I got this car in with my recent purchase of an estate. Any ideas as to its purpose and is it prototypical? Could it have been used to transport mules or prisoners to work sites? I'm not very knowledgeable about logging railroads of the 1920's - 1930's (or sooner).
To transport animals, a standard stock car would have done. I suspect that it's to carry prisoners for work gangs. At that time, they were a lot less worried about comfort for convicts. But that's one cool looking piece of rolling stock.:thumbs_up:
even in todays society of confort & luxury, a convict, in my opinion DOES NOT deserve confort & luxury. They are a prisoner. Simple as that.
That is a USA Civil War era car. Might have been modified from a standard freight car for hauling prisoners. Stock cars of the 1850/1860s had a lot more open siding. They must have figured prisoners did not require as much ventilation if you have read any history of that war. That car might be from the old MDC/Roundhouse series or maybe the older Mantua line. Below is a link for some similar cars. http://www.btsrr.com/btscar01.htm Rich
I suspect what with ventilators top and bottom that it also may have been used to transport either open or small containers of petroleum, oil or lubricants. I've been around a MOW car that was used for that purpose and even with top vents you'd not want a flame even 50 ft. away.
I'd go with DJ above. Can't see they'd put those low level vents in if it was a prisoner car, but many inflammable vapours are heavier than air, so low vents are needed to stop them building up. On the other hand you'd think there'd be some warning signs, but then again this is a model and may not be as complete or true to prototype as we'd like.
In long tunnels, pockets of poisonous gas could be encountered just like in coal mines. These car were used for transporting industrial size parakeets (think ostriches) to tunnels for the detection gas buildups.
I am not aware of such a car on the Sumpter Valley. That doesn't mean it never existed, but I have three books on the SVRy and I don't recall ever seeing such a car. I don't recall ever hearing of loads of prison gangs working on the SVRy. That's more of a south-of-the-Mason-Dixon-line phenomenon.
I took another look at the car this afternoon. It says, "Mantua" on the bottom. It may not be prototypical for the Sumpter Valley, but I think it is an unusual piece of rolling stock to say the least. Thanks for your input, everyone.