Western Railroad Discussion > Colored Doors on SP Boxes

On old SP Boxes some of the doors are red like these two, and some are other colors like yellow or have white line painted down them!

Were these designated for different types of loads?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/18 10:21 by Fiftyfooter.

---

---

Haven't seen any striped doors recently. There are many 50ft cars going to the California Northern for produce related traffic.

In the distant past yellow doors and the diagonal striped door on the old SP were intended for paper loading, newsprint had been a hot commodity in those days and a clean car with correct equipment were kept in a pool.

The reddish color is just a bad match for a touch up paint, don't know of any intentional designation.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/15/18 11:21 by TCnR.

These cars are mostly seen on the QCONP; I believe they are loaded in the Medford and Roseburg areas.

TCnR is correct. The diagonal yellow stripe door was a 40 foot boxcar with an oversize sliding door. The solid yellow door was a 50 foot double door car, with one door painted yellow. These cars were switched by looks into the empty trains bound for Eugene.

Fiftyfooter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On old SP Boxes some of the doors are red like
> these two, and some are other colors like yellow
> or have white line painted down them!
>
>

Those aren't the original doors, and thus were painted later than the rest of the car.

Elizabeth

On the first car, you can see the overspray on the carbody from painting the doors after they were hung.

Old doors, new doors, striped doors

---

---

Love those last two shots. Thanks for the SP memories. Used to camp on the other side of the tracks, a great spot btw, back in the good old days.

Kent in CArmel Valley

DynamicBrake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Love those last two shots. Thanks for the SP
> memories. Used to camp on the other side of the
> tracks, a great spot btw, back in the good old
> days.
>
> Kent in CArmel Valley

Spent many a weekend camping out on the small hill near the east switch of Walong.

Old doors, new doors, striped doors

Thanks for the wonderful pictures, how about that L&N 40 footer up there! So many things to remember and relish in your photos!
I think it is safe to say, we all took alot of things for granted in those days,
including access and endless variety! Not to mention the sound!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/18 09:48 by Fiftyfooter.

Fiftyfooter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Old doors, new doors, striped doors
>
> Thanks for the wonderful pictures, how about that
> L&N 40 footer up there! So many things to remember
> and relish in your photos!
> I think it is safe to say, we all took alot of
> things for granted in those days,
> including access and endless variety! Not to
> mention the sound!

SD45's, U boats, 1st generation power and friction bearing freight cars coming downhill in a cloud of smoke. You are absolutely right.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/18 20:44 by SP4360.

Thanks for the photos!! Particularly the Loop.

rrpreservation Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for the photos!! Particularly the Loop.
Most soitenly welcome.

Didn't the SP have special color doors for the cars which handled Ammo as well.