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Author Topic: Lineage of rail Cars  (Read 1542 times)

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RockGp40

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Lineage of rail Cars
« on: November 28, 2007, 10:17:00 AM »
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Is there a website to which I can enter a cars reporting marks and number and find its lineage, preferably from its original owner?

At work yesterday, the MD & DE returned a 50' box car to interchange in Seaford that was marked SRN 6384. It is clearly an old car that has had at least two owners prior. The car had Corinth and Counce markings, but as I looked under its grime, I was partially convinced it may have been an old Rock 50' box car judging by the font used in the stencils. We were joking on the locomotive that SRN should stand for Sudden Retirement Needed!

Thanks for any help anybody can provide!
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3rdrail

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Re: Lineage of rail Cars
« Reply #1 on: November 28, 2007, 10:40:54 AM »
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Not a chance. You are making the common mistake of confusing the reporting marks on a freight car with the owner of the car. While the can be those of the owner, at least half of the fleet carry the reporting marks of lessees. I suspect the car you are referring to started life as an ITEL Rail car leased to a short line. If it was blue, then possibly the Savannah State Docks Railroad (SSDK). The Sabine River & Northern (SRN) is one of GE Railcar's reporting marks for cars between assignments. HS is another. GE Railcar purchased ITEL in the early 1990's.

I can assure you that GE has a list showing which car carried what reporting marks when, but can also assure you that GE considers this proprietary and confidential information.
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John

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Re: Lineage of rail Cars
« Reply #2 on: November 28, 2007, 01:25:24 PM »
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what about the UMLER Gregg .. would that have the info? How about FRA records?
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cv_acr

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Re: Lineage of rail Cars
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2007, 02:05:52 PM »
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Quote from: John on November 28, 2007, 01:25:24 PM
what about the UMLER Gregg .. would that have the info?

UMLER and ORER have nice detailed info on car characteristics (dimensions and capacity) but they don't really care about the history and previous numbering of cars.
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3rdrail

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Re: Lineage of rail Cars
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2007, 03:40:56 PM »
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The AAR has all kinds of data, and yes, when cars change reporting marks that must be processed through UMLER, but this information is only available to AAR personnel or member railroads. Some could be obtained through "back channels". The chief programmer was an N scale model railroader... He's long since retired, as have I.

As Chris says, the UMLER generally available is only a current document.
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RockGp40

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Re: Lineage of rail Cars
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2007, 09:07:35 PM »
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That is what I figured. Thanks John and Gregg. I know it would be a huge undertaking to complete and keep updated.
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