Reply To: Analysis of a Freight Train: #76 out of Pueblo 8/9/1966

[Ted Ferkenhoff]

So, the “DRWG” should be “DRGW” as in Denver, Rio Grande & Western. Me having a bout of dyslexia, probably because I have been typing “DWG” while renaming a bunch of drawing files. I will get the spreadsheet changed.

I presume you mean car 29, which is TP 719197. That is actually what the paperwork says, although I would venture a guess that it is an indentical move to Car 20, TP 719194, and both cars came from San Francisco.

I really appreciate your observation on Car 2, SP 117614. It orginated at Susanville, CA, on the Southern Pacific, and was routed SP-Salt Lake City-Pueblo-MP-Omaha-MILW with a destination of Peoria, IL via Chicago & North Western. A roller car would explain having the same consignor and consignee (I would guess one of the spellings is a typo.)

A “roller” is a car shipped with a pseudo or temporary destination, giving a freight broker time to sell the carload before it reaches that original imaginary destination. Rollers of lumber often took circuitous routes to allow time for the load to be sold.

@steve503 wrote:

I find these fascinating at times. How about car 27, A TP CH going from St. Joseph (originated by TP?) to St. Joseph with time on the DRWG (a reporting mark I can only guess at.) Car 2 appears to maybe be a “roller” since route looks roundabout?
Steve Marquess