Freight cars in interchange service are subject to the AAR rules regarding how long they can remain in operation. For cars built through June of 1974, the car is subject to a the AAR Rule 90 40-year lifespan. Cars built after June of 1974, or otherwise subject to an AAR Rule 88 rebuild or extended service status are subject to a 50-year period. Some newer cars can have an "increased life status" allowing a 65-year period in service. At the end of the applicable period the car must be scrapped or removed from interchange service.
I've seen a few references to an earlier 25-year rule but don't have anything definitive on when it may have applied.
Here's the car from the above linked photo. Adjacent to the LT WT stencil is a shop code and reweigh date corresponding to when the car was "light weighted." In this case the date looks to me like 3-51, indicating the car was in service in this scheme as of March of 1951. There's also a black rectangle above the left hand journal of the right truck with a date of maybe 1950 for a bearing repack. These details are common to cars from any road.
Rob Spangler
IIRC freight cars had/have to be "rebuilt" every 25 (or 28?) years, something like that. It's not uncommon for a car to keep it's original lettering until it's rebuilding or other major trip to the shops. I have slides of a boxcar in full Great Northern "big sky blue" paint with GN reporting marks, taken in 1990...20 years after the BN merger. So yes, I'd expect a ATSF car built in 1940 or so could easily still be lettered the same way in the 1950's.
http://www.proto48.org/images/articles/art07-03-1000.jpg
could this be a prove of the surviving of this map boxcars in theyr original format ?
i think i read a date of 1951 on the side anyone confirms ?
thanks very much
hi all
I would like to know from the opinion of the more experienced members
Do you think this type of Maps car boxcar of the Santa Fe would have been still in regular service in this format in 1953
1- same slogan/map?
2-and lettering A.T.S.F.with periods ?
thanks very much to all those that will help contribuiting
stefanuccio hi Rob thanks for the links i have been there already but without much success...
OK let's look further.