Bridge plates on TOFC cars

[packer]

Anyone know when they started coming off? I picked up a few cheap damaged Walther’s flush deck (ACF or Bethlehem) cars, managed to piece them back together save for bridge plates. I’m wondering when the bridge plates came off (haven’t had any luck finding photos of them from the 70s-early 80s)

Also what would be a good match for the yellow Walther’s used?

[jonklein611]

Right about the time you start seeing containers on flat cars, because the same equipment would be used to offload trailers as well. No need for the bridge plates if you're not driving from car to car.

[edwardsutorik]

Bridge plates were removed when and if these cars were converted to Twin-45's. This started late 1983, and was pretty much completed by 1990. Any that weren't converted lost them pretty much in the late '80's.


Ed