50 Ft Intermodal Flats

[BNSF FAN]

Back in the early 1980's, Norfolk Southern took some surplus 50 ft box cars and converted them into intermodal flat cars that would carry up to a 48 ft trailer. I know C&NW did the same and it seems like I read somewhere that Santa Fe tried this. Does anyone know if ATSF did this. If so, does anyone know where I can find some info about the cars and/or photos? Thanks for any help on this.

[Alan]

Richard, I have seen a NS one in California, and have seen photos of CNW ones, but not any ATSF that I can remember.

[atsfman]

Santa Fe did this using flat cars that had fixed hitches applied, I believe in the early 1980's. I built a few of them, but they were pretty much all gone by 1989 which is my era modeled, so I removed them from the layout. There are some photos in commercial publications, and I will look through my library and see if I can locate them, and let you know. If I remember, I used MDC 50' flat cars as the basis, but it has been so many years I can't say for sure. They were fairly easy converts.

Major drawback was that trailers got longer, and these cars couldn't accomodate them, so they were obsolete quickly.

Bob Miller

[atsfman]

Haven't found photos yet, but "Listing of Freight Cars by Class and Car Number 1906-1991" compiled by Larry Occhiello, and I believe still available from ATSF modelers and historical society lists the following:
293095-293235 Ft32 Flat 51' tofc listed 1985-1987
293236-293334 Ft33 Flat 51' tofc listed 1985-1987

299000-299348 Ft105 Flat 50'tofc from Bx74,75 gone 1991
299349-299592 Ft107 Flat 50'tofc gone 1991
299601-299683 Ft108 Flat 50'tofc gone 1991

Will still watch for photos. Believe the ones I did were painted white and others mineral brown.
Bob Miller

[c.a.jon]

FYI. Back in the early eights at least out of Hobart Santa Fe actually used Gondolas for containers. Don't know how they were secured. Saw a whole bunch going thru Fullerton CA then.

[BNSF FAN]

Hey everyone,
Thanks for the replies. Bob, you provided the info I needed. Would still be interested in pics if you happen to come across any. I appreciate everyones help. Thanks. smile.gif