Tag Archives: Freight Car Friday

Freight Car Friday #30 – SSAM 208036

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When the Algoma Ore Properties mines and sinter plant in the Wawa area shut down in 1998, Wisconsin Central took all of the original AC 8001-8100 series bathtub hoppers and rebuilt them with side extensions and new bottom outlets for ballast service. These cars have sophisticated pneumatically operated door mechanisms that can be operated by remote control (note the lettering identifying each outlet gate A-D and the equipment box and small solar panel on the right hand side of the car).

The cars are renumbered in sequence by adding “20” in front of the original AC number, so this was originally AC 8036.

Once Canadian National purchased the Wisconsin Central in October 2001, these cars really started to spread out across the system and I found this example in Jasper, Alberta on a family vacation in August 2004.

Freight Car Friday #29 – BFPX Pulpwood Flatcars

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In the early 2000s, Besse Forest Products operated a loading spur alongside the former ACR Steelton yard for loading export pulpwood, and their privately owned flatcars could be seen around the Sault Ste. Marie area. This pair represents one such series of flatcars owned by Besse, a 52’6″ car rebuilt with side stakes.

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Photographed August 18, 2004 at Sault Ste. Marie.

Freight Car Friday #28 – AC 10728

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AC 40′ flatcar 10728 loaded with the wrecked body of hopper car 8444 in October 1993 at Steelton shops. Photo courtesy Blair Smith.

The flatcar appears to be a former 2201-2250 series car. These were officially in service and listed in Official Railway Equipment Registers from the early 1940s to early 1970s, although a number lasted longer in work service. The 10xxx series numbering on the Algoma Central was reserved for work equipment.

Several hopper cars, GP7L-m 102 and SD40-2 184 were wrecked in a 1993 derailment caused by a washout.

Freight Car Friday #27 – WC 35021

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One of a pair of WC flatcars at Agawa Canyon Park loaded with dumpsters on July 28, 2014. Since there is no way in or out of the park except by rail, this constitutes the waste collection and garbage service for Agawa Canyon. Prior to the CN takeover, this service had a couple of AC 2300 series cars assigned.

This car (and its twin coupled next to it) are from WC series 35000-35049, a 50 car group acquired from Kimberly-Clark in 1993. Originally built as pulpwood cars with side stakes in 1977 by National Steel Car, the stakes were removed when acquired and renumbered by Wisconsin Central.

The cars that were later acquired by WC in 1997 as AC 238500-238559 were also originally part of the same original batch of 150 Kimberly-Clark  cars (KCWX 1000-1149).

Freight Car Friday #26 – AC 3907

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These unique 3 car sets have got to be one of the most unusual cars on the Algoma Central.

I’m not sure of the total number and extent of these cars, but I have photos of 3903, 3907 and 3908. (AC 3903 (below) and 3907 (above) shown here.)

These cars were constructed for steel plate service between Algoma Steel’s main mill and the Welded Beam Division mill on Conmee Avenue, just north of the Steelton yard. Because these cars were in dedicated service between these two points, which are both within the Steelton yard limits, these cars don’t appear on any Official Equipment Register listings.

Each “car” is made up of three units, which are themselves all former Algoma Central equipment from other series. The base of the car is a former 3501-3850 series gondola with a heavy steel frame made up of welded I-beams extending well out beyond the length of the central car, and a 40′ idler flatcar permanently coupled at each end. Note the “B” end car appears to be a cut down 2300 series flatcar with part of the end rack remaining and the brake wheel lowered. The “A” unit is likely formerly from the 2200 series of 40′ standard flatcars.

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These two cars photographed on August 18-19, 2004 at the Welded Beam Mill and Steelton yard respectively.