Back in the day, say from the 1930's to the 1940's would railroads have interchanged livestock cars? Specifically I am wondering if there is a prototypical excuse to have Northern Pacific interchange Pig Palace livestock cars with Great Northern. I am freelancing (or will be, still in the collection phase) an O scale Great Northern layout set somewhere in the 1940's not based on any real prototype (Minnesotaish I guess). I could go with private owned cars such as Swift and not have to worry about if the interchange would have been done by the prototypes, but the Pig Palace livestock cars are just cool LOL. Thanks, Matt
I doubt that there would have been livestock interchange between GN & NP, however I would expect there was interchanges as the stock was headed toward the ultimate consignee there would have been interchange to the CB&Q and then other Eastern carriers as necessary. Remember livestock was also subject to 'feed, water & rest' provisions as a part of their transportation.
Not sure about the NP or GN, but Chicago was a major meat producer with massive stockyards, so would have likely seen stock cars from all over the midwest. Per @mmi16 , the CB&Q would have no doubt been a participating carrier.
Livestock was shipped around for many reasons; the final destination was only one. The Milwaukee moved sheep around from location to location for better pastureland depending on the season. Livestock was also moved around for breeding purposes and sometimes to replace a heard that suffered catastrophic loss. so yeah, have at it, run whatever you want, chances are it's right.
