Post by URR566 on Mar 10, 2013 2:27:07 GMT -5
The Bessemer & Lake Erie purchased 10 Evans coil cars in 1967. These cars, numbered 31000-31009 and classified as GBSR-15, were a new design which featured two “clamshell” covers which rolled down the sides of the cars to allow loading, and rolled back up to conceal the lading during transport. The idea behind this design was to speed up the loading/unloading process. The covers were less than successful, and were eventually removed from the cars.
Here is car 31001, showing its as delivered configuration. These cars were originally painted orange with silver covers, and wore the circular Bessemer logo with “Coil Coach” on the sides:
canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ble31001_2&o=ble
By the early-mid 1970’s, the original clamshell covers were removed from the cars. The Bessemer placed more traditional shields on the cars, there were at least three different style shields used.
Class leader 31000 at North Bessemer yard, showing one of the three styles of covers used on these cars, this particular car featured one solid cover the entire length of the car. At the time the clamshell covers were removed two ladders were added to each corner of the cars. It is painted in the second orange scheme, which featured a more traditional Bessemer emblem and lettering font. The “Coil Coach” name was eliminated at this time:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble31000a.jpg
Number 31002 wearing the second style of covers used on the GBSR-15 class. Three short rounded covers. Note that only two of the covers are painted orange, with one wearing black paint. Looking at various photos of these cars with this setup, it would appear that these shields wore orange, black, and grey paint at various points in their lives:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble31002n.jpg
Here is the third style of covers used on these cars. Number 31003 sports two rounded covers. The car is also painted in the third and final paint scheme of all black.
canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ble31003&o=ble
Some cars were used without any lids on them, such as 31006:
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=572971
Here is a list of other little variations I have seen on these cars that didn‘t quite fit in above:
As delivered, the end walkways on these cars featured a small gap in between the end of the body, which allowed clearance for the clamshell covers to fully open. After those covers were removed this requirement went away. The modified cars have the walkways mounted flush off the end of the body, as well as having the side skirting cut back and the stirrup steps mounted under the ladders. A third variation exists, if you refer to the photo link of car 31006, you can see that there were no walkways at all on that car, it is the only car I have seen this way.
Some cars wore their factory “Coil Coach” scheme into the late 1970’s despite having been modified with the different covers.
I have never seen a car with the single large cover, or three short rounded covers painted in the final black scheme. Not saying those color/cover combos never existed, but I have never seen them painted that way or have ever heard that they were painted in the final black scheme.
Here is car 31001, showing its as delivered configuration. These cars were originally painted orange with silver covers, and wore the circular Bessemer logo with “Coil Coach” on the sides:
canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ble31001_2&o=ble
By the early-mid 1970’s, the original clamshell covers were removed from the cars. The Bessemer placed more traditional shields on the cars, there were at least three different style shields used.
Class leader 31000 at North Bessemer yard, showing one of the three styles of covers used on these cars, this particular car featured one solid cover the entire length of the car. At the time the clamshell covers were removed two ladders were added to each corner of the cars. It is painted in the second orange scheme, which featured a more traditional Bessemer emblem and lettering font. The “Coil Coach” name was eliminated at this time:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble31000a.jpg
Number 31002 wearing the second style of covers used on the GBSR-15 class. Three short rounded covers. Note that only two of the covers are painted orange, with one wearing black paint. Looking at various photos of these cars with this setup, it would appear that these shields wore orange, black, and grey paint at various points in their lives:
www.rr-fallenflags.org/ble/ble31002n.jpg
Here is the third style of covers used on these cars. Number 31003 sports two rounded covers. The car is also painted in the third and final paint scheme of all black.
canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ble31003&o=ble
Some cars were used without any lids on them, such as 31006:
www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=572971
Here is a list of other little variations I have seen on these cars that didn‘t quite fit in above:
As delivered, the end walkways on these cars featured a small gap in between the end of the body, which allowed clearance for the clamshell covers to fully open. After those covers were removed this requirement went away. The modified cars have the walkways mounted flush off the end of the body, as well as having the side skirting cut back and the stirrup steps mounted under the ladders. A third variation exists, if you refer to the photo link of car 31006, you can see that there were no walkways at all on that car, it is the only car I have seen this way.
Some cars wore their factory “Coil Coach” scheme into the late 1970’s despite having been modified with the different covers.
I have never seen a car with the single large cover, or three short rounded covers painted in the final black scheme. Not saying those color/cover combos never existed, but I have never seen them painted that way or have ever heard that they were painted in the final black scheme.