On Jan 17, 2021, at 12:29 PM, George Eichelberger <geichelberger@...> wrote:

Dan:

I don’t think the concept of joining two 50-T hoppers was based on reduced costs. After the “Big John” case was settled (won), the Southern wanted to offer 100-T tariffs on other commodities. With few 100-T open hoppers available, permanently coupling two 50-T cars was an expedient. More research is needed as no drawing of the drawbars (if used) has been located.

In any case, the paired cars did not last very long. Here is another snippet from a different spreadsheet. Photos of the “articulated”* cars are not common. If anyone has any they can send, we have plenty enough information to do a TIES article.

Ike

*”articulated” is not really a correct term, "permanently coupled” is a better description IMHO.

Sou	102819		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102820		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102821		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102822		4/12/1968		articulated hopper car	In "Report of Equipment Dismantled February 1968"
Sou	102825		4/12/1968		articulated hopper car	In "Report of Equipment Dismantled February 1968"
Sou	102825		4/12/1968		articulated hopper car	dismantled during February, 1968
Sou	102826		2/19/1968		articulated hopper car	Dismantled during January 1968
Sou	102829		11/1/1967		articulated hopper car	Authorized for retirement at Charlotte
Sou	102830		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102831		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102832		12/1/1967		articulated hopper car	Authorized for retirement at Sevier, TN
Sou	102832		2/19/1968		articulated hopper car	Dismantled during January 1968
Sou	102837		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102839		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102842		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102844		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102848		1/17/1968		articulated hopper car	In Report of Equipment Dismantled December, 1967
Sou	102848		1/17/1968		articulated hopper car	dismantled during December, 1967
Sou	102849		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102851		7/2/1970		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102854		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102857		7/2/1970		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102858		3/15/1971		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102858		3/15/1971		articulated hopper car	1 of 277 BO cars recommended for retirement
Sou	102859		7/2/1970		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102863		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102864		12/1/1967		articulated hopper car	Authorized for retirement at Sevier, TN
Sou	102864		2/19/1968		articulated hopper car	dismantled during January, 1968
Sou	102865		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102866		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102868		7/2/1970		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102872		7/2/1970		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102878		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102879		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102880		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102880		3/15/1971		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102880		3/15/1971		articulated hopper car	1 of 277 BO cars recommended for retirement
Sou	102888		3/24/1969		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102893		3/15/1971		articulated hopper car	recommended for retirement
Sou	102893		3/15/1971		articulated hopper car	1 of 277 BO cars recommended for retirement
Sou	102897		1/17/1968		articulated hopper car	In Report of Equipment Dismantled December, 1967
Sou	102900		1/17/1968		articulated hopper car	In Report of Equipment Dismantled November, 1967

On Jan 17, 2021, at 10:55 AM, Daniel Bourque <deltabourque@...> wrote:

What I haven’t been able to figure out with these “articulated” cars is how they were coupled. I would assume a drawbar, but photos aren’t clear. How do you designate an A and B end with brake wheels on both? I know the idea was to cut costs for shipping because it was technically a single-car movement, but still a strange car. 

I’ve seen pictures of these cars made from either ex-Interstate hoppers (similar to AAR rib-side hoppers) or rebuilt war-emergency hoppers with the diagonal bracing. Paint schemes also seem pretty varied including both black and red. Some cars have the big split letters, and some have “SOUTHERN” on the “left” car and the car number on the right. 

Dan

On Jan 17, 2021, at 7:33 AM, sgwarner88@... wrote:

Those hybrids were strange looking.   Around ‘65 or so I recall seeing one standing under the Gay St. viaduct, and asked a Sou. Carman what they were.  His answer was less than printable, likely because I suspect that they would have a double AB valve and brake systems (Plus eight journals) for one car.  I seem to recall that it was a combination of off-set hoppers, permanently coupled.  The split lettering was an eye-caitching.