Stock car question

[Norm Acker]

While Jeff Taylor and I were looking over stock car 7064 at the CRRM today, we were puzzled by the angled bracket on one side of the car. It's only found on one side of each car, and can be seen in several photos of different cars. I found the attached picture in the N.G. Pictorial, and it seems to temporarily support an angled board in one of the St. Charles builders photos. I was thinking maybe a gate board to prevent livestock from leaving the car while the door is open. Any thoughts? Thanks! Norm
20180506_222126.jpg

[Pat Student]

D&RGW 5500's had the same feature when built.  

Was used to hold the "bull" board.  Purpose was to block cattle in the car while the door was being closed/opened.  One side possibly wasn't replaced when some maintenance was performed.

5500's and 5900's didn't have this feature when rebuild / rebuilt – either the boards were no longer used or were stored inside the car.

[Jim Courtney]

On the rebuilt D&RGW 5500 stock cars, the boards were stored inside the car, stenciled with the owners name in case they got misplaced at the stock yards:

[Norm Acker]

Thanks guys, just what I needed. Now I'll know to add one when we rebuild the car.

[Al Pomeroy]

Norm,

if you look closely at the car they are still in place behind the car door. the door posts are notched to accept the board and they were there last fall when I made an extensive survey of the car for modeling purposes. with any luck I have attached an image. they are chained to the car  with I belive enough chain to be positioned outside