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Boston & Maine 5550 Series Gondola 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)

Does one exist?

Specifications From Eric Neubauer data and Classification Card index

from Eric Neubauer - Laconia production data (Laconia.rtf)

Spec	5550	5551-5650
Builder	B&M - Salem	Laconia
Lot #
Order #		466 (bodies) 467 (trucks) (ordered 1905)
Quantity	1	100
Build Date		1905-1906

From 1955 Classification card index, p1, marked "Obsolete"

Car Numbers	5550-5649
Lot #	10
Inside Length	31'
Cap'y	60,000 lbs.

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data - 1907-1910

Dimensions	4/1906	5/1906	8/1909
Length	31'	28'-9½"	31'
Width		8'	8'
Height		3'-10¼"	3'-10¼"
Capacity	60000	60000	60000

ORER Size Data

Description			6/1910 Value	2/1911	2/1914	11/1914
M.C.B. Designation						HM
Inside Dimensions	Length			28'-9½"	28'-9"	28'-9"
	Width			7'-7"	7'-7"	7'-7"
	Height			3'-10"	3'-10"	3'-10"
Outside Dimensions	Length		31'	31'	31'	31'
	Width	At Eaves or top of sides or platform	8'	8'	8'	8'
		Extreme Width
	Height from Rail	To Extreme Width
		To Eaves or top of sides or platform
		To Top of Platform or Running Board	3'-10¼"	3'-10¼"	3'-10¼"	3'-10¼"
		To Extreme Height
Door - Side opening	Width
	Height
Capacity	Cu Ft. Level Full			836	836	836
	Pounds		60000	60000	60000	60000

ORER History

ORER Date (Year-Mo.)	Car Numbers	# of Cars	Description
Split off series 5000-5949
1906 - 04	5550-5949	100	Coal, Hopper Bottom Gondola
1906 - 05	(same)
1906 - 06	(same)
1906 - 07	(same)
1906 - 08	(same)
1906 - 09	(same)
1906 - 10	(same)
1906 - 11	(same)
1906 - 12	(same)
1907 - 01	(same)
1907 - 02	(same)
1907 - 03	(same)
1907 - 04	(same)
1907 - 05	(same)
1907 - 06	(same)
1907 - 07	(same)
1907 - 08	(same)
1907 - 09	(same)
1907 - 10	(same)
1907 - 11	5550-5899	"	"
1907 - 12	(same)
1908 - 01	(same)
1908 - 02	"	99	"
1908 - 03	(same)
1908 - 04	(same)
1908 - 05	"	100	"
1908 - 06	(same)
1908 - 07	(same)
1908 - 08	(same)
1908 - 09	(same)
1908 - 10	(same)
1908 - 11	(same)
1908 - 12	(same)
1909 - 01	(same)
1909 - 02	(same)
1909 - 03	(same)
1909 - 04	(same)
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	(same)
1910 - 03	"	99	"
1910 - 04	"	100	"
1910 - 05	(same)
1910 - 06	(same)
1910 - 07	(same)
1910 - 08	(same)
1910 - 09	(same)
1910 - 10	(same)
1910 - 11	(same)
1910 - 12	(same)
1911 - 01	"	98	"
1911 - 02	(same)
1911 - 03	(same)
1911 - 04	(same)
1911 - 05	(same)
1911 - 06	(same)
1911 - 07	(same)
1911 - 08	(same)
1911 - 09	(same)
1911 - 10	(same)
1911 - 11	"	97	"
1911 - 12	(same)
1912 - 01	(same)
1912 - 02	(same)
1912 - 03	(same)
1912 - 04	(same)
1912 - 05	(same)
1912 - 06	(same)
1912 - 07	(same)
1912 - 08	(same)
1912 - 09	(same)
1912 - 10	(same)
1912 - 11	(same)
1912 - 12	(same)
1913 - 01	(same)
1913 - 02	(same)
1913 - 03	(same)
1913 - 04	(same)
1913 - 05	(same)
1913 - 06	(same)
1913 - 07	(same)
1913 - 08	(same)
1913 - 09	(same)
1913 - 10	(same)
1913 - 11	(same)
1913 - 12	(same)
1914 - 01	(same)
1914 - 02	(same)
1914 - 03	5550-5650	"	"
1914 - 04	(same)
1914 - 05	(same)
1914 - 06	(same)
1914 - 07	(same)
1914 - 08	(same)
1914 - 09	(same)
1914 - 10	(same)
1914 - 11	(same)
1914 - 12	(same)
1915 - 01	(same)
1915 - 02	(same)
1915 - 03	(same)
1915 - 04	(same)
1915 - 05	(same)
1915 - 06	(same)
1915 - 07	(same)
1915 - 08	(same)
1915 - 09	(same)
1915 - 10	(same)
1915 - 11	(same)
1915 - 12	(same)
1916 - 01	"	96	"
1916 - 02	"	97	"
1916 - 03	(same)
1916 - 04	(same)
1916 - 05	(same)
1916 - 06	(same)
1916 - 07	(same)
1916 - 08	(same)
1916 - 09	(same)
1916 - 10	(same)
1916 - 11	(same)
1916 - 12	(same)
1917 - 01	(same)
1917 - 02	(same)
1917 - 03	(same)
1917 - 04	(same)
1917 - 05	(same)
1917 - 06	(same)
1917 - 07	(same)
1917 - 08	(same)
1917 - 09	(same)
1917 - 10	(same)
1917 - 11	(same)
1917 - 12	(same)
1918 - 01	(same)
1918 - 02	"	96	"
1918 - 03	"	97	"
1918 - 04	(same)
1918 - 05	(same)
1918 - 06	(same)
1918 - 07	(same)
1918 - 08	(same)
1918 - 09	(same)
1918 - 10	(same)
1918 - 11	(same)
1918 - 12	(same)
1919 - 01	(same)
1919 - 02	(same)
1919 - 03	(same)
1919 - 04	"	96	"
1919 - 05	"	97	"
1919 - 06	(same)
1919 - 07	(same)
1919 - 08	(same)
1919 - 09	(same)
1919 - 10	(same)
1919 - 11	(same)
1919 - 12	(same)
1920 - 01	(same)
1920 - 02	"	96	"
1920 - 03	(same)
1920 - 04	(same)
1920 - 05	(same)
1920 - 06	"	95	"
1920 - 07	(same)
1920 - 08	(same)
1920 - 09	"	94	"
1920 - 10	(same)
1920 - 11	(same)
1920 - 12	(same)
1921 - 01	(same)
1921 - 02	(same)
1921 - 03	(same)
1921 - 04	"	93	"
1921 - 05	(same)
1921 - 06	(same)
1921 - 07	(same)
1921 - 08	(same)
1921 - 09	"	92	"
1921 - 10	(same)
1921 - 11	(same)
1921 - 12	"	90	"
1922 - 01	"	86	"
1922 - 02	5550-5649	71	"
1922 - 03	(same)
1922 - 04	(same)
1922 - 05	(same)
1922 - 06	(same)
1922 - 07	5550-5648	57	"
1922 - 08	"	40	"
1922 - 09	(same)
1922 - 10	(same)
1922 - 11	(same)
1922 - 12	(same)
1923 - 01	"	39	"
1923 - 02	(same)
1923 - 03	(same)
1923 - 04	(same)
1923 - 05	(same)
1923 - 06	(same)
1923 - 07	(same)
1923 - 08	(same)
1923 - 09	"	36	"
1923 - 10	(same)
1923 - 11	(same)
1923 - 12	(same)
1924 - 01	(same)
1924 - 02	(same)
1924 - 03	(same)
1924 - 04	(same)
1924 - 05	"	35	"
1924 - 06	5550-5629	24	"
1924 - 07	5550-5639	17	"
1924 - 08	5560-5639	14	"
1924 - 09	(same)
1924 - 10	(same)
1924 - 11	(same)
1924 - 12	(same)
1925 - 01	(same)
1925 - 02	"	12	"
1925 - 03	"	10	"
1925 - 04	"	9	"
1925 - 05	"	7	"
1925 - 06	5572-5601	3	"
1925 - 07	(same)
1925 - 08	(same)
1925 - 09	(same)
1925 - 10	(same)
1925 - 11	(same)
1925 - 12	"	2	"
1926 - 01	5572,5601	"	"
1926 - 02	5572	1	"
1926 - 03	(same)
1926 - 04	(same)
1926 - 05	(same)
1926 - 06	(same)
1926 - 07	(same)
1926 - 08	(same)
1926 - 09	(same)
1926 - 10	(same)
1926 - 11	Not listed

ORER Notes

• This series NEVER gets "*" indicating "Air Brakes" (1902-04 thru 1909-06)

Discussion, General Notes

• From Eric Neubauer Laconia data:

  Car 5550 was built by the B&M (Salem shops) as a sample car.
  Cars 5551-5650 were built by Laconia

  The following cars were VACATED in the USRA valuation report, 6/30/1914:
  [see ICC valuation data below]

• 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 #	20 - U
  B&M Diagram #	37
  Diagram Date	1907
  Color on Diagram	Brown
  Notes on Diagram
  Datum	1900 Index	1907 Index
  Class of car	Gondola Car Hopper Bottom	Gondola Car Hopper Bottom
  Length	31'	31'
  Capacity	60,000	60,000
  Car Numbers	5550-5650	5550-5650
  Page [original]	54	37

• Probably should move to Hopper section

Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data

Acquisition Books (1898 - 1917 only)

Volume number refers original book number
Page numbers refer to numbers on pages in original book, NOT to pages in PDF file(s)
Dates refer to first/last dates expenses were recorded in the acquisition book, NOT to car delivery dates

Vol	Page	Car Number(s)	First Date	Last Date	Builder	$ / Car	Notes
1	88	5550	1905-03	1905-05	B&M, Salem	$749	[sample car?]
1	93	5551-5650	1905-04	1906-01	Laconia Car Co.	$679

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
5558	1	2	5	1924-04-30	Destroyed
5560	1	3	7	1925-01-12	Destroyed
5568	1	2	1	1924-12-23	Destroyed			car number suffixed with "S"??
5570	1	3	7	1925-01-12	Destroyed
5588	1	3	7	1925-01-12	Destroyed
5592	1	2	3	1924-12-03	Destroyed			car number suffixed with "H"??
5594	1	3	7	1922-11-27	Destroyed
5607	1	2	3	1924-12-08	Destroyed			car number suffixed with "H"??
5619	1	2	3	1924-12-04	Destroyed			car number suffixed with "H"??
5621	1	2	3	1924-03-11	Destroyed			car number suffixed with "C"??
5638	1	2	1	1924-12-11	Destroyed			car number suffixed with "S"??
5639	1	3	7	1925-01-12	Destroyed

Car Disposition Records

Source(s)
Box	Folder	Folder name	Link Title	Approx. Start date	Approx. End date
1	3	Freight Car List Old	5572 coal (gondola)	1926	1926-09

Data
Car Number(s)	Date Built	Disposition Date	New Car #
5572	1906-01	1926-09	0490

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	5550	BM-21	62	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1905	Salem	60	wood	wood
B&M	5551-5558	BM-21	63	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1905	Laconia	60	wood	wood
B&M	5559-5568	BM-21	64	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1906	Laconia	60	wood	wood
B&M	5570-5580	BM-21	65	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1906	Laconia	60	wood	wood
B&M	5582-5599	BM-21	66	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1906	Laconia	60	wood	wood
B&M	5600-5608	BM-21	67	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1906	Laconia	60	wood	wood
B&M	5611-5650	BM-21	68	Gon - Hopper Bottom	1906	Laconia	60	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
25-Dec-2019	KG Akerboom	Initial release
18-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
14-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
02-Sep-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Eric Neubauer - Laconia data
10-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added E. Neubauer ORER data (car counts only, 15 issues)
15-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Eric Neubauer - more Laconia data
17-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Car Book Data
29-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated Classification Card data table
28-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)
06-Sep-2021	KG Akerboom	Added car disposition record data
22-Jan-2022	KG Akerboom	Added ICC Valuation data
09-Oct-2022	KG Akerboom	Updated per [almost] complete ORER data
04-Jan-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed headers and footers...hopefully
25-Feb-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed link to scanned data (car books)