Re: [CBQ] Flatcars

["Bob Webber via groups.io" <cz17=comcast.net@groups.io>]

The first step is to determine who built the prototype.  Haskell & Barker 
drawings start in the 1900s - not because they didn't build anything before 
that, but due to a series of fires that wiped out earlier drawings.  I say that 
as it is an unfortunate fact - a lot of fires, floods & a typical institutional 
disregard for paper (in general, and specific to drawings and documents more 
than 50 years old).  St. Louis has few ACF drawings before 1920 or so, but it 
might be worth contacting them (Museum of Transport archives).  Lake States may 
have something.  DeGolyer has a good collection that includes CB&Q drawings 
(mainly, as I understand it, facilities)

You can contact the B&ORRHS as they have much of the Ralph Barger collection - 
he literally had a room with nothing but diagram books from all over the 
country.  Look for MOW cars as much as revenue as a lot of elderly revenue 
cars, esp. flats went into MOW cars.  

Flat cars are typically a frustrating find in that era - most collections start 
post steel era, or have had issues with fire, floods, and other insults to 
paper over a period of 100+ years.  A lot of flats were home built, kit-built 
or re-purposed (razed gons, house cars, etc.).  So create a list (or find one) 
that includes, if known, builder and if not known the specifications - length, 
capacity, construction.  

You *may* be bale to find the CB&Q's or ICC's collection of Account books (not 
accounting) - I think freight is Account 53 (Passenger is 54).  They were 
started in the Valuation era - which is later (~1917) than your era, but flats 
& MOW survived even if not in interchange service (MOW has it's own Account 
ledger).  Account books provide AFE numbers, dates, updates, and details of 
cars.   

Railway Gazette (prior to Railway Age) for the 1800s are extant, that may be a 
good bet (along with the aforementioned Car Builders).  BUT - be advised that a 
lot have been removed from collections due to age & lack of interest.  I think 
we have 5 or so pre-1900 bound volumes, but local (to you) may have them.  

Paper (books, documents, AFEs, car cards) of items more than 120 years old is 
becoming problematical.   Archives are running out of space, and there is 
little interest.  In a larger context, the institutional feeling about such 
things is "it's just paper" (we have experienced that in a general sense).   
Good luck!  



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