Southern Pacific Freight Cars
Volume 5, Hoppers, Covered Hoppers, Tank Cars
by Anthony W. Thompson.
Cloth with dust jacket, 8.5x11, b/w and color pictures, drawings, charts. 2008.
"This fifth volume in the series about Southern Pacific freight cars covers three SP car types: tank cars, hopper cars, and covered hoppers. (SP classed both hoppers and covered hoppers as "H" classes.)
"The period treated is approximately 1865 to 1965. Early cars of the 19th century, both wood and steel tank cars as well as early hopper cars, are described prior to the Huntington Common Standards. Following chapters describe the Harriman, post-Harriman, and 1920s eras.
"After World War II, SP bought several orders of covered hoppers, and by 1960 was buying much larger and more diverse cars of that type. Meanwhile, hoppers were nearly all of the longitudinal dumping or ballast type. Concluding chapters cover cars of the early 1960s, including SP's first tank car purchases since 1942."
"Noted rail artist John Signor created the painting shown here, depicting a Southern Pacific yard scene containing the subjects of this series of books."
