Pullman Standard freight car photos

[grabirons]

I found an interesting website, not a railroad site, but in fact the Illinois digital archives. Now, what's different are the photos? Well they're somewhat standard..... pun intended! The photos are from all of their facilities around the United States. There are photos of some showing the in construction process of them, from the interiors, to the insulating, putting on roof panels even showing what the basic under frames looked like, detail photos and unusual ones as well.   I'm going to post a few showing my initial search. Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them on the site, then zooming in with your mouse and moving it around with your clicker. Enjoy the history!

I started with this: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/search/searchterm/pullman%20standard/page/1

Then I began scrolling through the pages and here are some more examples:

50 foot ps-1 boxcar www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/18816/rec/67

C&O 50 ft ps-1 boxcar construction: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/21135/rec/83

Santa Fe 40 footer showing frame and interior: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/18076/rec/117

Another ATSF 40 footer: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/22665/rec/63

20 photos showing workers constructing freight cars: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/18491/rec/151

SLSF first triple deck open auto rack #3000 www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/21951/rec/214

Early Southern all door boxcar with demo being put on for customers: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/18557/rec/20

misc construction photos,5: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/21992/rec/1

workers putting on roof sections on boxcar: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/21567/rec/8

nrbx rbl with many pics of construction and interior: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/17643/rec/41

SCL whoop chip hopper: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/21622/rec/306

Pennsy hopper showing hopper door detail: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/19718/rec/354

Finished L&N coal hoppers: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/18082/rec/124

DMIR ore car and detail photos: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/19791/rec/520

TCIX ore car: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/21000/rec/623

WP plug door ps-1 interior detail, look at all that wood!: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/21318/rec/518

CGW new 40 foots living up outside the paintshop: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/17912/rec/584

MP 50 ft boxcar and interior detail: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/19851/rec/645

P&LE flat cars under construction, and finished: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/19007/rec/33

Butler PA plant view 1939: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/15663/rec/708

Building and constructing early intermodal flatcars: www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/pshs/id/19062/rec/34

[bn7023]

Oh! A bird's eye view of the Butler plant! Who is going to read the letters on the roof? The following photos were taken in April 2011 by my friend Akihiko Toyama. The first photo is a view from the Lyndora viaduct on Hansen Avenue. Is "Hansen" named after the founder of Standard Steel Car Company? I'd like to know what's going on now. Google Map

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

I believe the letters on the roof read Butler then an arrow directing pilots to the airport. Lots of areas used to mark their roof for pilots that flew the old "IFR" or 'I follow roads' method at lower altitudes than most these days. The circle may contain either the distance to the airport OR compass direction of the arrow. If you zoom out the current Google shot posted there is in fact an airport not terribly far away in pretty much exactly the direction of that arrow on the roof.

[grabirons]

Feb 10, 2024 4:55:28 GMT -8 kentuckysouthernrwy said:

I believe the letters on the roof read Butler then an arrow directing pilots to the airport. Lots of areas used to mark their roof for pilots that flew the old "IFR" or 'I follow roads' method at lower altitudes than most these days. The circle may contain either the distance to the airport OR compass direction of the arrow. If you zoom out the current Google shot posted there is in fact an airport not terribly far away in pretty much exactly the direction of that arrow on the roof.

I was thinking recently that painting city names on top of large structure roofs would be an interesting modeling opportunity as it is something often missed. It would probably be on most non demolished older industrial buildings up until around the 1980's, maybe even a little later. I noticed some cities would have some buildings with just the city name on it without the arrows.


link

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Best take on the city names was a fellow that had a big building on the short approach to the airport in Milwaukee, that said: "Welcome to Cleveland" on the roof.



www.atlasobscura.com/places/welcome-to-cleveland-sign guess it still does....

[alexandrianick]

Feb 10, 2024 4:55:28 GMT -8 kentuckysouthernrwy said:

If you zoom out the current Google shot posted there is in fact an airport not terribly far away in pretty much exactly the direction of that arrow on the roof.

Pittsburgh International is roughly on the same bearing too. The airport you're referring to is visible in clear weather from an airplane over Butler, so I'm a little uncertain that's the one it is referring to.

I grew up in Butler (next to the airport too) . I'll send a few texts and see if anyone knows.

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

Feb 10, 2024 8:10:09 GMT -8 alexandrianick said:

Feb 10, 2024 4:55:28 GMT -8 kentuckysouthernrwy said:

If you zoom out the current Google shot posted there is in fact an airport not terribly far away in pretty much exactly the direction of that arrow on the roof.

Pittsburgh International is roughly on the same bearing too. The airport you're referring to is visible in clear weather from an airplane over Butler, so I'm a little uncertain that's the one it is referring to.

I grew up in Butler (next to the airport too) . I'll send a few texts and see if anyone knows.

Used to be a lot of pilots flying in less than clear weather, scud running, with mail, etc. before the extensive GPS systems now days. My one experience in my flying days getting caught in snow with visibility straight down about it, a sign would have been helpful. That experience hastened the end of my flying days....that and life.

[markfj]

There is also Pullmanlibrary.org which has drawings available.

You can see examples of the drawings they have in their collection here: 

Pullman Library Examples pdf

And, yes, you can get copies for modeling or research projects.
Thanks, Mark

[bn7023]

The All Door Boxcar is an advanced prototype car that does not have lightweight holes in the side sills. I purchased a Bachmann model in 1987. When I looked into it, I was disappointed to find that it did not resemble the prototype. Later, I found out that Ambroid (HO-scale) and East Penn Models (O-scale) had commercialized it, but I couldn't get it.

So I asked for a collection of drawings published by the Southern Railway Historical Association. Unfortunately, I lost my passion at some point.