ACF Industries (ACF) started producing this general type of 70t Hi-Cube exterior post designed car in 1971, the design developed further in 1973-74 which is the prototype of this car. Specifically this version with uneven sized waffles to strengthen side walls with thinner material. We believe this car design was tailored to one customer Weyerhaeuser for paperboard loading at several plant locations in their nationwide network (including Canada). Paperboard is the raw material used in the making of carboard boxes. The Hi-Cube height was important to accommodate various sizes of paper rolls, with either one-high, two-high or three-high depending on internal or external customer requests. The Plate clearance for these cars pre-dates the Plate F introduction so they were marked with Exceeds Plate C. Even with it’s height these cars travelled throughout the US and Canada and usually ganged together into small blocks of cars. So, it was common to see all railroad schemes in one string together.
The pooled railroads with this general car design were with waffles; BN(ex-SLSF), BNSF, C&EI, MP, MRL, SLSF and TO&E. Without waffles; ATSF,BN and BNSF (100t versions). This design lasted a long time and there are reports they are still running around to this day, although with heavy modifications.
This car assigned to Weyerhaeuser for loading at either DeQueen, AR or Valliant, OK. For the nationwide Weyerhaeuser pool.
NOTE: This scheme reflects the newly adopted curved “rounded” lettering and numbers introduced in 1974.
DESIGN FEATURES
- Differing lettering placements for individual car numbers for repainted cars
- Car number specific handbrakes, Ajax, Ellcon-National, Equipco, Klasing or Universal
- Unique very tall pair of 8′ Youngstown plug doors
- ACF draft gear designed tailored to each prototype
- Multiple versions of door stops, waffles and non-waffles
- Durable rubber air hoses and metal corner stirrups
- 70t trucks with metal wheels and axles, type matched to prototype
- Highly detailed Stanray T3-3-3 ends uniquely used to this Hi-Cube
- Researched accurate lettering, from the smallest stencils to the nuisances of repainted cars
- Kadee ”Scale” Whisker couplers
