Re: (erielack) The EL Hot 100...number one!

["Paul Brezicki" <doctorpb_@_bellsouth.net>]

The F89f is a shoo-in for #1, given the total production of 5582 cars from
1963-67. This number is more than double the #3 F89e, half-again larger than
runner-up Bsf11, and the largest TT class through 1980. This BSC car helped
fill the need for flats to accommodate the rapidly-growing TOFC business of
the 1960's. It was basically an elongated version of the F85f, sans
chain-anchor bars. They were all equipped with the ACF Model 2 cushion
hitch, which aside from the G85 hitch, was the only one in town. 471 cars
are listed in the 10/69 ORER as XTTX four-hitch cars, able to load three
pups as well as a pair of 40's. Like the P-S F89e, it was superseded by a
lookalike 89'4" car, the F89x. Only 150 were built (in 6/68) before the
switch to the flush-deck design. The contemporaneous cushion coupler version
was the F89fh; 2374 were built for TT, mostly for autorack service.

Pat has chosen, appropriately, an EL location for the #1 Hot-100! car photo.
TTX 152852 appears to skate across the station platform at Hornell, probably
in a westbound consist. Once again, the load is interesting. SFTZ 500361 was
in a sub-series equipped with meat rails and chassis-mounted reefer unit;
these were less efficient than nose-mounted units, but were less prone to
damage and avoided clearance issues. Look closely at the PFE trailer; it is
actually a Strick-built Flexivan container. Giveaways are the nose-mounted
fuel tank, foldaway landing gear design and "PFC" rep mark (conventional
trailers were "PFT"). For reasons that are unclear, the PFE fleet had a
preponderance of Flexivans, which were generally handled as conventional
TOFC. Many PFE trailers and Flexi's were equipped with meat rails.

Paul B

 

Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2017 00:09:09 +0000 (UTC)

From: Patrick Moore <pat.moore_@_att.net>

Subject: (erielack) The EL Hot 100...number one!

 

List...

 

And your most-numerous freight car in the EL consist sheets is (drum
roll)...

 

TTX 150000 - 155581, an 89' channel-side flat car built by Bethlehem Steel
Car, in Trailer Train class F89f.

 

The consist sheets have a whopping 688 examples of this freight car, making
it by far the most common intermodal flat, and more than 20 times more
common than the freight cars seen down at the bottom of the countdown.

 

Picture...

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/ttx/ttx152852jpa.jpg

 

 

Locations...

Systemwide, but mainly in intermodal trains from Chicago to Croxton, NJ.

 

Model...

Athearn released a highly-detailed model of this car in their Genesis line,
most recently in December 2014...

 

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATHG29577

 

 

 

Walthers has also produced a model of the F89f flat car, although not as
detailed. Another run of the Walthers model was announced recently and
remains in stock...

https://www.walthers.com/89-channel-side-flatcar-ready-to-run-trailer-train-
ttx-150089-1960s-brown-40-trailer-service

 

 

 

- - -pat

 



	The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
	http://EL-List.railfan.net/
	To Unsubscribe: http://Lists.Railfan.net/erielackunsub.html

------------------------------