Boston & Maine 8850 Series Gondola Cars

Index

Builder's Photo
Classification Card(s) for series
Specifications
ORER data
ORER Notes
Discussion, General Notes
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 Classification Cards

?

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data - 1903-1910
Dimensions 4/1903
Length 28-32'
Width
Height
Capacity 40000

ORER Size Data
Description 8/1910 2/1914 11/1914
M.C.B. Designation GB
Inside
Dimensions Length 28'-6" 28'-6"
Width 8'-9" 8'-9"
Height 2' 2'
Outside
Dimensions Length 28-32'
Width At Eaves or top of sides or platform 8' to 9'-2"
Extreme Width
Height
from
Rail To Extreme Width
To Eaves or top of sides or platform
To Top of Running Board
To Extreme Height
Door - Side
opening Width
Height
Capacity Cu Ft. Level Full
Pounds 40000 40000 40000

Per the data listed in "Descriptive Inventory of Cars Belonging to the Fitchburg Railroad June 30, 1900"
The following FRR cars were renumbered into this B&M Series starting in 1900 (Renumbering of all FRR cars was complete as of 8-1905)
Approx 9 cars renumbered to this series from Fitchburg RR 6801 series Flat(!) cars
Approx 122 cars renumbered to this series from Fitchburg RR 7501 series "Coal, Drop Sideboards" cars
Approx 45 cars renumbered to this series from Fitchburg RR 7701 series "Coal, Drop Sideboards" cars
Approx 17 cars renumbered to this series from Fitchburg RR 7751 series "Coal, Drop Sideboards" cars
Approx 1 car renumbered to this series from Fitchburg RR 7801 series "Coal, Drop Sideboards" cars
Approx 1 car renumbered to this series from Fitchburg RR 12501 series "Coal Drop-Bottom" cars
I don't know where the rest of the cars in this series came from (Existing or new B&M cars)

ORER History
ORER Date
(Year-Mo.) Car
Numbers # of
Cars Description
1900 - 11 8850-9499 412 Sideboard Coal, 28 to 32', 30000 to 50000 lbs capacity
1900 - 12 8850-9549 " "
1901 - 01 " 427 "
1901 - 02 " 662 Sideboard Coal, 28 to 32', 30000 to 60000 lbs capacity
1901 - 03 (same)
1901 - 04 " 453 "
1901 - 05 (same)
1901 - 06 (same)
1901 - 07 " 452 "
1901 - 08 " 451 "
1901 - 09 " 450 "
1901 - 10 " 447 "
1901 - 11 " 448 "
1901 - 12 (same)
1902 - 01 " 444 "
1902 - 02 " 443 "
1902 - 03 " 454 "
1902 - 04 (same)
1902 - 05 (same)
1902 - 06 " 452 "
1902 - 07 " 451 "
1902 - 08 " 439 "
1902 - 09 " 437 "
1902 - 10 " 434 "
1902 - 11 (same)
1902 - 12 " 431 "
1903 - 01 " 471 "
8850 - 8999 no longer listed
9000 - 9039 now used for Rodgers Ballast cars
1903 - 02 9040-9549 428 "
1903 - 03 " 426 "
1903 - 04 9050-9499 423 Coal, Drop Sideboard
1903 - 05 " 422 "
1903 - 06 " 421 "
1903 - 07 " 418 "
1903 - 08 " 417 "
1903 - 09 " 414 "
1903 - 10 " 409 "
1903 - 11 " 406 "
1903 - 12 " 401 "
1904 - 01 " 399 "
1904 - 02 " 397 "
1904 - 03 (same)
1904 - 04 (same)
1904 - 05 " 396 "
1904 - 06 " 394 "
1904 - 07 (same)
1904 - 08 " 392 "
1904 - 09 (same)
1904 - 10 " 390 "
1904 - 11 " 388 "
1904 - 12 " 381 "
1905 - 01 " 374 "
1905 - 02 " 373 "
1905 - 03 " 371 "
1905 - 04 (same)
1905 - 05 (same)
1905 - 06 " 369 "
1905 - 07 " 368 "
1905 - 08 " 366 "
1905 - 09 " 363 "
1905 - 10 " 360 "
1905 - 11 " 356 "
1905 - 12 " 353 "
1906 - 01 (same)
1906 - 02 " 350 "
1906 - 03 " 345 "
1906 - 04 (same)
1906 - 05 " 344 "
1906 - 06 (same)
1906 - 07 " 343 "
1906 - 08 (same)
1906 - 09 " 341 "
1906 - 10 " 338 "
1906 - 11 (same)
1906 - 12 (same)
1907 - 01 " 330 "
1907 - 02 " 326 "
1907 - 03 " 324 "
1907 - 04 " 322 "
1907 - 05 " 321 "
1907 - 06 (same)
1907 - 07 " 318 "
1907 - 08 " 316 "
1907 - 09 (same)
1907 - 10 (same)
1907 - 11 " 305 "
1907 - 12 " 302 "
1908 - 01 " 299 "
1908 - 02 " 298 "
1908 - 03 (same)
1908 - 04 (same)
1908 - 05 " 299 "
1908 - 06 " 298 "
1908 - 07 " 296 "
1908 - 08 " 295 "
1908 - 09 " 294 "
1908 - 10 " 293 "
1908 - 11 " 291 "
1908 - 12 (same)
1909 - 01 " 290 "
1909 - 02 (same)
1909 - 03 " "
1909 - 04 (same)
1909 - 05 (same)
1909 - 06 (same)
1909 - 07 " 289 "
1909 - 08 " 285 "
1909 - 09 " 283 "
1909 - 10 " 280 "
1909 - 11 (same)
1909 - 12 " 277 "
1910 - 01 " 274 "
1910 - 02 " 270 "
1910 - 03 " 266 "
1910 - 04 " 264 "
1910 - 05 (same)
1910 - 06 " 259 "
1910 - 07 (same)
1910 - 08 " 257 "
1910 - 09 " 256 "
1910 - 10 " 254 "
1910 - 11 " 255 "
1910 - 12 " 249 "
1911 - 01 " 246 "
1911 - 02 " 247 "
1911 - 03 (same)
1911 - 04 " 246 "
1911 - 05 " 241 "
1911 - 06 " 234 "
1911 - 07 " 232 "
1911 - 08 " 227 "
1911 - 09 " 224 "
1911 - 10 " 220 "
1911 - 11 " 217 "
1911 - 12 " 213 "
1912 - 01 " 207 "
1912 - 02 " 204 "
1912 - 03 " 201 "
1912 - 04 " 199 "
1912 - 05 " 197 "
1912 - 06 " 192 "
1912 - 07 " 186 "
1912 - 08 " 181 "
1912 - 09 " 176 "
1912 - 10 " 171 "
1912 - 11 " 171 "
1912 - 12 " 165 "
1913 - 01 " 161 "
1913 - 02 " 157 "
1913 - 03 " 155 "
1913 - 04 " 152 "
1913 - 05 " 140 "
1913 - 06 " 137 "
1913 - 07 " 126 "
1913 - 08 " 125 "
1913 - 09 " 118 "
1913 - 10 " 89 "
1913 - 11 " 83 "
1913 - 12 " 78 "
1914 - 01 " 68 "
1914 - 02 " 58 "
1914 - 03 " 49 "
1914 - 04 9098-9499 48 "
1914 - 05 " 44 "
1914 - 06 " 40 "
1914 - 07 " 34 "
1914 - 08 " 13 "
1914 - 09 " 8 "
1914 - 10 " 6 "
1914 - 11 " 4 "
1914 - 12 9269 1 "
1915 - 01 Not listed

ORER Size Data - 1903-1910
Dimensions	4/1903
Length	28-32'
Width
Height
Capacity	40000

ORER Size Data
Description	8/1910	2/1914	11/1914
M.C.B. Designation			GB
Inside Dimensions	Length		28'-6"	28'-6"
Width		8'-9"	8'-9"
Height		2'	2'
Outside Dimensions	Length	28-32'
Width	At Eaves or top of sides or platform	8' to 9'-2"
Extreme Width
Height from Rail	To Extreme Width
To Eaves or top of sides or platform
To Top of Running Board
To Extreme Height
Door - Side opening	Width
Height
Capacity	Cu Ft. Level Full
Pounds	40000	40000	40000

ORER History
ORER Date (Year-Mo.)	Car Numbers	# of Cars	Description
1900 - 11	8850-9499	412	Sideboard Coal, 28 to 32', 30000 to 50000 lbs capacity
1900 - 12	8850-9549	"	"
1901 - 01	"	427	"
1901 - 02	"	662	Sideboard Coal, 28 to 32', 30000 to 60000 lbs capacity
1901 - 03	(same)
1901 - 04	"	453	"
1901 - 05	(same)
1901 - 06	(same)
1901 - 07	"	452	"
1901 - 08	"	451	"
1901 - 09	"	450	"
1901 - 10	"	447	"
1901 - 11	"	448	"
1901 - 12	(same)
1902 - 01	"	444	"
1902 - 02	"	443	"
1902 - 03	"	454	"
1902 - 04	(same)
1902 - 05	(same)
1902 - 06	"	452	"
1902 - 07	"	451	"
1902 - 08	"	439	"
1902 - 09	"	437	"
1902 - 10	"	434	"
1902 - 11	(same)
1902 - 12	"	431	"
1903 - 01	"	471	"
8850 - 8999 no longer listed 9000 - 9039 now used for Rodgers Ballast cars
1903 - 02	9040-9549	428	"
1903 - 03	"	426	"
1903 - 04	9050-9499	423	Coal, Drop Sideboard
1903 - 05	"	422	"
1903 - 06	"	421	"
1903 - 07	"	418	"
1903 - 08	"	417	"
1903 - 09	"	414	"
1903 - 10	"	409	"
1903 - 11	"	406	"
1903 - 12	"	401	"
1904 - 01	"	399	"
1904 - 02	"	397	"
1904 - 03	(same)
1904 - 04	(same)
1904 - 05	"	396	"
1904 - 06	"	394	"
1904 - 07	(same)
1904 - 08	"	392	"
1904 - 09	(same)
1904 - 10	"	390	"
1904 - 11	"	388	"
1904 - 12	"	381	"
1905 - 01	"	374	"
1905 - 02	"	373	"
1905 - 03	"	371	"
1905 - 04	(same)
1905 - 05	(same)
1905 - 06	"	369	"
1905 - 07	"	368	"
1905 - 08	"	366	"
1905 - 09	"	363	"
1905 - 10	"	360	"
1905 - 11	"	356	"
1905 - 12	"	353	"
1906 - 01	(same)
1906 - 02	"	350	"
1906 - 03	"	345	"
1906 - 04	(same)
1906 - 05	"	344	"
1906 - 06	(same)
1906 - 07	"	343	"
1906 - 08	(same)
1906 - 09	"	341	"
1906 - 10	"	338	"
1906 - 11	(same)
1906 - 12	(same)
1907 - 01	"	330	"
1907 - 02	"	326	"
1907 - 03	"	324	"
1907 - 04	"	322	"
1907 - 05	"	321	"
1907 - 06	(same)
1907 - 07	"	318	"
1907 - 08	"	316	"
1907 - 09	(same)
1907 - 10	(same)
1907 - 11	"	305	"
1907 - 12	"	302	"
1908 - 01	"	299	"
1908 - 02	"	298	"
1908 - 03	(same)
1908 - 04	(same)
1908 - 05	"	299	"
1908 - 06	"	298	"
1908 - 07	"	296	"
1908 - 08	"	295	"
1908 - 09	"	294	"
1908 - 10	"	293	"
1908 - 11	"	291	"
1908 - 12	(same)
1909 - 01	"	290	"
1909 - 02	(same)
1909 - 03	"		"
1909 - 04	(same)
1909 - 05	(same)
1909 - 06	(same)
1909 - 07	"	289	"
1909 - 08	"	285	"
1909 - 09	"	283	"
1909 - 10	"	280	"
1909 - 11	(same)
1909 - 12	"	277	"
1910 - 01	"	274	"
1910 - 02	"	270	"
1910 - 03	"	266	"
1910 - 04	"	264	"
1910 - 05	(same)
1910 - 06	"	259	"
1910 - 07	(same)
1910 - 08	"	257	"
1910 - 09	"	256	"
1910 - 10	"	254	"
1910 - 11	"	255	"
1910 - 12	"	249	"
1911 - 01	"	246	"
1911 - 02	"	247	"
1911 - 03	(same)
1911 - 04	"	246	"
1911 - 05	"	241	"
1911 - 06	"	234	"
1911 - 07	"	232	"
1911 - 08	"	227	"
1911 - 09	"	224	"
1911 - 10	"	220	"
1911 - 11	"	217	"
1911 - 12	"	213	"
1912 - 01	"	207	"
1912 - 02	"	204	"
1912 - 03	"	201	"
1912 - 04	"	199	"
1912 - 05	"	197	"
1912 - 06	"	192	"
1912 - 07	"	186	"
1912 - 08	"	181	"
1912 - 09	"	176	"
1912 - 10	"	171	"
1912 - 11	"	171	"
1912 - 12	"	165	"
1913 - 01	"	161	"
1913 - 02	"	157	"
1913 - 03	"	155	"
1913 - 04	"	152	"
1913 - 05	"	140	"
1913 - 06	"	137	"
1913 - 07	"	126	"
1913 - 08	"	125	"
1913 - 09	"	118	"
1913 - 10	"	89	"
1913 - 11	"	83	"
1913 - 12	"	78	"
1914 - 01	"	68	"
1914 - 02	"	58	"
1914 - 03	"	49	"
1914 - 04	9098-9499	48	"
1914 - 05	"	44	"
1914 - 06	"	40	"
1914 - 07	"	34	"
1914 - 08	"	13	"
1914 - 09	"	8	"
1914 - 10	"	6	"
1914 - 11	"	4	"
1914 - 12	9269	1	"
1915 - 01	Not listed

ORER Notes

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

Discussion, General Notes

Are these are existing cars being renumbered into a new/contiguous series? Or are they cars new since 1897?
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 # 21 - L
B&M Diagram # 40
Diagram Date 1907
Color on Diagram Brown
Notes on Diagram
Datum 1900 Index 1907 Index
Class of car Drop Side Car Gondola Car Drop Sideboard
Length 28'-32' 28'-32'
Capacity 40,000 40,000
Car Numbers 8850-9499 9050-9499
Page [original] 38 40

"CRI&P 1905-3-12 TO 1905-5-20 CONDUCTORS TIME BOOK JE HOUGH.pdf" - provided to me by Allen Stanley (pp 24 of *PDF*)
Source may be https://movingthefreight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/crip-je-hough-conductor-book-3-12-to-5-20-1905.pdf

Car Initials Number Billed to Contents Date
BM 9386 Beatrice X 23-Mar-1905?? or 24-Nov-1928?

Book page #	21 - L
B&M Diagram #	40
Diagram Date	1907
Color on Diagram	Brown
Notes on Diagram
Datum	1900 Index	1907 Index
Class of car	Drop Side Car	Gondola Car Drop Sideboard
Length	28'-32'	28'-32'
Capacity	40,000	40,000
Car Numbers	8850-9499	9050-9499
Page [original]	38	40

Car Initials	Number	Billed to	Contents	Date
BM	9386	Beatrice	X	23-Mar-1905?? or 24-Nov-1928?

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
Fitch 9130 F-9 128 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9180 F-9 129 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9219 F-9 130 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9224 F-9 131 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9269 F-9 132 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9319 F-9 133 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9403 F-9 136 gon - dump sides & bottom 1886-1891 Fitchburg-Charleston 40 wood wood
Fitch 9431 F-9 134 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9476 F-9 135 gon - dump sides & bottom 1883-1887 Fitchburg 40 wood wood
Fitch 9494 F-9 137 gon - dump sides & bottom 1886-1891 Fitchburg-Charleston 40 wood wood
Fitch 9496 F-9 138 gon - dump sides & bottom 1886-1891 Fitchburg-Charleston 40 wood wood

"Owning" RR	Car # / Range	Val Sheet #	Index on Page	Car Type	Built Date	Builder	Capy	Underframe	Body
Fitch	9130	F-9	128	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9180	F-9	129	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9219	F-9	130	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9224	F-9	131	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9269	F-9	132	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9319	F-9	133	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9403	F-9	136	gon - dump sides & bottom	1886-1891	Fitchburg-Charleston	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9431	F-9	134	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9476	F-9	135	gon - dump sides & bottom	1883-1887	Fitchburg	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9494	F-9	137	gon - dump sides & bottom	1886-1891	Fitchburg-Charleston	40	wood	wood
Fitch	9496	F-9	138	gon - dump sides & bottom	1886-1891	Fitchburg-Charleston	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
25-Dec-2019 KG Akerboom Initial release
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)
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)
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
22-Jan-2022 KG Akerboom Added ICC Valuation data
14-Oct-2022 KG Akerboom Updated per [almost] complete ORER data
04-Jan-2023 KG Akerboom Fixed headers and footers...hopefully
28-May-2023 KG Akerboom Back-filled 1900 data
22-Jul-2023 KG Akerboom Back-filled missing 1905 data
09-May-2025 KG Akerboom Added "CRI&P 1905-3-12 TO 1905-5-20 CONDUCTORS TIME BOOK JE HOUGHI.pdf" data
28-Jul-2025 KG Akerboom Added back-link to FRR car series
29-Jul-2025 KG Akerboom Fix typos in lease data

File History for THIS page
Date	Who	Description
25-Dec-2019	KG Akerboom	Initial release
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)
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)
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
22-Jan-2022	KG Akerboom	Added ICC Valuation data
14-Oct-2022	KG Akerboom	Updated per [almost] complete ORER data
04-Jan-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed headers and footers...hopefully
28-May-2023	KG Akerboom	Back-filled 1900 data
22-Jul-2023	KG Akerboom	Back-filled missing 1905 data
09-May-2025	KG Akerboom	Added "CRI&P 1905-3-12 TO 1905-5-20 CONDUCTORS TIME BOOK JE HOUGHI.pdf" data
28-Jul-2025	KG Akerboom	Added back-link to FRR car series
29-Jul-2025	KG Akerboom	Fix typos in lease data

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