Anybody know anything about poultry cars?

[spookshow]

I finally got a picture of one of these old 1970's American N Brass poultry kit-cars (hurray for eBay). Anybody care to hazard a guess as to the prototype? Ballpark is fine 



Thanks!
-Mark

[C855B]

Apparently these folks know something: http://www.hoosiervalley.org/photos/historic-railroad-photos/live-poultry-cars/

And: http://www.hoosiervalley.org/history/turkeys-and-trains/

[DKS]

I've actually got two of those kits, one is about 90% complete (nearly impossible to paint owing to the extremely fine mesh) and the other is still just sheet brass. Let me know if you'd like any more images. I also had one of their watermelon cars, which is nearly identical IIRC.

[CoalPorter]

That car is only for "free range" poultry loading only 

I have only seen birds shipped by truck with trailers that have 100? or so
mini-cages. I doubt too many chickens or turkeys would be shipped long
distance by rail, unless they were already dead and shipped in an ice reefer.

That car looks somewhat "John Allen-esk" if u ask me?

[Kisatchie]

Hmm... and this car is
different from the Lionel
aquarium car... how...?

[bbussey]

All I know is that I got one of these kits when they were first released and built it up decades ago, when I was in high school I think.  But I have no idea where mine is now, haven't seen it in years.

[spookshow]

I also had one of their watermelon cars, which is nearly identical IIRC.

Ummm... define "nearly identical"?



-Mark

[spookshow]

Apparently these folks know something: http://www.hoosiervalley.org/photos/historic-railroad-photos/live-poultry-cars/

And: http://www.hoosiervalley.org/history/turkeys-and-trains/

Great stuff there, thanks! Not exactly the same as the ANB car, but kinda/sorta close anyway -



"Cackle Cars"? ROFL! 

Cheers,
-Mark

[spookshow]

OMG, can you imagine? 

"An attendant was sent along with each poultry shipment to care for the birds en route. He lived in what was termed a 'stateroom' at the center of the car complete with a bunk, stove and sink. It’s safe to assume that there weren’t many other amenities in the eight-foot wide room and the smell was surely unpleasant, along with all of the noise from the birds."

Cheers,
-Mark

[Blazeman]

A now departed member of the Schuylkill Valley Club in PA built one from scratch (HO) and entered same in a contest. To enhance the realism, he lodged some chicken manure in the car. It was a prize-winning effort.

[fredmoehrle]

Hmm... and this car is
different from the Lionel
aquarium car... how...?

The Aquarium car dosn't have window screens!!!

[Bob Bufkin]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8226029@N06/3324381342

There was one. 

[GimpLizard]

"Shedd Aquarium fish transport car "Nautilus" ex C&EI 304 "Turkey Run" @Monticello RR Museum, Monticello IL 5-15-87"

The former "Turkey Run" became the "Nautilus". So Spook, maybe you should glass in those screens and turn your poultry car into a fish tank. Apparently there's a prototype for that. Well... sort of. 

[mcjaco]

Poultry cars are for the birds.

[spookshow]

Apparently the Live Poultry Transit Company was quite proud of their fleet. They operated them like Pullman cars and even gave them individual names (the cars, not the birds) 

Cheers,
-Mark