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Boston & Maine 12550 Series Box Cars

Index

• Builder's Photo
• Classification Card(s) for series
• Specifications
• ORER data
• ORER Notes
• Discussion, General Notes
• Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data
• ICC Valuation Data
• Paint Schemes
• References
• Photographs
• Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions
• Modeling
• Revision History of this page

Builder's Photo

Does one exist?

B&M Classification Card(s)

For more info on the classification cards and "webitizing" them, see this web page

12440-12476 Sub-class

From 1942 class book.

Red text was black on original scan, above process removed it entirely, so (as best as I could read it) I re-added it
Note 1: in pencil, dimensions are 36'-3⅝" [inside] and 36'-8⅛" [outside] - I assume these are "actual" values vs. "stencil" values in black ink?
Click on image to see original scan at full resolution (or right-click → "Save Picture As" to download black and white image, to view it at full resolution)

Back side of previous page also had additional information:
Click on image to see original scan at full resolution (or right-click → "Save Picture As" to download black and white image, to view it at full resolution)

From 1955 class book.

Red text was black on original scan, above process removed it entirely, so (as best as I could read it) I re-added it
Click on image to see original scan at full resolution (or right-click → "Save Picture As" to download black and white image, to view it at full resolution)

Specifications From Classification Cards

Spec	12440-12476	12550-12599
Builder	MDT Co.	?
Lot #	6	?
Spec #		?
Quantity	37	?
Build Date	1903	?
Dimension "A" (max outside width)	9'-3¼"	?
Dimension "B" (door height)	7'-8½"	?
Dimension "C" (inside height to carlines)	8'-0"	?
AAR class	XM
Lt Weight	31,000 lbs (approx)
Description	36' Wood underframe boxcars, double-sheathed [End Doors] Some cars received composite underframes (steel center sills) beginning before 1914
Cubic Cap'y	Original: 2,467 Cu. Ft. Mogul ends: 2,455 Cu. Ft. 7/7 stamped steel ends: 2,483 Cu. Ft.
Truss Rods	four x 1⅛"
Trucks	Fox
Springs	7" x 7", 1¼" outside (¾" inside) steel
Journals	4¼" x 8" (60,000 lbs nominal capacity)
Side Bearings	67" center to center, 33¼" from rail to top of truck side bearing
Air Brake	HC 812
Center Plates	Fox Contour
Coupler	5" x 5" shanks, 6½" butts
Draft Gear	Tandem spring

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data - 1903-1910

Description	4/1903	10/1905	5/1906
Length	35'	35' & 36'	35' & 36'
Width			8'-6" to 8'-7"
Height			7'-7" to 8'
Capacity (Pounds)	40000	40 & 60000	40 & 60000

ORER Size Data

Description			6/1910	3/1911	2/1914	11/1914	12/1914	5/1923
Car series/numbers								12495,12520	12508,12531-12578
AAR Mechanical Designation						XM	XM	XA
Inside Dimensions	Length		35' to 36'	(same)	35'	35'	35'	35'
	Width		8'-6" to 8'-7"	(same)	8'-7½"	8'-7½"	8'-7½"	8'-7½"
	Height		7'-7" to 8'	(same)	7'-4"	7'-4"	7'-4"	7'-4"
Outside Dimensions	Length			(same)
	Width	At Eaves or top of sides or platform		(same)
		Extreme Width		(same)
	Height from Rail	To Extreme Width		(same)
		To Eaves or top of sides or platform		(same)
		To Top of Running Board		(same)
		To Extreme Height		(same)
Door - Side opening	Width			(same)			5'	5'
	Height			(same)			7'	7'
Door - End opening	Width		6'-7"	(same)	6'-7"	6'-7"	6'-7"	6'-7"
	Height		7'-0½	(same)	7'-0½	7'-0½	7'-0½	7'-0½
Capacity	Cu Ft. Level Full			2256	2213	2213	2213	2213
	Pounds		40 to 60000	(same)	40000	40000	40000	60000	40000

ORER History

ORER Date (Year-Mo.)	Car Numbers	# of Cars	Description
1900 - 09	12550-12599	…	Box, Carriage, End Doors
1900 - 10	(same)
1900 - 11	"	39	"
1900 - 12	(same)
1901 - 01	(same)
1901 - 02	(same)
1901 - 03	(same)
1901 - 04	(same)
1901 - 05	(same)
1901 - 06	(same)
1901 - 07	12500-12599	"	"
1901 - 08	(same)
1901 - 09	"	79	"
1901 - 10	(same)
1901 - 11	(same)
1901 - 12	(same)
1902 - 01	(same)
1902 - 02	(same)
1902 - 03	(same)
1902 - 04	"	81	"
1902 - 05	"	88	"
1902 - 06	"	91	"
1902 - 07	"	103?	"
1902 - 08	"	107	"
1902 - 09	"	109	"
1902 - 10	"	110	"
1902 - 11	(same)
1902 - 12	(same)
1903 - 01	(same)
1903 - 02	(same)
1903 - 03	"	110	"
1903 - 04	12450-12599	113	"
1903 - 05	"	114	"
1903 - 06	(same)
1903 - 07	(same)
1903 - 08	(same)
1903 - 09	"	115	"
1903 - 10	(same)
1903 - 11	"	114	"
1903 - 12	(same)
1904 - 01	(same)
1904 - 02	(same)
1904 - 03	(same)
1904 - 04	(same)
1904 - 05	(same)
1904 - 06	(same)
1904 - 07	(same)
1904 - 08	(same)
1904 - 09	(same)
1904 - 10	"	113	"
1904 - 11	(same)
1904 - 12	(same)
1905 - 01	(same)
1905 - 02	(same)
1905 - 03	"	112	"
1905 - 04	(same)
1905 - 05	"	110	"
1905 - 06	(same)
1905 - 07	"	109	"
1905 - 08	"	108	"
1905 - 09	"	100	"
1905 - 10	"	119	"
1905 - 11	"	121	"
1905 - 12	(same)
1906 - 01	(same)
1906 - 02	(same)
1906 - 03	(same)
1906 - 04	(same)
1906 - 05	(same)
1906 - 06	(same)
1906 - 07	(same)
1906 - 08	(same)
1906 - 09	(same)
1906 - 10	"	120	"
1906 - 11	"	119	"
1906 - 12	(same)
1907 - 01	(same)
1907 - 02	(same)
1907 - 03	"	118	"
1907 - 04	"	117	"
1907 - 05	(same)
1907 - 06	(same)
1907 - 07	(same)
1907 - 08	(same)
1907 - 09	"	116	"
1907 - 10	(same)
1907 - 11	"	115	"
1907 - 12	(same)
1908 - 01	(same)
1908 - 02	(same)
1908 - 03	(same)
1908 - 04	(same)
1908 - 05	"	164	"
1908 - 06	(same)
1908 - 07	(same)
1908 - 08	(same)
60 cars split off into 12423-12484 (see that series for data after 8/1908)
1908 - 09	12485-12599	103	"
1908 - 10	(same)
1908 - 11	(same)
1908 - 12	"	102	"
1909 - 01	(same)
1909 - 02	(same)
1909 - 03	(same)
1909 - 04	"	101	"
1909 - 05	(same)
1909 - 06	(same)
1909 - 07	(same)
1909 - 08	(same)
1909 - 09	(same)
1909 - 10	(same)
1909 - 11	(same)
1909 - 12	(same)
1910 - 01	(same)
1910 - 02	"	100	"
1910 - 03	(same)
1910 - 04	(same)
1910 - 05	(same)
1910 - 06	"	99	"
1910 - 07	(same)
1910 - 08	"	98	"
1910 - 09	"	97	"
1910 - 10	(same)
1910 - 11	"	96	"
1910 - 12	"	95	"
1911 - 01	(same)
1911 - 02	"	94	"
1911 - 03	"	93	Box, End Doors
1911 - 04	(same)
1911 - 05	"	92	"
1911 - 06	(same)
1911 - 07	"	91	"
1911 - 08	"	89	"
1911 - 09	"	87	"
1911 - 10	"	85	"
1911 - 11	(same)
1911 - 12	(same)
1912 - 01	(same)
1912 - 02	(same)
1912 - 03	(same)
1912 - 04	"	84	"
1912 - 05	"	80	"
1912 - 06	(same)
1912 - 07	"	79	"
1912 - 08	(same)
1912 - 09	"	77	"
1912 - 10	(same)
1912 - 11	(same)
1912 - 12	"	76	"
1913 - 01	"	75	"
1913 - 02	"	74	"
1913 - 03	"	71	"
1913 - 04	"	70	"
1913 - 05	(same)
1913 - 06	(same)
1913 - 07	"	67	"
1913 - 08	"	63	"
1913 - 09	"	62	"
1913 - 10	"	59	"
1913 - 11	"	58	"
1913 - 12	"	56	"
1914 - 01	"	52	"
1914 - 02	"	51	"
1914 - 03	"	49	"
1914 - 04	(same)
1914 - 05	"	46	"
1914 - 06	(same)
1914 - 07	(same)
1914 - 08	(same)
1914 - 09	(same)
1914 - 10	"	45	"
1914 - 11	(same)
1914 - 12	(same)
1915 - 01	(same)
1915 - 02	(same)
1915 - 03	(same)
1915 - 04	(same)
1915 - 05	"	43	"
1915 - 06	(same)
1915 - 07	"	42	"
1915 - 08	"	41	"
1915 - 09	"	39	"
1915 - 10	(same)
1915 - 11	(same)
1915 - 12	(same)
1916 - 01	(same)
1916 - 02	"	38	"
1916 - 03	(same)
1916 - 04	(same)
1916 - 05	"	36	"
1916 - 06	"	35	"
1916 - 07	(same)
1916 - 08	(same)
1916 - 09	"	34	"
1916 - 10	"	33	"
1916 - 11	(same)
1916 - 12	"	32	"
1917 - 01	"	31	"
1917 - 02	"	30	"
1917 - 03	"	28	"
1917 - 04	(same)
1917 - 05	(same)
1917 - 06	(same)
1917 - 07	(same)
1917 - 08	(same)
1917 - 09	"	27	"
1917 - 10	(same)
1917 - 11	(same)
1917 - 12	"	25	"
1918 - 01	(same)
1918 - 02	(same)
1918 - 03	(same)
1918 - 04	"	24	"
1918 - 05	"	23	"
1918 - 06	(same)
1918 - 07	"	22	"
1918 - 08	(same)
1918 - 09	(same)
1918 - 10	(same)
1918 - 11	(same)
1918 - 12	(same)
1919 - 01	12489-12599	21	"
1919 - 02	(same)
1919 - 03	(same)
1919 - 04	(same)
1919 - 05	(same)
1919 - 06	"	20	"
1919 - 07	(same)
1919 - 08	(same)
1919 - 09	(same)
1919 - 10	(same)
1919 - 11	"	19	"
1919 - 12	(same)
1920 - 01	(same)
1920 - 02	"	18	"
1920 - 03	"	17	"
1920 - 04	(same)
1920 - 05	"	16	"
1920 - 06	(same)
1920 - 07	(same)
1920 - 08	"	15	"
1920 - 09	(same)
1920 - 10	(same)
1920 - 11	"	14	"
1920 - 12	"	13	"
1921 - 01	12489-12578	"	"
1921 - 02	(same)
1921 - 03	"	12	"
1921 - 04	(same)
1921 - 05	12489-12578	9	"
1921 - 06	(same)
1921 - 07	(same)
1921 - 08	"	8	"
1921 - 09	(same)
1921 - 10	(same)
1921 - 11	(same)
1921 - 12	12495-12578	7	"
1922 - 01	(same)
1922 - 02	(same)
1922 - 03	(same)
1922 - 04	(same)
1922 - 05	(same)
1922 - 06	"	5	"
1922 - 07	(same)
1922 - 08	(same)
1922 - 09	(same)
1922 - 10	(same)
1922 - 11	(same)
1922 - 12	(same)
1923 - 01	(same)
1923 - 02	(same)
1923 - 03	(same)
1923 - 04	(same)
1923 - 05	12495, 12520	2	Box, Automobile, End Doors
	12508	1
	12531, 12578	2
1923 - 06	(same) (all 3 rows)
1923 - 07	(same) (all 3 rows)
1923 - 08	(same) (all 3 rows)
1923 - 09	(same) (all 3 rows)
1923 - 10	(same) (all 3 rows)
1923 - 11	(same) (all 3 rows)
1923 - 12	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 01	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 02	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 03	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 04	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 05	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 06	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 07	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 08	12495, 12520	2	Box, Automobile, End Doors
	12508	1
	12531	1
1924 - 09	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 10	12495	1	Box, Automobile, End Doors
	12508	1
	12531	1
1924 - 11	(same) (all 3 rows)
1924 - 12	12508	1	Box, Automobile, End Doors
	12531	1
1925 - 01	(same) (both rows)
1925 - 02	(same) (both rows)
1925 - 03	(same) (both rows)
1925 - 04	(same) (both rows)
1925 - 05	(same) (both rows)
1925 - 06	(same) (both rows)
1925 - 07	(same) (both rows)
(same) (both rows)
1925 - 08	(same) (both rows)
1925 - 09	12508, 12531	2	Box, Automobile, End Doors
1925 - 10	(same)
1925 - 11	(same)
1925 - 12	Not listed

ORER Notes

Has "*" indicating "Air Brakes" (1902-04 thru 1909-06)

Discussion, General Notes

• 03/1903 - interesting they could fit 110 cars into 100 numbers (12500-12599)?!?!
• 5/1925 - I am not sure why the 2 cars (with identical dimensions) were listed separately
• Note the class card references this as "12440-12476" yet (so far) I find no ORER reference to cars 12440-12449 (ORER series start at 12450)
• B&MRRHS 1900-1907 Freight Car Lettering Book No. 1 (Reprint of B&M lettering diagrams)

  Note the "Book page number" below refers to the page number in the B&MRRHS book.
  As the B&MRRHS book's pages are NOT numbered, "1" is the first page with an actual diagram! (NOT the title pages or index pages)
  "U" = upper diagram on that page, "L" = lower diagram

  The "Diagram number" refers to the circled number (lower right corner) in each diagram (the original page number)

  Book page #	7 - L
  B&M Diagram #	14
  Diagram Date	1907
  Color on Diagram	Brown
  Notes on Diagram	End door shown
  Datum	1900 Index	1907 Index
  Class of car	Box Car Carriage End Door	Box Car Carriage End Door
  Length	Various	35'
  Capacity	30,000-40,000	40,000
  Car Numbers	12561-12599	12523-12599
  Page [original]	24	14

Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data

Car Books (1923-06 thru 1936-10, then 1944-05 thru 1960-03)

Volume number refers original book number
Part number refers to PDF file part as posted on B&MRRHS site
Page numbers refer to pages in PDF file(s) (L/R = Left or Right side of that PDF page)

Car Number(s)	Vol	Part	Page	Date	Action	Location	New #	Notes
12578	1	2	9	1924-06-06	Destroyed

Car Disposition Records

Source(s)
ID	Box	Folder	Folder name	Link Title	Approx. Start date	Approx. End date
A	1	3	Freight Car List Old	10190 - 12758 Auto + Misc	after 1923?	1944?

Data
Car Number	Date Built	Disposition Source ID	Disposition Date	Disposition	New Car #
12503	1889-10	A	1921-03	to	3003

ICC Valuation Data (circa 1914)

For more info on the ICC valuation data, see this web page

"Owning" RR	Car # / Range	Val Sheet #	Index on Page	Car Type	Built Date	Builder	Capy	Underframe	Body	Notes
B&M	12486	BM-14	54	Carriage	1891	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12488	BM-14	56	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12489	BM-14	57	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12490	BM-14	70	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12491	BM-14	58	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12495	BM-14	71	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12497	BM-14	82	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12500	BM-14	59	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12501	BM-14	72	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12503	BM-14	94	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	60	wood	wood
B&M	12507	BM-14	95	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	60	wood	wood
B&M	12508	BM-14	60	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12511	BM-14	61	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12515	BM-14	73	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12520	BM-14	96	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	60	wood	wood
B&M	12521	BM-14	74	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12524	BM-14	62	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12528	BM-14	75	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12529	BM-14	76	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12530	BM-14	63	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12531	BM-14	77	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12536	BM-14	83	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12537	BM-14	84	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12538	BM-14	64	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12539	BM-14	78	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12541	BM-14	65	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12543	BM-14	97	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	60	wood	wood
B&M	12553	BM-14	66	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12554	BM-14	85	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12555	BM-14	79	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12556	BM-14	67	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12557	BM-14	68	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12558	BM-14	69	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12564	BM-14	86	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12565	BM-14	80	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12570	BM-14	87	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12571	BM-14	99	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	60	wood	wood
B&M	12575	BM-14	98	Carriage	1888	Fitchburg	60	wood	wood
B&M	12576	BM-14	88	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12578	BM-14	89	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12579	BM-14	90	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12583	BM-14	91	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12585	BM-14	92	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12591	BM-14	55	Carriage	1891	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12592	BM-14	93	Carriage	1890	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
B&M	12597	BM-14	81	Carriage	1889	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood

Paint Schemes

References or other data

• Magazine/Book article(s)

Photographs

Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions

Models

Revision History

File History for THIS page

Date	Who	Description
08-Dec-2019	KG Akerboom	Initial release
21-Mar-2020	KG Akerboom	Added data from 19 more ORERs
04-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Re-did references/photos section
05-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Moved ORER notes into separate section
09-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Added 1942 class card
11-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated class card table
15-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Added data from 4 more ORERs (1911,1919,1921,1931)
28-May-2020	KG Akerboom	updated 10/1919
21-Jul-2020	KG Akerboom	"Photos" table - changed "vertical" text to PNG of "sideways" text; added "Markings" columns
07- thru 16-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added ORER data (History only, not dims or notes yet) for 63 more registers, courtesy of James Kinkaid
10-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added E. Neubauer ORER data (car counts only, 15 issues)
22-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Car Book Data
17-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Standardized formatting of Classification Card(s) section
19-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated 1942 Classification Card
24-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Added 1955 Classification Card
27-Jan-2021	KG Akerboom	Added info from "1900-1907 Freight Car Lettering Diagrams" book
10-Apr-2021	KG Akerboom	Added info from 47 more ORERs 1903 thru 1917
04-Jul-2021	KG Akerboom	Reorganized Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data (Car # to 1st column, 2nd/other changes to new rows)
26-Sep-2021	KG Akerboom	Added car disposition record data
22-Jan-2022	KG Akerboom	Added ICC Valuation data
04-Jan-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed headers and footers...hopefully
25-Feb-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed link to scanned data (car books)
02-Mar-2023	KG Akerboom	Updated all ORER data with (almost) complete data
27-May-2023	KG Akerboom	Back-filled 1900 data
22-Jul-2023	KG Akerboom	Back-filled missing 1905 data