The yeoman of the Atlantic Coast Line flat car fleet was composed of the P-13 and P-14 series of 53'6" AAR 50-ton flat cars. The cars were identified as, "war emergency" cars due to their production during 1943 and featuring wooden stringers which were eventually replaced with 4" Z bracing. The P-13 series was delivered in February 1943 and were numbered ACL 77000-77171. Though unremarkable in terms of appearance, the cars were constructed to AAR practice and built by Greenville Steel Car Company. The cars also rode on T-9-D trucks which are denoted as 50 ton unit cast steel solid bearing trucks. The P-13 class utilized Cardwell-Westinghouse Type NZ-11-E draft gear and a Universal drop staff hand brake. The cars were painted black and lettered with white reporting marks.
The P-13 series quickly became candidates for rebuilding in the 1950s as shipper demands warranted modification to include bulk heads being applied, log service, TOFC, and brick and wall board service. The P-14 series was ordered in January 1943 and later constructed by Pullman Standard in June 1943. The P-14 series was numbered ACL 77172-77471 and differed in the application of Cardwell-Westinghouse NZ-11-F (200 cars, ACL 77172-77371) and Miner AX-2-B (100 cars ACL 77372-77471) draft gear. The P-14 series also utilized T-9-D trucks and a Universal drop staff hand brake. This series was also painted black and lettered with white reporting marks. The cars when repainted utilized the unique Prismo striping which was applied in December 1951, however, the striping was later modified in 1957, and ultimately removed by May 1958.
In reviewing all of the information, ACL began the conversion program of the P-13 series in 1951 with the application of angled bulkheads and 4" steel Zee stringers which replaced the 4" x 3 1/8" wood stringers when constructed in 1942. The bulkheads were modified in 1953, and a second series of cars were modified in 1956. In 1957, the angled bulkhead cars were revised using 3" steel Zee stringers above the trucks. In late 1957, the application of straight steel bulkheads was applied through car 77005. In December 1959, eight P-13 series flats were converted to TOFC service. In 1960-61, ACL constructed additional P-13 straight bulkhead conversion flat cars with upgraded stringers and removable side stakes. In 1961, ACL modified a single log/lumber service P-13 flat car with removable side stakes to assist in loading, however, this car was not equipped with bulkheads. The conversion process continued with the modification of four additional cars with moveable floor risers and 'Jumbo' end cover plates for use in dedicated wallboard/gypsum service.
In all, 85 P-13 series flat cars were modified during 1951-1961 for varying services to include gypsum/wallboard, log/lumber, brick, and TOFC. Thirty-eight of the P-13 series cars equipped with straight bulkheads were equipped with 2 lading compartments on the A end of the car. 12 examples included a single lading compartment, while 7 examples had none. All angled bulkhead P-13 series flat cars were not equipped with lading compartments.
Straight bulkhead conversion lading compartments:
38 cars - 2 lading compartments
12 cars - 1 lading compartment
07 cars - 0 lading compartments
Car number: Year converted: Bulkhead type:
77020 1951 Angled
77037 1951 Angled
77079 1951 Angled
77104 1951 Angled
77122 1951 Angled
77136 1951 Angled
77153 1951 Angled
77154 1951 Angled
77066 1956 Angled
77128 1956 Angled
77156 1956 Angled
77002 1957 Angled
77015 1957 Angled
77022 1957 Angled
77116 1957 Angled
77125 1957 Angled
77000 1957 Straight
77068 1957 Straight
77074 1957 Straight
77110 1957 Straight
77124 1957 Straight
77140 1957 Straight
77150 1957 Straight
77169 1957 Straight
77101 1957 Straight
77168 1957 Straight
77013 1958 Straight
77096 1958 Straight
77003 1958 Straight
77007 1958 Straight
77080 1958 Straight
77098 1958 Straight
77129 1958 Straight
77003 1958 Straight
77007 1958 Straight
77080 1958 Straight
77098 1958 Straight
77129 1958 Straight
77011 1958 Straight
77106 1958 Straight
77107 1958 Straight
77026 1959 Straight
77031 1959 Straight
77045 1959 Straight
77048 1959 Straight
77061 1959 Straight
77086 1959 Straight
77099 1959 Straight
77100 1959 Straight
77102 1959 Straight
77120 1959 Straight
77123 1959 Straight
77126 1959 Straight
77130 1959 Straight
77135 1959 Straight
77139 1959 Straight
77146 1959 Straight
77164 1959 Straight
77166 1959 Straight
77171 1959 Straight
77041 1959 Straight
77137 1959 Straight
77005 1959 Straight
77030 1959 TOFC
77057 1959 TOFC
77065 1959 TOFC
77069 1959 TOFC
77071 1959 TOFC
77083 1959 TOFC
77097 1959 TOFC
77108 1959 TOFC
77056 1960-61 Straight
77004 1960-61 Straight
77014 1960-61 Straight
77021 1960-61 Straight
77146 1960-61 Straight
77161 1960-61 Straight
77032 1960-61 Straight
77084 1960-61 Straight
77087 1960-61 Straight
77142 1961 None
77012 1961 Straight
77117 1961 Straight
77157 1961 Straight
77158 1961 Straight
Straight bulkheads conversion in 1959, File 21.98, General Arrangement S-913, End Arrangement S-912 (Diagram dated 08-13-1959). Two lading compartments at "A" end only.
77026
77031
77045
77048
77061
77086
77099
77100
77102
77120
77123
77126
77130
77135
77139
77146
77164
77166
77171
77041
77137
77005
Straight bulkhead conversion in 1958, File 21.98. Assigned to National Gypsum, General Arrangement S-913, End Arrangement S-912 (Diagram dated 7-18-58). Two lading compartments at "A" end only.
77011
77106
77107
Straight bulkhead conversion in 1958, File 21.98, Assigned to Southern Johns-Manville Company, Jarrett, VA. General Arrangement S-796, Floor stringer arrangement Q-525. (4" Zees @ 8.2# and 3" Zees @ 6.7#) (Diagram dated XX-17-1958). No lading compartments.
77013
77096
Angled bulkhead conversion in 1957, File 21.98, Assigned to US Gypsum Company, General Arrangement Q-525, End Arrangement S-616, Originally 4" x 3 1/8" wood stringers, New 3" Zees @ 6.7# above trucks. (Diagram dated 7-22-58)
77002
77015
77022
77116
77125
Straight bulkhead conversion in 1957, File 21.98, Reconverted from 44'6", 46'0" and 44'8" length cars, Assigned to National Gypsum Company, Savannah, GA. 4" x 4" wood or 4" Zees @ 8.2#, General Arrangement S-796. (Diagram dated 09-17-1958). One lading compartment at each end.
First Lot:
77000
77068
77074
77110
77124
77140
77150
77169
Second Lot:
77101
77168
Angled bulkhead conversion in 1958, File 21.98, Assigned to US Gypsum Company, (4" Zees @ 8.2# and 3" Zees @ 6.7#), Floor structure only Q-525, End Arrangement S-616. (Diagram dated XX-17-1958)
77010
77024
77148
77165
77170
Straight bulkhead conversion in 1958, File 21.98. Assigned to US Gypsum Company, (4" Zees @ 8.2# and 3" Zees @ 6.7#), Floor structure Q-525, General Arrangement S-913. Out shopped September 5-11, 1958. No lading compartments. Diagram dated XX-17-1958.
77003
77007
77080
77098
77129
Angled bulkhead conversion in 1956, File 21.98. Assigned to US Gypsum Company, (4" Zees @ 8.2# and 3" Zees @ 6.7#), Floor structure Q-525, End Arrangement S-616. (Diagram dated XX-18-1958)
77066
77128
77156
Angled bulkhead conversion in 5-1951. Bulkheads modified as per drawing S-616 in 1953. Anchors applied in 1956 per drawing P-446. Assigned to US Gypsum Company. Floor structure Q-525, End Arrangement S-616, (4" Zees @ 8.2# and 3" Zees @ 6.7#) (Diagram dated 1958).
77020
77037
77079
77104
77122
77136
77153
77154
Flat car Piggyback service conversions in 12-1959, File 21.82.7.1, No stringer information listed. Diagram dated 02-03-1960.
77030
77057
77065
77069
77071
77083
77097
77108
Flat car log and lumber conversion, Waycross shops, File 21.98.13 and 21.98.13.1, 4" Zees @ 8.2# and 3" Zees @ 6.7#, General Arrangement N-1080, Diagram dated 06-08-1961.
77142
Straight bulkhead conversion in 1961 at Waycross shops, moveable floor risers, "Jumbo" end cover plates, General Arrangement S-913, End Arrangement S-912. Steel 4" Zees @ 8.2#, Two lading compartments at "A" end only. Diagram dated 06-13-1961.
77012
Straight bulkhead conversion in 1961 at Waycross shops, moveable floor risers, "Jumbo" end cover plates, General Arrangement S-913, End Arrangement S-912, Steel 4" Zees @ 8.2#, Two lading compartments at "A" end only. Diagram dated XX-23-1962.
77117
77157
77158
Straight bulkhead conversion in 1960-61 at Waycross shops, removable side stakes, File 21.98.15, General Arrangement S-913, End Arrangement S-912, Steel 4" Zees @ 8.2#, Two lading compartments at "A" end only. Diagram dated 06-20-1961.
77056
77004
77014
77021
77146
77161
77032
77084
77087
The P-13 and P-14 classes can be accurately modeled using the Proto 2000 (now Walthers) series models and will serve as a future project. The series was later renumbered as SCL 677000-677471 and were largely relegated to specialized service or demoted to Maintenance of Way service where they carried various equipment loads or were modified for tracking laying equipment. The following links show the varying modifications to include deck rails and gondola sides.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4917211
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4415241
http://rchase.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4415240
