AC 2420 is a factory painted, ready-to-run model from Walthers that accurately represents the Algoma Central’s first series of 25 52’8″ inside length bulkhead flatcars built new for the ACR in 1975.
The wrapped lumber load is a kit from Kanamodel products, although I didn’t see the lumber load kits listed on Kanamodel’s web site recently, so I’m not sure if the lumber loads are still in their product offerings.
AC 8623, mixed in with other CN and IC family hopper cars in a CN freight through Ingersoll, Ontario on January 15, 2005. Photo courtesy David Graham.
This car is one of 30 triple hoppers acquired in 1978 from the Ontario Northland railway, from series ONT 6000-6070 built by National Steel Car in 1971. These cars carried their original Ontario Northland numbers with AC reporting marks for a few years before being renumbered into the AC 8600-8629 series in or shortly before 1984. (AC 6003, 6006, 6042, 6054, 6056 have been photographically verified.)
When new, these cars were painted in Ontario Northland’s 1960s-70s dark green “Progressive” scheme with the circle-inside-square logo of a stylized N superimposed over an O. Weathering and grime turned them into a somewhat visually indeterminate colour.
AC 6056 (ex-ONT 6056) in March 1981, prior to renumbering into the 8600-8629 series. Photographer unknown, my collection.
AC 2343 at Steelton yard, August 1996. Photo courtesy Blair Smith.
AC 2476 at Sault Ste. Marie, August 18, 2004. This is one of a group of cars originally built in 1975 for North American Car Co. by Hawker-Siddeley with NAFX reporting marks. These were acquired by the Algoma Central in 1994 from NAFX 53120-53219 series.
AC 2412 on August 18, 2004 at Sault Ste. Marie. One of 25 cars built by Hawker-Siddeley in January 1975 for the Algoma Central.