Re: Mystery DL&G outfit car

Posted by Jim Courtney on Jul 16, 2023; 10:47pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Mystery-DL-G-outfit-car-tp18906p18933.html

Sometimes puzzles require bizarre solutions.

Is that really a platform on the right end of DL&G 03005?




Or is the man with crossed legs standing on an end sill, attached to a side sill that protrudes outward from the side sheathing? There seems to be a lower brake staff bracket dangling below the "porch" and perhaps a metal strap, with bolts, wrapped around the end sill.

So could this actually be a D&RG Billmeyer and Small 24-foot boxcar, rebuilt into an outfit car? Consider:




D&RG 3005 would fit into cars of this series. And note the vertical hand grabs on the ends at the corner. They look a lot like the vertical grabs on the other end of 03005, at the corner and on either side of the door.

Is it possible that a D&RG 24' boxcar or outfit car got stranded on the CC in the 1880s and was "adopted" by that road? If so, why is it lettered with DL&G subscript, instead of UPD&G?

Perhaps Jimmy Blounch or others knowledgeable with the early D&RG should look for outfit car numbers in the 03000 series. Ron Rudnick has noted that several Kansas Central boxcars ended up in Colorado, "off the books", some later re-lettered for the UPD&G or DL&G, but keeping their original numbers.

FWIW, here is the outfit car at Climax that Jeff referenced:

 


The car details of Mr. Tovey's 03005, especially the end fascia board, doesn't match obvious candidates from the CC/South Park boxcars. It doesn't have the arched lower edge of UP-built cars, like the CC 24' cars or the South Park 27' cars. It looks too short to be a Peninsular 30' car. And the Litchfield 26' boxcars/outfit cars had angled lower fascia edges:




All speculation aside, Dave, I haven't a clue as to the origin of this car.  On final thought--are we sure that Mr. Tovey didn't haul the outfit body to Kokomo, and park it behind the Masonic Lodge, as Jeff noted??