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

[NW Mailing List]

That’s an interesting question that I hope to learn from. I was aware of the non-interchangeability of cars with arch bars, but painted designations is a new one. 

In the meantime, I’ll forward the question to the nerds on one of the other mailing lists I monitor. 

Matt Goodman
Columbus, Ohio

Sent from my mobile

On Sep 15, 2025, at 12:39 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:


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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