Once again, I have the opportunity to show some interesting prototype route cards from the Michael Litant collection. These were all intended to be attached to route card boards. I have shown previously the dimensions and appearance of the prototype boards (see my post at: https://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/01/route-cards-7.html ). Route card boards were about 5.5 x 9 inches. I usually make them from a length of scale 1 x 6-inch lumber or styrene strip.
The first card I want to show is apparently a train assignment card, by which I mean identifying a car to go into a specific departing train. It’s a Union Pacific form, for train GTX East, and the “3” may be a blocking number. The car number, 43473, is shown but no initials (could mean it’s a UP car), and the contents appear to be “MW bags,” whatever that may be. Original card dimensions are 4 x 5 inches.
Second up is what appears to be a transfer card, from the Peoria & Pekin Union to the GM&O. Like the card above, it uses green type for attention. The car is Great Northern 36638,a 40-foot wood-sheathed box car, and it contained dry felt from the Barrett Division of Allied Chemical & Dye Co. Dimensions are 3.5 x 5.5 inches.
Another transfer card is this one, destined to the D&RGW at Ogden, originating road not shown but has to be UP or, more likely, SP. Car is B&O 289225, a 50-foot double-door automobile car. Card is 3 x 4 inches.
An interesting card is this one from the MKT at Denison, Texas, showing a very large letter “Z” to indicate a train or specific destination. Car is shown as M 91710. Ordinarily the “M” would be the long-time reporting mark for the Montour Railroad (though Montour had no cars in this number series), but in this case it may well be clerks’ shorthand for the MKT. If so, the car was a 40-foot steel box car with 6-foot doors. This upright card is 3.5 x 6 inches.
My fifth example is a “hold” instruction for CB&Q 63960, so that the car can be weighed. This was a 40-foot steel box car with 6-foot doors, and he cargo was lumber. Though not so identified, it is probably a Great Northern card, since it directs weighing the car at GN’s Interbay Yard (Seattle). Card is 3 x 4 inches.
Finally, another transfer card, this one from the Houston Belt & Terminal to Southern Pacific. The car is Southern 9495, a 50-foot box car with a 10-foot door, and the contents are shown as XDF, possibly meaning empty, and the destination is “NOLA,” surely meaning New Orleans, Louisiana. Card is 3 x 4.5 inches in size.
As I always remark about these cards, the variety is intriguing and the implications for model railroad operations fairly obvious. I continue to enjoy seeing and interpreting cards like these.
Tony Thompson
