I am looking for images of coal hoppers lettered fro the MILW in series MILW 121000-121024. These cars were built by Bethlehem Steel in February, 1980 for U S Rail Services as COER 3000-3024. The COER received them and never used them and they changed hands several times before becoming CSL 4901-4925. The MILW got them in 1986 and renumbered them into the series I list above. Incidentally, the MILW also got the other 25 cars built on this order from Bethlehem Steel in 1980, 25 cars built for the Point Comfort & Northern. Any pictures of these cars in service on the MILW are of interest. Thank you for your time.
Ed- Well, you certainly have me wondering. The numbers you list, if #121000-121024, overlaps the numberings for a series of leased special purpose flat cars. #121000-121011. If numbers are 101xxx, this overlaps a series of 4750 hoppers built in 1973. 500 cars #100653-101152. If they went to the Milw in 1986, I'd believe they'd not have lasted very long. The Milw was purchased by the Soo Line on February 19, 1985. Then merged into the Soo Line on January 1, 1986. Quickly following this, started the famous "Bandit" paint jobs. A deliberate Soo program to eradicate the Milw image. Which the Soo did not acquire from CMC. Any purchases in 1986 should have been made by the Soo Line. I can try to contact a former Milw official I know, and see if he knows more? Boxcab E50
There may be a conflict in numbering then. I have a shot of MILW 121019, which is a coal hopper, taken in 1994. I am not sure how the cars ended up with MILW marks, my research brought it out from some railcar historians. Hopefully someone can shed some light on this series of cars. I would love to find pictures of them when they were new on the CO&E (those are EXTERMELY hard to come by!).
It's possible that by the end of 1985, the flat cars were retired. Or renumbered. They were leasers from North American Car. I don't follow what happened to things after the Soo made a mess of it all. If those hoppers were acquired post-1/1/86, it would be interesting to know how they ended up with AAR MILW. I'd take a wild guess at some sort of accounting process. My notation about the Soo not getting the "MILW" and it's heraldry comes straight from a former Milw attorney. Who told me the Soo only bought the physical assets. And not the company name, etc. Which was retained by CMC. Hence the hurry up and paint out, ("Bandit"), removing/painting over what few heralds were not stolen off locos, cabooses, clearing out and quickly disposing of everything at Jackson Street, etc. Well, post up anything you find on this mystery! Boxcab E50
Will do. This brace of 25 cars is sure proving to be a real pain to find anything on. They seem to be a very elusive bunch!
