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Livestock on car floats?

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  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Southern California
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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 12:55 PM

If you ever saw the Chicago stock yards you would think that it was more than 1%. Train after train of nothing but stock cars. It's the reason Chicago is 3rd biggest city in the country. Cows, pigs, and chickens from all over the country were sent there to be slaughtered. It's the reason all railroads lead to Chicago.

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 12:39 PM

dehusman
Stock cars were the rarest of railcars, probably less than 1% of the US fleet, especially in the east coast. 

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I guess this would be true, and it sounds like I have too many stock cars.

.

-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Omaha, NE
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Posted by dehusman on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 10:31 AM

While it obviously happened, it was probably very rare.  Stock cars were the rarest of railcars, probably less than 1% of the US fleet, especially in the east coast. 

It woud also probably have to be fairly early since livestock moves declined as the years went by (refrigerator cars made stock cars obsolete) and more rivers were spanned with bridges, eliminating car ferries and floats.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

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Posted by FowlmereRR on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 9:46 AM

Thanks Dave. Great pic and useful info. Gives me another operation on my planned layout.

Cheers,

Bob

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    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 8:51 AM

That's quite a picture, Dave.  Well, at least they were on the head end.  Indifferent

Traveling with your dinner.

Mike.

  • Member since
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  • From: Omaha, NE
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Posted by dehusman on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 7:55 AM

https://www.shorpy.com/node/10695?size=_original#caption

Note they are also moving passenger cars on the same float, must have been a fragarant trip.

Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com

  • Member since
    March 2014
  • 121 posts
Livestock on car floats?
Posted by FowlmereRR on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 6:29 AM

Can anybody tell me, please, if stock cars were ever moved by car float? Maybe too stressful/risky for live loads?

Thanks,

Bob

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