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Freight Cars

With this page, the cars have been sorted first by car type, and then largly listed in chronological order within each class. This provides an overview of equipment from the early 1910's to the present. See Ian Cranestone's roster site for more details on more car series.

Gondolas Woodchip Cars Flatcars Boxcar Hoppers

Gondolas

Class GB 48'6" Gondola - Series 3500-3850

An old 3500-3850 series gondola, still in service in 2002! Number is mostly worn off, but may be 3617. NICK MASNEY
Algoma Steel 124, ex-AC 3501-3850 series. At the tube mill. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE

History

These steel gondolas had wood floors, drop ends, 4' inside height, and an inside length of 48'6". They were purchased in 1947 and by the mid-1980's there was barely 20 of them left in revenue service. Some were sold to Algoma Steel, some transferred to work service, and some paired with old flatcars to make special 3-unit cars for carrying steel plate between the Algoma Steel and Dominion Bridge (later Welded Beam Division of Algoma Steel) mills. These 3-unit sets were numbered in the AC 3900-3907 series.

Modelling

HO scale: Westerfield produces resin craftsman kits of Canadian National 48'6" drop-end gondolas that are identical to the ACR's own 48'6" gondolas. Lettering for ACR gons is available in the form of dry transfers from CDS Lettering. Note however that the owner of CDS has retired and gone out of business, and Al Westerfield has also recently announced his intention to retire within the next couple of years, so unless someone takes over the business from him, these kits could become very hard to obtain.

Class GB 52'6" Gondola - Series 601-875, 951-955

AC 763 at Steelton, June 2000 CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
AC 808 in Winnipeg, MB. JAMES BROOKMAN
AC 875 in Winnipeg, MB. JAMES BROOKMAN

History

Algoma Central's standard gondolas were these 52'6" drop end gondolas. Most have wood floors, but the cars in series 951-955 are listed as having steel floors, and were probably rebuilt from cars in 601-875 series. By the time CN absorbed the Wisconsin Central, these cars were in sad condition, and CN started rapidly scrapping them. It is unlikely very many still remain.

Modelling

Modelling these gons is problematic, as there are few or no suitable models in any scale. In HO, the Athearn gondola is too short and has solid ends as apposed to the drop ends the AC cars had. The Proto2000 drop-end gon is the right size, but unfortunately it has a different number of ribs, however it is currently the best stand-in. The Proto 2000 car has been released in AC colours in the past in a special run by Hobbycraft Canada.

In N scale, the MicroTrains gondola is a good enough stand-in, although the side ribs don't quite reach the bottom of the car.

Lettering: A dry transfer set was produced by CDS Lettering, which should be available in N, HO and O scales.

Class GBSR Covered Coil Steel Gondola - Series 900-934, 975-984

AC 926, Side view JAMES BROOKMAN
A direct side-on view of AC 975, showing new bright yellow covers. At Steelton, June 1979. TED ELLIS
AC 976, Side view JAMES BROOKMAN
Close-up view of the data and empty return instructions on AC 920. JAMES BROOKMAN
Brake and lettering detail at the right end of the side. JAMES BROOKMAN
AC 920 End Detail JAMES BROOKMAN
AC 921 End Detail This view also shows the supports for stacking covers. JAMES BROOKMAN

History

These cars are specially outfitted for coil steel service and are fitted with 3-piece round steel covers to protect their cargo. These cars were converted from cars in the 601-875 series, some in 1970 and more in 1980.

Modelling

As these cars were taken from the 601-875 series above, see the above comments on modelling. The round yellow covers would have to be scratchbuilt to fit whatever car you use to represent these gons.

Class GBS Bulkhead Gondola - Series 1001-1400

AC 1052 at Sault Ste. Marie MORGAN TURNEY
End detail of AC 1048 BOB MENZIES
AC 1384 BOB MENZIES
AC 1399, showing off the bulkhead end. MORGAN TURNEY
End detail from AC 1170 JAMES BROOKMAN

Number	AAR	Description	#Blt	Svc Dates	IL	IH	Dr	CuFt	Bldr	Blt Dates	Notes
1001-1100	GBS	Gondola	100	4/1964-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	2-3/64	Stl. Bulkhead ends, wd. flr. some re#11041-11100
1101-1200	GBS	Gondola	100	7/1965-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	8-9/65	Stl. Bulkhead ends, wd. flr. some re#11101-11200
1201-1300	GBS	Gondola	100	7/1966-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	6/66	Stl. Bulkhead ends, wd. flr. some re#11201-11300
1301-1400	GBS	Gondola	100	7/1967-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	6-7/67	Stl. Bulkhead ends, wd. flr. some re#11301-11394
11041-11102	GBS	Gondola		1/1997-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	/64-/65	x1041-1102
11103-11392	"	"		10/1996-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	/65-/67	x1103-1392
11394	"	"		1/1997-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	/67	x1394
60000-60004	GBS	Gondola	5	7/1998-in svc.	61.0	5.0		2900	NSC	/64-/67	x1001-1400 series
60005-60006	GBS	Gondola	2	4/2001-in svc.	61.0	2.0		1138	NSC	/64-/67	x1001-1400 series

History

These unusual 61 foot bulkhead gons were used for both pulpwood and finished steel product service. They were built by National Steel Car in Hamilton, Ontario in the early sixties especially for the Algoma Central. The side ribs are assymetrically placed to allow the railroad's name and symbol to be perfectly centered on the carbody.

Note the use of two distinct styles of ends on these cars. The first style appears to only have been used within the first 100 cars. The second style shown is used on all cars above 1101. A version of this second end also appears to show up within the first 100-car series, seemingly at random.

Modelling

No model for these unique cars exist in any scale, but a reasonable stand-in can be made by scratchbuilding bulkhead ends and using a Walther's 65' mill gon for the body. With 400 cars on the roster, these larger cars greatly outnumber the 52' cars.

This model of one of the AC's 61' bulkhead gondolas was kitbashed from a Walthers 65' gondola by Mike Pebesma. Mike says:

"My intention was to create a model of the car that was very close, but maybe not 100% accurate. Starting with a Walther's 65' mill gondola, the car body was shortened by cutting off each end. The cast on ladders were used as a guide for the cuts. New bulkhead ends were built from .020" styrene sheet and ribs from styrene strip.

"The original weight and underframe were installed as per the instructions. Detail Associates brake parts were added to the end. The prototype car is riveted construction whereas the Walther's car is not. At the time I built this car, rivets such as the Archer decals were not available, but this small compromise was one I am willing to live with. The model was painted with Polly Scale engine black lightened slightly with reefer white. Lettering for this car was from a CDS dry transfer set. The load is made from Evergreen styrene beams of varying size."

Class GBA Gondola - Series 3901-3908

AC 3907 loaded with steel plate at Algoma Steel's welded beam mill at Sault Ste. Marie. 2004. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
AC 3907 - A unit; bad shot of the A unit car (ex AC 2201-2250 series), showing the car number lettering. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
AC 3907 - B unit; opposite end flatcar (ex AC 2301-2373 series), note how ends have been cut down on this car. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
AC 3907 - C unit; side view of the central gon (ex AC 3501-2850 series). CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
AC 3903 - B unit; note how this car has a second brake wheel installed facing into the flatcar. Look closely and you can also see another of these sets behind it. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
AC 3903 - C unit; the lettering pattern on this car is different from 3907. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE

History

These three-unit cars are in dedicated service for movements of steel plate for Algoma Steel within their main Sault Ste. Marie mills, and the welded beam mill (former Dominion Bridge) less than a mile north of the ACR yard. These sets consist of an ex 3501-3850 series gondola, with a special frame fashioned from 10" I-beams for carrying the plate, and a flatcar at either end, which the frame overlaps. The flatcar at the A end of the set appears to be ex 2200-2250 series, while the B end unit is an ex 2300-2373 series flatcar with the end racks cut down.

Modelling

The centre gondola in each set is drawn from the AC 3501-3850 series, so the Westerfield CN gon is the most appropriate match. Cut off the top chord and scratchbuild the frame from Evergreen or Plastruct structural styrene. Add to this a 40' straight-sill flatcar to either end.

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Woodchip Cars

Class GTS - Series ACIS 1401-1489, AC 1501-1523

ACIS 1489, brand new at Steelton, November 16, 1974. Notice the Plate "C" markings beside the number.TED ELLIS
Wrecked ACIS woodchip cars showing the non-door end of the car and a detail of the lettering.TED ELLIS
ACIS 1415 modified for lumber service for Dubreil Forest Products. Photo at Steelton, June 2000 CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
ACIS 1415 with its end door reinstalled and in chip service on WC. 2002, somewhere in Wisconsin. GEORGE WIDENER
AC 1501 in Gladstone, Michigan, June 12, 1981 TED ELLIS
NFPX 1521 (ex-AC 1521), showing internal bracing and the non-door end on 1500-series cars. BRIAN PAWLOWSKI

History

The ACR's first woodchip cars were acquired from National Steel Car in 1974. These 90 cars were numbered with ACIS reporting marks, for International Service. In 1981, 23 similar (but not quite identical) cars were aquired from NSC with regular AC reporting marks. Both series of cars were built with one solid end, and one end that is a door, hinged at the top, for unloading the car using a hydraulic ramp. The car is tilted on end and emptied much like a dump truck. These cars were acquired for service for Newaygo Forest Products, shipping chips from the mill at Mead on the Northern subdivision to pulp mills in the USA. When the mill at Mead closed in 1985, these cars were sold off, with Newaygo taking about half of them.

Some of these cars were modified to be used for carrying lumber from the mill at Dubreilville. See the photo of ACIS 1415 above with modified top bracing and missing end door. The cars modified in this way were in exclusive service, shuttling back and forth between Dubreilville and Sault Ste. Marie, where they would be transloaded into trucks. Stacks of 8' studs would be loaded by forklift crosswise in the car. The following cars can be identified as undergoing this conversion: ACIS 1413, 1415, 1416, 1417 and 1433.

Disposition

• ACIS 1401-1412 - re# NFPX 1401-1412 (1985)
• ACIS 1413, 1415, 1416, 1417 and 1433 rebuilt for lumber svc., most still on WC/CN roster
• ACIS 1418-1490 - re# WESX 1418-1490? (date? - 198x?), re# DCFX 1418-1490 (1994)
• AC 1501-1523 - re# NFPX 1501-1523 (1985)

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Flatcars

Class FM Flatcar - Series 2501-2705

These 40' flatcars were built by Canadian Car & Foundry (CC&F). They had a fishbelly underframe but a straight side sill. They came delivered with archbar trucks. These cars remained in revenue service until the late 1940's. Most seem to have been rebuilt into gondolas at this point.

Class FM Flatcar - Series 1701-1869

These cars were 38'10" in length. The 1700-series cars were bought in 1935 and had steel underframes and wooden racks fitted to the ends for carrying pulpwood logs. There are a couple of pictures of these cars in the book "Algoma Central Railway Story" by Dale Wilson.

Class FM Flatcar - Series 2200-2250

AC 2200-series flatcar at Hawk Junction. The car number is illegible. KRIS ROENIGK

This series of 40' flatcar had a fishbelly centre sill but straight sides. 11 stake pockets per side and 4 end pockets.

Class FB Pulpwood Flatcar - Series 2301-2379

AC 236? (last digit not visible) at Hawk Junction carrying ties. MORGAN TURNEY
AC 2363 at Canyon, June 2000 CHRIS VANDERHEIDE

History

These cars were 40' flatcars with special steel racks on the ends for carrying pulpwood. They were acquired in 1965-6 and were probably rebuilt at that time from older 40' flatcars, rather than acquired as new cars.

Class FB Bulkhead Flatcar - Series 2401-2501

2412 black car with white Algoma Central lettering. Acquired new 1975. Photo at Sault Ste. Marie, 2004 CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
2467 green car, ex-BCIT. 2003 photo. BOB MENZIES
2476 orange car, ex-NAFX (North American Car Co.) 2004 photo. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
2493 orange car, ex-NAFX. 2003 photo BOB MENZIES

In 1998, 70 of the 100 cars were rebuilt with permanent side stakes for loading pulpwood logs and renumbered to the series 238400-2338469.

Modelling

Walthers has recently released a model of a "Canadian Bulkhead Flatcar" which is based on the Hawker Siddeley prototype that the AC acquired. It's available factory painted in Algoma Central colours for the 2401-2425 series, and the second release, due in October 2007 will include the AC 2426-2475 ex-BCIT paint-out scheme.

Class FB Pulpwood Flatcar - Series 238100-238195

AC 238181 WOLF KIRCHMEIR
End detail, A end WOLF KIRCHMEIR
End detail, B end WOLF KIRCHMEIR

These cars were purchased in the mid 1990s for pulpwood service. They have a 66' inside length, and permanent side stakes for carrying pulpwood. The cars were originally built for Canadian Pacific by Marine Industries and rebuilt with side stakes when acquired by WC.

Class FB Pulpwood Flatcar - Series 238400-238469

AC 238405 blurry photo, but shows the original Algoma Central Markings on the car. ex-AC 2401-2425 BOB MENZIES
AC 238409 the body colour and paint-out pattern would suggest that this car also carried the Algoma Central lettering before rebuilding, and is therefore ex-AC 2401-2425 BOB MENZIES
AC 238411 nee-BCIT (x-AC 2426-2475) BOB MENZIES
AC 238447 nee-NAFX (x-AC 2476-2494) BRIAN PAWLOWSKI
AC 238448 nee-NAFX (x-AC 2476-2494) BRIAN PAWLOWSKI
AC 238466 nee-BCIT (x-AC 2426-2475) BOB MENZIES

History

Rebuilt in 1998 from 2400-series bulkhead flatcars, these cars were modified with metal side racks to contain pulpwood.

Car renumberings

Modelling

Again, these are the same cars that match Walthers' new "Canadian Bulkhead Flatcar" model. The side racks would have to be scratch-built from plastic or brass shapes, just like the prototype.

Class FB Pulpwood Flatcar - Series 238500-238559

AC 238501 2003 BOB MENZIES
AC 238554 at Wyborn, August 2000. JAMES LALANDE

History

These cars were built in 1977 for Kimberly Clark of Canada as KWCX 1000-1149. These KWCX cars would have seen service on the ACR in the late 1970s and 1980s hauling pulpwood from Mosher to Ontario Paper plant in Thorold, ON, with cars routed via Franz. Empties were supplied from Kimberley-Clark in Terrace Bay. In 1997 the cars were sold to North-West Timber Co. and renumbered with NWTX reporting marks. A year later the 60 surviving cars were sold to the ACR and numbered AC 238500-238559. The original Kimberly-Clark logo still appears at the top of the right bulkhead.

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Boxcars

Class XM - Series 3101-3200

AC 3140, 3195 and 3114 in OCS service somewhere on the Michipicoten sub, circa 1980. KEN GOSLETT
AC 3176 at Steelton yard in 1980. KEN GOSLETT

History

These wooden boxcars were purchased in the late 1920's and some lasted in work train service more than 50 years, well into the late 1970's! In addition to express and local wayfreight cargoes, these cars may have been used to transport woodchips.

Modelling

The cars could be modelled quite accurately using Accurail's 40-foot wood boxcar, with wood ends and doors. Dry Transfer lettering is available from CDS Lettering.\

2901

2901 at Steelton, August 7, 1988 TED ELLIS

History

Rebuilt in 1962 from a Grand Trunk Western boxcar (GTW 470677) that was damaged in the Steelton yards and written off by GTW, it was for many years the only steel boxcar on the railway, and was the only boxcar to ever wear the ACR's round bear logo.

Modelling

Sylvan Scale Models has released a resin model of this car. They are a Canadian company, and they have just released a number of kits detailing several variations of these rebuilt GTW cars, and fortunately they included a kit with lettering for the ACR car. Also, dry transfer lettering for this car is available from CDS.

2902-2917

2915 still serving the railroad's needs in 2004. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE
2916, ex-TH&B. Sault Ste. Marie, 1990 MORGAN TURNEY
2917, ex-ONT BLAIR SMITH

ACR Partial Steel Boxcar Roster

AC #     ex        Description
2901  GTW 470677 rebuilt from wood car; dk. brown with bear logo.
2902     ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends; ONR "Ontario Development Road" Scheme, brown
2903             ?
2904             ?
2905             ?
2906     ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends; ONR "Ontario Develpment Road" Scheme, jade green - ONR markings painted out lt. brown
2907             ?
2908     ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends; ONR "Ontario Development Road" Scheme, brown
2909             ?
2910     ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends; ONR "Ontario Develpment Road" Scheme, brown
2911             ?
2912             ?
2913             ?
2914     ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends; ONR "Ontario Develpment Road" Scheme, lt. brown
2915     ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends; ONR "Ontario Develpment Road" Scheme, lt. brown
2916     TH&B    8' door, NSC-3 ends, diagonal panel roof; yellow w/ black doors, ends, roof - TH&B markings painted out with yellow
2917     ONT     9' door, NSC-2 ends; ONR "Progressive Scheme" with yellow door

Other steel boxcars in work service, mainly as tool or storage cars:

10351    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends;
10352    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends;
10358    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends, ONT "Progressive" Scheme, former number ONT 90545
10359    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends;
10360    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends;
10361    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends;
10364    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends, ONT "Ontario Development Road" Scheme, lt. brown
10681    AC 2901
10688    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends;
10690    ONT     tool car? 6' door, NSC-2 ends, ONT "Ontario Development Road" Scheme, lt. brown
10691    ONT     6' door, NSC-2 ends;

History

The Algoma Central got several 40-foot steel boxcars in a trade with Ontario Northland. The ACR had many surplus flatcars and very few boxcars, the ON was in the opposite situation, so flatcars were exchanged for boxcars. A few were given numbers in the 2902-2917 series for general usage, but several more were scattered throughout the 10xxx-series with the ACR's work equipment as tool cars or maintenance storage cars.

Note that none of these cars, whether they be numbered in the 2900 or 10000 series, were ever in true revenue service shipping anything other than the ACR's local wayfreight delivered LCL freight to remote stops along the line or company service. These cars would never have been seen off the ACR's own tracks.

Modelling

True-Line Trains has recently released HO scale models of NSC 10'0" height 40' boxcars with the proper ends and roof to match the ex-ONT cars in this series. As the models are available factory painted for ONT, they could very easily be patched to match specific AC cars.

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Hoppers

Class HM Hopper - Series 6001-7675

AC 6759 at Searchmont, March 1974 TED ELLIS
AC 7008 at Steelton, 1979 TED ELLIS

A large number of cars were purchased from various U.S. roads from the 1940s through to the '60s. They ranged from 50 to 70-tons capacity and were built around the time of World War I.

Class HMA Ore Hopper - Series 8001-8100

AC 8001, the first car in the series, at Hawk Junction July 1988 TED ELLIS
AC 8052 at Steelton yard. MORGAN TURNEY
AC 8074 at Steelton yard. MORGAN TURNEY
End platform detail, brake end of AC 8003 MORGAN TURNEY
End platform detail, non-brake end of AC 8005 MORGAN TURNEY
SSAM 208036, rebuilt by WC from AC 8036 into a remote-dumping ballast car. At Jasper, AB. August 2004. CHRIS VANDERHEIDE

These distinctive cars, unique to the ACR, were built by National Steel Car (NSC) in Hamilton in 1971. They were apparently not well liked by crews because they had a chain-operated door mechanism that would freeze solid in the winter. Another hundred cars in the series 8101-8200 were planned but the order was cancelled. Instead, the ACR ordered the cars of the 8201-8500 series (below).

These cars were rebuilt as remote-controlled ballast hoppers by WC. They can still be seen in ballast and sometimes ore service on the WC and DMIR systems in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Class HT Ore Hopper - Series 8201-8500

AC 8250, brand new at Steelton, February 1, 1974 TED ELLIS
AC 8385, location unknown, March 2, 2001 ELLIS VEECH
AC 8444 with vertical white stripe on middle rib. MORGAN TURNEY
AC 8334 with side-discharge hoppers. At Wyborn, August 2000. JAMES LALANDE
Detail of end platform on car MIKE SLATER
Detail of hopper discharge doors MIKE SLATER
SSAM 208379 (ex-AC 8379) remarked but not fully repainted. WC Fond du Lac shops, 1998. MIKE SLATER
SSAM 208430 (ex-AC 8430) fully repainted in WC colours. DARIN UMLAUFT
WC 208433 (ex-AC 8433). BRIAN PAWLOWSKI

Notes:

• 8201-8329 - sold to CSX 1988 (CSXT 351056-351175)
• 8330-8339 - rebuilt with side-dumping hopper outlets 1992
• 8401-8500 - painted with a vertical white stripe on middle rib. This stripe denotes softer springs on this series of hoppers than the others. A couple of derailments had apparently been attributed to stiff springs on the first bunch of hoppers delivered. Operationally, there was no difference in usage.

History:

These cars were built by National Steel Car Co. using designs licenced from Ortner Car Co. in Cincinatti, Ohio. They were delivered in 1974-75. 129 of these cars were sold to CSX in 1988. In 1998 with the closing of Algoma Ore in Wawa, these cars were transferred to service elsewhere on the Wisconsin Central system and some were renumbered into SSAM and WC reporting marks, adding a 20 in front of the number.

Disposition: With the decline of ore traffic from the Wawa area, many of these cars ended up stored, and in 1988, 8201-8329 were sold to CSX. With the WC takeover in 1995, some cars were sporadically renumbered with SSAM or WC reporting marks and some even received full repaints, but the majority actually remained with original AC numbers. When the mines around Wawa finally shut down in 1998, these cars spread out through the WC system. In 2005, CN sold the remaining cars to Haines & Kibblehouse (HKGX) and these cars now see service in stone/gravel trains in the eastern US. Addendum: as of 2008 these cars have been sold again to National Lime and Stone Company (NLRX).

Modelling:

Walthers produces a model of the Ortner prototype in HO scale. To alter these cars to better represent the cars the AC had, remove the interior bulkhead pieces and fill the mounting slots. Fashion the inside bracings from pieces of styrene or brass rod. The braces attach at the top of the car sides, and either side of the main center sill, between the hopper outlets. Build up the bottom of the car and include the door springs, but no equipment is mounted on the end platforms. The ends of the prototype car have a "lip" above them, while the Walthers car does not have this overhang. Simulate this with a length of styrene scale 2"x8" strip. You could optionally replace the bars joining the door openings with channel stock. Paint the car dark green and letter using the decals from Sylvan.

Class HT Hopper - Series 8601-8629

AC 8602 back home on the Ontario Northland in 2005 JAMES LALANDE
AC 8608 BOB MENZIES
WC 208617 (AC 8617) one of a very few, if not the only one, of these cars to actually get renumbered. JAMES LALANDE
AC 8624 BOB MENZIES

This series of 29 cars seems to have been picked up in 1979 from Ontario Northland, ex-ONT 6000-6070 series, but were originally just re-marked AC keeping the originally numbers. Renumbering into the 8600 series appears to have taken place around 1984. These cars were originally built by NSC in 1971 for Ontario Northland and are a dark green colour somewhere under the years of accumulated dirt and grime.

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