Arch Bar Trucks - A-in-Circle Following Car Number - N&W ?

[NW Mailing List]

An order of the Interstate Commerce Commission stipulated that after June
30, 1949, cars equipped with arch bar trucks must not be interchanged
between railroads, except in the case of a car returning to the owning road
for repair or scrapping.

To address the known problems with arch bar trucks, as early as 1938 some
railroad began placing an obvious visual identification on such cars, in
the form of a large letter A enclosed in a circle, following the car
number, on each side of the car.

I do not recall seeing the A-in-a--Circle on any N&W equipment, or photos
of same.  Does anyone know if the N&W ever painted such identifications on
its arch bar equipment?

Just as an aside, arch bar trucks were still used on captive-equipment at
steel mills well past the year 2000, and some of it may still be in use.
The last wreck I saw caused by arch bar trucks was about 2005, and it was
on an old flat car used in steel mill service, occasioned by the collapse
of one of the arches, under load and on a curve.

So, did the N&W ever do the A-in-a-Circle thing ... ?

Solum Magister Miller non scire responsum.  ( Only Mister would know the
answer... :-)  )

-- abram burnett
Transgenerational Epigenetic Centrifugal Potential Turnips, Inc.
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