurate as the railroad company clerk who compiled the details and forwarded them to the publisher, and allowing for the delay between compiling and publishing, they are a very useful tool in researching a railroad’s equipment.
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ
From: Rupert Gamlen
Sent: Sunday, 9 February 2020 5:28 pm
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: ORER research
As part of my next BRHS project, I’ve been collecting ORER pages for the CB&Q and its subsidiaries between 1885 and 1970. I am now searching for
specific years to fill in gaps and I’m hoping that you may be able to assist.
The two major gaps are 1886 and 1889, with individual pages needed from 1887, 1892, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1902 and 1906.
I have the 1900 Westerfield disc but it omits a number of the subsidiaries.
If you can help with this project, please contact me at gamlenz @ hotmail.com.
Thank you.
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ