TOFC flats.

[WP Russell]

Where could I find out about SP's early flat cars for trailer service? Is there a book on
the subject? Did they carry only SP trailers, or just any trailer?
Thanks
WP Russell

[Martyn Read]

Russel, the Morning Sun color guide for SP has big chunks on road fleets and early TOFC operation, in fact there's probably more info on those than there is on traditional railroad items like freight cars! :D

From what it said in that book (and I'm working from memory 'coz i'm at work) the SP started with a specialist system called "Clejan" which required specialist fittings on the trailers, this kept most trucking companies off their trains, at that time the trucking companies were regarded as the competition in that field and not a customer as they are today.

Clejan seems to have been a set of tiny metal wheels between the road tyres that ran on rails on the flatcar deck, this way once the trailer was aligned on the first flatcar it could be confidently backed all the way down the train without all the problems of steering the trailer that would normally ensue...

It seemed to be a mix of SP and PMT (SP owned trucking co.) trailers on the flats.

I'll check the book out this evening & see if it has more info.

BTW it also has colour pics of one of those cabeese you were looking for info on! smile.gif

All the best

[WP Russell]

Hello,

That book (Morning Sun Guide) isn't listed in

"A WORKING LIST OF BOOKS AND BOOKLETS ON THE
SOUTHERN PACIFIC AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES"

Compiled by PETER J. McCLOSKY

http://home.earthlink.net/~pmcclosky/spbooks.html

Is it still in print? If you don't mind, where did you
get it?

Thank you.

WP Russell

[Martyn Read]

I think it will be this one....

"Southern Pacific In Color", by Sweetwater, David D., Morning Sun Books, 1993.

(It took me awhile to find it in that list! Wow!)

I got my copy off a friend who was thinning his railroad book collection, so sorry, that doesn't help much :(

[slimjim]

Morning Sun Books (http://www.morningsunbooks.com/west.htm)

[Martyn Read]

Thanks for posting that link Jim, I was wrong, it's the second book on that Morning Sun webpage, entitled:

> Southern Pacific Color Guide to Freight and
> Passenger Equipment, Volume 1
> by Anthony W. Thompson

With the pic of the truck on the cover.

HTH smile.gif

[ 27 May 2002, 17:43: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]

[WP Russell]

WOW!

That was fast. Thank you. As soon as my budget allows,
I'll be getting that book.

I think I'll need those pictures of the flats with rails.

Thanks!

WP Russell