Train Buffs (Real and Model): ID this Car

[35Rem]

What kind of car is this? I've never seen one on the rail.

I bought it because it was cheap, to add to my set. The people I got it from didn't know.

Thanks.

 

[Jellybean]

I've seen flat cars modified to carry a variety of stuff, but don't remember seeing anything exactly like that. I have a lot of experience with hoppers, and don't care if I ever see another one.

Stupid question time, don't they have any writing on the bottom of the model like who made it and a model #? I haven't had a model train since my kids destroyed mine in the '80s.

 

[35Rem]

They are new to me, too. That's what caught my eye. That, and they are my college's team colors (orange and navy- go Auburn!)

There is an "RO" over "CO" and "Austria" on the bottom. No model numbers.

Thanks

 

[Jellybean]

I believe there are model train forums online, you might try one of them if you don't get any answers here.

 

[chief38]

EASY!
it's a 12 gauge shotshell holder car.

 

[35Rem]

it would hold 38 specials. But probaly not +P's.

 

[CJofWolfcreek]

Chesapeake and Ohio Automobile carrier is what it looks like to me. HO gauge? A little hard to tell for sure but thats my best guess.

 

[Belfastman]

Have to agree looks like auto carrier, dad worked for C&O and have seen them with see through metal siding.It reminds me of incident I read in hometown newspaper in Kentucky where I grew up.This was early 70's conductor walking train discovered some where on their route someone and used car carriers as targets.These vandals did thousands of dollars worth of damage shooting at carriers and hitting brand new cars.It sent chills through me that these idiots could have killed someone.

 

[Jst1mr]

+1 on auto carrier. My Dad hauled new cars for many years off a rail hub in Mpls, MN. The new cars originally arrived exposed on rail cars, but too frequently were targets of rock throwers, etc. Manufacturers, however, still wanted the free advertising of the new cars being visible as transported, so the see-through but protected train car came about. (Remember when the model change and new appearance of a car was a hugely anticipated event?)

 

[kscardsfan]

+1 on auto carrier. My Dad hauled new cars for many years off a rail hub in Mpls, MN. The new cars originally arrived exposed on rail cars, but too frequently were targets of rock throwers, etc. Manufacturers, however, still wanted the free advertising of the new cars being visible as transported, so the see-through but protected train car came about. (Remember when the model change and new appearance of a car was a hugely anticipated event?)

Had an uncle get arrested for trying to break into the dealership's back lot to check out the new models one year in the late 50s or early 60s. Small town so they laughed it off. I was too young to ever experience this phenomenon, or to see open/unprotected car carriers. I can't believe that a: they ever had unprotected carriers or b: that people would be stupid enough to shoot/vandalize at them and risk someones life for a cheap thrill.

 

[moosedog]

If it's a car carrier, wheres the ramps? They never loaded cars with a crane.
It's obviously just one of those things.

 

[Engineer1911]

Car made to carry long sections of new rail. Pieces of rail would be 300+ yards long and carried on multiple cars. Cars were stoughtly built to "bend the rails" on curves. I saw several of these car trains in the Minneapolis yard between East River Road and Main Street just south of I-694 in the early 1980s.

 

[35Rem]

Not a car carrier. Not tall enough and the spacing is weird.

It's been identified as a Calcium Carbide car.
Calcium Carbide Car
How it works, I have no idea. I can't find a photo of one in action.

The rail carrier has been mentioned, and makes some sense. Although, I'm not sure you would want to put something that heavy that high above the deck of the car.