Equipment Registers

Index

General Notes on their Origin

The equipment registers (by whatever name) came out of the Car Accountant's Association needs/desires.
I am indebted to several posts in the "Equipment List 1885" thread in EarlyRail@groups.io for finding this info.

Andreas, A.T. "History of Chicago: From 1857 until the fire of 1871" 1885.

"FRANK M. LUCE, general car accountant of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, is a gentleman whose proficiency in the details of those duties, and ability in their exercise, is not only recognized by the management of the road in his appointment nd maintenance in his position, but is also well-known to railroad men throughout the United States. He is the author of Luce's System of Car Accounts, and of Luce's Book of Equipment Lists which are indispensable for car accountants on all the principle lines in the United States and Canada, and which have produced order out of the chaos to which such accounts were heretofore subject. The system was invented by Mr. Luce in 1863, and has grown into such great appreciation that it is now (1884) used by one hundred and eighty-two railroads and fast freight lines, and has received from them the highest eulogiums. He was born in Marion, Plymouth Co., Mass., in 1846, the son of Elisha C. and Lucretia (Clark) Luce. He first entered the railroad business in 1863, as an employee of the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad company, and was speedily made car-mileage clerk, which position he retained until 1866, when he became car accountant of the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad. He remained with that road until 1871, when he was made general car accountant for the Chicago & North-Western."

Also note the copied section of the May 11, 1877 "The Railroad Gazette" (unknown page number)

Brief Chronology of the Equipment Registers (in general)

(note changes in the columns used are listed in a separate table, below)

Year/Month Description
1884 There is a much rumored "Trial Edition" published in 1884
Possibly "Luce's System of Car Accounts", and/or "Luce's Book of Equipment Lists"
Also see this discussion
1885-06 First published as "Sechrist's Hand-Book and Railway Equipment and Mileage Guide"
I have read posts that the first couple (few?) of the first issues did not have "Volume/Number" designations, however, they were "counted" when "Volume/Number" started being used
Published monthly from this point until 1932
Note the June issue was "Number 1" for each volume
1887-06 (Vol. III No. 1) Title changed to "The Official Railway Equipment Guide"
between
1896-12 and
1897-03 Title changed to "The Official Railway Equipment Register"
1932-07 (Vol. XLVII, No. 2) Published Bi-Monthly (every other month) from this point
What this means is that there was a "full" register in the July issue (several hundred pages worth).
Then every other month until the next July there were "update" issues, only listing the CHANGES from the July issue (indexed on page numbers of the previous July issue)
IIRC there is more than one section of "changes" - one for the cars themselves, one for (?)agents, interchange points, etc(?) (and possibly others)
1933-07 (Vol. XLIX No. 1) With this issue, July starts being the "Number 1" issue in each volume
1937-07 (Vol. LIII No. 1) Published quarterly from this point
Published July, October, January and April with 2 exceptions that I know of (1973-11 and 1983-05)
1973-11 (Vol. 89 No 2.) Format changes drastically with this issue, so I'm guessing that is why it was "late"
Marks the transition from Roman numeral volume numbers, to arabic numbers
Also font used for the listings changed from "Serif" ("Roman") style to "sans-serif" ("gothic") style
1983-05 I'm not sure what cause this one to be "late"
ca 1983 Weight capacity changes
1998-01 (Vol. 113 No. 3) pages changed from "just a number" to "prefix + number" - railroad pages are "RR-[number]" (e.g. RR-47), and private cars are ??
2012 As the B&M (my interest) was dropped in 2012, so there may be changes after this date that I am unaware of

Weights
While not strictly an ORER dimension value, the nominal (or actual) load limit of a car listed in the ORER was affected by these issues.
Initially, to standardize (If I understand correctly) the MCB (later ARA, then AAR) developed a standard set of "solid" journal sizes that corresponded to (for a 4 axle car) certain nominal capacities after subtracting the weight of the car itself.
Again, if I understand correctly, these same "nominal" sizes were carried over to roller-bearing equipped axles/journals sizes and capacities.
From 1953-01 ORER (p826), from AAR (MCB) Rule 86
Capacity of car with 4 axles
Axle
Letter Journal
Size Total
Weight
on Rails Nominal
Capacity
(lbs)
A 3¾ x 7 66,000 40,000
B 4¼ x 8 103,000 60,000
C 5 x 9 136,000 80,000
D 5½ x 10 169,000 100,000
E 6 x 11 210,000 140,000
F 6½ x 12 251,000 200,000

Hence this led to "50 ton", "70 Ton", etc. car capacities
Note some cars load limit was not governed by the journals - they would have a star painted next to the Load Limit painted on the car side
[per Tim Gilbert] Prior to 1925 [from when?], the maximum load that could be added to a car was 110% of of the nominal capacity
Starting in 1925, the load limit was calculated for each car, based on that car's weight, and was ["total weight on rails" - "weight of car"] This tended to increase the load that could be carried.
In August 1963 the "Total Weight on rails" (GRL) was changed (increased about 5%)
Circa (when?) the wheel diameters and axle spacing were also standardized for each journal size
Other data related to Journal Size
Axle
Letter GRL Nominal
Capacity Pre-1925
load limit Circa 1963
new GRL Circa 1995
new GRL Minimum
Wheel Dia Axle
Spacing
A 66,000 40,000 44,000 ? ? 33"
B 103,000 60,000 66,000 103,000
(no change) ? 33"
C 136,000 80,000 88,000 142,000 ? 33"
D 169,000 100,000 110,000 177,000 ? 33"
E 210,000 140,000 154,000 220,000 ? 33" 5' - 8"
F 251,000 200,000 220,000 263,000 286,000 36"
? (7 x 12) ? ? ? 315,000
(no change) ? 38"

Note some cars with clearance issues (auto-racks, depressed center flat cars) might have smaller wheels than called for by the above table
If 6"x11" axles were used with 28" diameter wheels instead of 33", the GRL was reduced to 179,200 lbs. (later increased to 195,000 lbs. with specific 28” wheel designs) to keep wheel stresses within acceptable limits. (Dick Dawson)
Much of the "newer than 1953" data above from posts in https://groups.io/g/MFCL discussion forums

Railroad Name Abbreviations used below

Note I am ignoring "small" differences ("Railway" vs. "Railroad", etc.)

Abbreviation "Full" Name
B&M Boston & Maine
East Eastern
Fitch Fitchburg
P&R Portland & Rochester
C&M Concord & Montreal
ConnR Connecticut River
W&J Whitefield & Jefferson
Chesh Cheshire
NoNH Northern (NH)
Conc Concord
B&L Boston & Lowell
BC&M Boston, Concord & Montreal
Pass Passumpsic
BHT&W Boston, Hoosac Tunnel & Western
T&B Troy & Boston
BB&G Boston, Barre & Gardner
WN&R Worcester, Nashua & Rochester
M&L Manchester & Lawrence
StJ&LC St Johnsbury & Lake Champlain
Barre the various Barre (Vt) railroads (Barre, Barre & Chelsea, etc.)
M&WR Montpelier & Wells River
PT Portland Terminal
Ash Ashuelot (for the purposes of ORER data, ALWAYS listed under Conn River or B&M, as appropriate for the date)
VV Vermont Valley (for the purposes of ORER data, ALWAYS listed under Conn River or B&M, as appropriate for the date)
SC Sullivan County (for the purposes of ORER data, ALWAYS listed under Conn River or B&M, as appropriate for the date)
C&C Concord & Claremont
ST Springfield Terminal

B&M Specific Equipment Registers Chronology

Some nomenclature to make the table below a bit smaller

In [railroad]
Has a separate table in the "other" railroad's listing

See [railroad]
Cars are listed in the "other" railroad's main car list table (not a separate table, and no notation they are being renumbered)

To [railroad]
Cars are listed in the "other" railroad's list, with notation they are being renumbered into the other railroad's "standard" number series

[gone]
data no longer listed anywhere I can find (excludes "Line" cars)

Year/Month Description
1885-06 In the "first" ORER, the following railroads (B&M and predecessors, not including "Line" cars) are listed separately in the register:
Boston & Lowell (includes Concord & Claremont; Northern RR of New Hampshire; Boston, Concord & Montreal; Pemigewassett Valley)
Boston & Maine (includes Eastern RR as "Eastern Division")
Boston, Barre, & Gardner
Boston, Hoosac Tunnel & Western
Cheshire
Concord (includes Manchester & Lawrence)
Connecticut River (includes Ashuelot; Sullivan County; and Vermont Valley)
Fitchburg
Passumpsic
St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain ("sort of" a predecessor :-)
Troy & Boston
Worcester, Nashua, & Rochester.

by 1886-01 BB&G to Fitchburg ("Worcester Division")
Northern(NH) in B&L ("Northern Division", also includes C&C)
BC&M in B&L ("White Mountain Division")
StJ&LC in B&L ("Vermont Division")
M&L see Concord
1886-06 WN&R in B&M
by 1887-04 W&J in B&L
1887-06 T&B still separate listing, but "Owned & Operated by Fitchburg"
1887-07 Passumpsic in B&L ("Passumpsic Division")
StJ&LC listed in B&L, but as railroad (no longer "Vermont Division")
1887-08 BHT&W still separate listing, but "Owned & Operated by Fitchburg"
Northern(NH) no longer in B&L (went to ?)
1887-10 T&B in Fitchburg
BHT&W in Fitchburg
Northern(NH) in separate listing
M&L in B&M (was Concord)
1888-10 B&L to "B&M Lowell System"
1889-07 BC&M to separate listing (was in B&L)
1889-11 C&M added
BC&M in C&M
Concord in C&M
1890-04 "B&M Lowell System" listings merged into main B&M listing
B&L in B&M (" Division")
Passumpsic in B&M ("Passumpsic Division")
W&J in B&M, but as railroad (not a Division)
StJ&LC listed in B&M, but as railroad (not a Division)
1890-08 Northern(NH) in B&M
StJ&LC to separate listing
W&J to ?
1890-09 W&J in C&M
1890-12 Cheshire see Fitchburg
1891-11 First explicit indication how cars are marked: "Moston & Maine R.R."
1892-07 Separate table for Eastern; WN&R removed from B&M (cars merged into main listing)
"Cars are marked 'B. & M.'" (also other railroads)
1893-04 B&M - "New series" for cars number first listed
1893-04 Conn River to B&M
1894-05 Separate table for NNH, M&L, Pass. removed from B&M (cars merged into main listing)
1894-06 Separate tables for all other railroads and "old" car numbers removed, all that remains are "new" B&M car series
1895-07 W&J table in C&M gone
1895-08 C&M in B&M
1896-06 Separate tables for T&B, BB&G (Worcester Div) removed from Fitchburg (cars merged into Fitchburg numbers)
by 1897-07 Separate table for C&M removed from B&M
1897-08 StJ&LC in B&M
1898-02 Separate table for Cheshire removed from Fitchburg
1899-02 StJ&LC to Separate table
1899-06 Separate table for BHT&W removed from Fitchburg
by 1900-06 P&R to B&M (see note)
by 1901-01 Fitchburg in B&M
P&R note gone
1903-04 Notation of how cars are marked: "Boston & Maine"
"part of them also marked 'Hoosac Tunnel Route'"
1904-06 "StJ&LC equipment has been purchased by B&M"
1905-08 Fitchburg gone
1906-03 Explicit note on car marking removed
1914-10 End of "MOW" cars (Snowplows, etc.) being listed in main listing
Start of "Miscellaneous Equipment" section (MOW, Caboose, Cinder, 4-wheel dumps / log trucks, etc.)
1915-03 Reporting marks - "B & M"
1915-10 Reporting marks - "B & M" - Boston & Maine RR
"S C" - Sullivan County RR
"V V" - Vermont Valley RR
1917-10 "Space" reserved for system map
1917-12 First map variant published
1918-11 Reporting marks - Added:
"B & C" - Barre & Chelsea RR
"M & W R" - Montpelier & Wells River RR
1922-06 Reporting marks - Added:
"S J & L" - St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain RR
1925-02 Reporting marks - removed (other 5 remain):
~~"S J & L" - St. Johnsbury & Lake Champlain RR~~
1925-03 First notes indicating which specific cars have steel ends
Note due to the quantities, and other info, I believe this is the first time they were *listed*
Conversions started "much[?] earlier"
1925-05 Notes about Mogul ends start (actually, "Cars not equipped with steel or Mogul ends", i.e. original ends)
1926-02 Reporting marks - removed (B&M, SC, VV remain):
~~"B & C" - Barre & Chelsea RR~~
~~"M & W R" - Montpelier & Wells River RR~~
1926-04 System map no longer published
1927-07 Reporting marks - Added:
"M T C" - Mystic Terminal Co
Also added separate lines for cars assigned to MTC
NOTE: all data in MTC lines (including number series) identical to B&M line for same cars, except "Number of Cars"
(and B&M series "Number of Cars' adjusted down as appropriate)
1929-04 Reporting marks - removed (B&M, MTC remain):
~~"S C" - Sullivan County RR~~
~~"V V" - Vermont Valley RR~~
1933-07 MTC car series/counts merged back into B&M series (i.e. no separate listing of MTC car counts)
1935-07 First issue without "wood underframe" cars
1936-07 End of "Miscellaneous Equipment" section
1938-04 Reporting marks to "BM" (although B & M still listed on another line) (MTC remain as-is)
1939-07 End of passenger cars being listed
1973-11 Added "ACI Nos" (BM = "0 069", MTC = "0 467")
1993-01 Reporting marks - removed (BM, B&M remain):
~~"M T C" - Mystic Terminal Co~~
2011-04 Reporting marks - removed (BM remains):
~~"B & M" - Boston & Maine RR~~
2012-04 BM registration removed from the ORER

Column/Dimensional Data Headings Chronology

Note these are based on the B&M listings, other railroads may have different dates (or whatever)

Starting with the First (1885-06) issue to (for B&M) 1892-06
Note most data were NOT filled in, or if any data was supplied, it was only length and/or capacity
Also, I have not yet found the definition as whether length/width/height were supposed to be "inside" or "outside" dimensions
Kind of
Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity No.
Length Width Height
Starting with 1892-07 issue
"dimensions" removed in "Freight Equipment" section, leaving just 3 columns
(note "Leased" and "Line" car tables, and other tables, retained above 7 columns)
Kind of Cars Numbers [nothing listed] No.
Starting with 1893-04 issue
start of listing the "New" cars series
a few of the "New" car series (8 of 32 series, but note the "32" includes caboose, MOW cars, etc.) have a length as part of the series description
"New" series just car desriptions and number range.
Starting with 1893-11 issue
The "New" cars series starts to include car counts, so columns are;
Kind of Cars Numbers [nothing listed] No.
Starting with 1894-06 issue
the "Old" car series are no longer listed.
By 1901-01, many more (40 of 55 series) have length and/or capacity as part of the series description
Starting with 1903-04 issue
returns to the first table (7 columns) of data
Kind of
Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity No.
Length Width Height

changing to new table as there are so many changes
"Regular" cars (includes Reefers until 1922-12)
Starting with the 1910-06 issue
Kind
of
Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity No.
Inside Outside Doors
Length Width Height Length Width at
Eaves
or
Platform Height from rail Side End
To
Eaves To top of
platform or
runn'g board To
overall Width Height Width Height Cubic
Feet Pounds
Starting with the 1912-11 issue
Kind of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity No.
M.C.B.
Designation Class Inside Outside Doors
Length Width Height Length Width at
Eaves
or
Platform Height from rail Side End
To
Eaves To top of
platform or
runn'g board To
overall Width Height Width Height Cubic
Feet
Level
Full Pounds
or
Gallons
Starting 1926-06
M.C.B.
Designation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors
Length Width Height Length Width Height from rail Side End
At Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform Extreme
Width To
Extreme
Width To Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform To Top of
Running
Board To
Extreme
Height Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Cubic
Feet
Level
Full Pounds
or
Gallons
Starting 1932-06
Item
Number M.C.B.
Desig-
nation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors
Length Width Height Length Width Height from rail Side End
At Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform Extreme
Width To
Extreme
Width To Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform To Top of
Running
Board To
Extreme
Height Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Cubic
Feet
Level
Full Pounds
or
Gallons
Starting 1937-10
Item
Number A.A.R.
Mech.
Desig-
nation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors
Length Width Height Length Width Height from rail Side End
At Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform Extreme
Width To
Extreme
Width To Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform To Top of
Running
Board To
Extreme
Height Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Cubic
Feet
Level
Full Pounds
or
Gallons
Starting 1965-01 the definition of "Outside Length" changed
Prior to this point (unknown if it started in 1885 or later) it was "between coupler striking castings"
As of this date (and later) it is "between pulling faces of couplers in normal positions"
NOTE: the actual dimensions listed for many series were not changed to reflect this definition change until YEARS (10 plus) later.
Starting 1966-10
Item
Number A.A.R.
Mech.
Desig-
nation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars A.A.R.
Car
Type
Code Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors
Length Width Height Length Width Height from rail Side End
At Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform Extreme
Width To
Extreme
Width To Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform [removed] To
Extreme
Height Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Cubic
Feet
Level
Full Pounds
or
Gallons

changing to new table as there are so many changes
"Regular" cars (continued)
Starting 1973-11
Line
No. A.A.R.
Mech.
Desig. Description A.A.R.
Car
Type
Code Numbers Dimensions Capacity No.
of
Cars
Inside Outside Doors
[end door data
removed]
Length Width Height Length Width Height from rail Side
At Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform Extreme
Width To
Extreme
Width To Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform To
Extreme
Height Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Cubic
Feet
Level
Full Pounds
(000)
Starting 2000-07
Line
No. A.A.R.
Mech.
Desig. Description A.A.R.
Car
Type
Code Numbers Dimensions Capacity No.
of
Cars
Inside Outside Doors
Length Width Height Length Width Height from rail Side
At Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform Extreme
Width To
Extreme
Width To Eaves
or Top of
Sides or
Platform To
Extreme
Height Width
of
Open'g Height
of
Open'g Cubic
Feet
Level
Full GRL
Lbs.
(000)
As of 2012-01 (the last B&M listing, so the last I have data for) there were no further column changes
Unknown if there have been changes since then.

Reefers - starting 1922-12
Starting with the 1922-12 issue
M.C.B.
Designation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors Cap'y of Ice Tanks Capac'y of car
Length Width,
Inside Height,
Inside Length
over end
sill Width Height from rail Side Doors Pounds Measure of
Capacity Cubic Feet
Level Full Pounds
Between
ice tanks-
Bulkheads
in place Between
Linings
Clear
(Bulkheads
collapsed) Width at
Eaves Extreme
Width To Extreme Width To
Eaves To top of
running board To
Extreme Height Width Height Total
Capacity
for
Crushed
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Chunk
Ice Cubic Feet Between
Ice Boxes-
Bulkheads
in place Clear
Capacity
(Bulkheads
Collapsed)
Starting 1924-02
M.C.B.
Designation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors Cap'y of Ice Tanks Capac'y of car
Length Width,
Inside Height,
Inside Length Width Height from rail Side Doors Pounds Measure of
Capacity Cubic Feet
Level Full Pounds
Between
ice tanks-
Bulkheads
in place Between
Linings
Clear
(Bulkheads
collapsed) Width at
Eaves Extreme
Width To Extreme Width To
Eaves To top of
running board To
Extreme Height Width Height Total
Capacity
for
Crushed
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Chunk
Ice Cubic Feet Between
Ice Boxes-
Bulkheads
in place Clear
Capacity
(Bulkheads
Collapsed)
Starting 1924-04
M.C.B.
Designation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors Cap'y of Ice Tanks Capac'y of car
Length Width,
Inside Height,
Inside Length Width Height from rail Side Doors Pounds Measure of
Capacity Cubic Feet
Level Full Pounds
Between
ice tanks-
Bulkheads
in place Between
Linings
Clear
(Bulkheads
collapsed) Width at
Eaves Extreme
Width To Extreme Width To
Eaves To top of
running board To
Extreme Height Width Height Total
Capacity
for
Crushed
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Chunk
Ice Cubic Feet Depth Between
Ice Boxes-
Bulkheads
in place Clear
Capacity
(Bulkheads
Collapsed)
Starting 1925-04
M.C.B.
Designation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors Capacity of Ice Tanks Capacity of car
Length Width,
Inside Height,
Inside Length Width Height from rail Side Doors Pounds Measure of
Capacity Cubic Feet
Level Full Pounds
Between
ice tanks-
Bulkheads
in place Between
Linings
Clear
(Bulkheads
collapsed) Width at
Eaves Extreme
Width To Extreme Width To
Eaves To top of
running board To
Extreme Height Width Height Total
Capacity
for
Crushed
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Chunk
Ice Cubic Feet Depth Between
Ice Boxes-
Bulkheads
in place Clear
Capacity
(Bulkheads
Collapsed)
Starting 1932-06
Item
Number M.C.B.
Desig-
nation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors Capacity of Ice Tanks Capacity of car
Length Width,
Inside Height,
Inside Length Width Height from rail Side Doors Pounds Measure of
Capacity Cubic Feet
Level Full Pounds
Between
ice tanks-
Bulkheads
in place Between
Linings
Clear
(Bulkheads
collapsed) Width at
Eaves Extreme
Width To Extreme Width To
Eaves To top of
running board To
Extreme Height Width Height Total
Capacity
for
Crushed
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Chunk
Ice Cubic Feet Depth Between
Ice Boxes-
Bulkheads
in place Clear
Capacity
(Bulkheads
Collapsed)
Starting 1933-07
Item
Number M.C.B.
Desig-
nation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors Capacity of Ice Tanks Capacity of car
Length Width,
Inside Height,
Inside Length Width Height from rail Side Doors Pounds Capacity
Measure Cubic Feet
Level Full Pounds
Between
ice tanks-
Bulkheads
in place Between
Linings
Clear
(Bulkheads
collapsed) Width at
Eaves Extreme
Width To Extreme Width To
Eaves To top of
running board To
Extreme Height Width Height Total
Capacity
for
Crushed
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Coarse
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Chunk
Ice Cubic Feet Depth Between
Ice Boxes-
Bulkheads
in place Clear
Capacity
(Bulkheads
Collapsed)
Starting 1937-10
Item
Number A.A.R. Mech.
Desig-
nation Markings
And Kind
Of Cars Numbers Dimensions Capacity Number
of Cars
Inside Outside Doors Capacity of Ice Tanks Capacity of car
Length Width,
Inside Height,
Inside Length Width Height from rail Side Doors Pounds Capacity
Measure Cubic Feet
Level Full Pounds
Between
ice tanks-
Bulkheads
in place Between
Linings
Clear
(Bulkheads
collapsed) Width at
Eaves Extreme
Width To Extreme Width To
Eaves To top of
running board To
Extreme Height Width Height Total
Capacity
for
Crushed
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Coarse
Ice Total
Capacity
for
Chunk
Ice Cubic Feet Depth Between
Ice Boxes-
Bulkheads
in place Clear
Capacity
(Bulkheads
Collapsed)
Last B&M Refrigerator cars listed 1951-07 - unknown if there were changes in columns after that.
Only data point I have is 1953-01, where PFE listing still has the same columns

B&M ORER Pages Available at the B&MRRHS Archives

Note I list the StJ&LC here (in addition to below), because sometimes it was actually listed inside the other railroad's (e.g. B&L, B&M) listing
Note each PAGE is (typically) a .JPG that is 3-4 MB in size. The original ORER pages indicate how many are available for a giver railroad/date. Be careful what you ask for :-)

B&M (and predecessor railroads) ORER pages available for 1884 - 1890
B&M (and predecessor railroads) ORER pages available for 1891 - 2012

Other Railroad ORER Pages Available at Archives

Due to "Collateral Data" (kind-of like collateral damage, only much nicer) sometimes other railroads' data was on the same page (or nearby pages) and occasionally I even captured an image of it ;-)
Note this list does NOT cover predecessor railroads (Fitchburg, etc.) - they are covered above

Railroad Year/Month (issues) where it is available in the data I assembled
StJ&LC 1890-08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1891-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1892-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -09, -10, -11, -12
1893-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1894-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1895-01, -02, -03, -05, -06, -08, -11, -12
1896-01, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1897-07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1898-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1899-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1901-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1902-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1903-01, -02, -03, -04, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1904-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1905-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1906-01, -02,
1907-01
1907-01
1908-02
1930-02, -03, -04, -05
1931-01, -03, -06
1932-01, -04, -07
1935-07
1936-07
1937-07, -10
1938-07
1941-04
1944-01
1947-01
1960-01
Barre 1889-07
1890-01
1891-01
1892-01
1893-01
1894-01
1895-01
1896-02
1897-07
1898-01
1899-01
1901-01
1902-01
1903-01
1904-01
1905-01
1906-01
1907-01
1908-02
1909-01
1911-03
1912-09
1913-08
1914-04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1915-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1916-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1917-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09
1918-03, -07, -09, -10, -11, -12
1932-07
1935-07
1936-07
1937-05, -07, -10
1938-01, -07
1940-10
1941-04
1942-04
1944-01
1947-01
1960-01
M&WR 1886-10, -12
1887-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07
1889-01
1890-01
1891-01
1892-01
1893-01
1894-01
1895-01
1896-02
1897-07
1898-01
1899-01
1901-01
1902-01
1903-01
1904-01
1905-01
1906-01
1907-01
1908-02
1909-01
1911-03
1912-09, -10
1913-06
1914-01, -03
1917-10, -11, -12
1918-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10
1932-07
1935-07
1936-07
1937-07, -10
1938-01, -07
1940-10
1941-04
1942-04
1944-01
1960-01
PT 1920-03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1921-02, -03, -04, -07, -08, -10, -11
1922-01, -02, -04, -05, -06, -08, -09, -10, -12
1923-01, -02, -03, -05, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1924-01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -09, -10
1925-01, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07, -08, -09, -10, -11, -12
1926-01, -02, -03
1931-01, -03, -06
1932-01, -04
1935-07
1936-07
1937-07, -10
1938-07
1941-04
1944-01
1947-01
1957-04, -07
1958-10
1960-04, -10
ST 1918-09

Where you can find ORERs

If, like me, you want "every" ORER entry for your favorite railroad, here are some places you can start with:
Online

Google Books
Quite a few before 1918 are available, but they are:

Huge PDFs if you download them (200MB to over 500MB) and I would suggest downloading them for speed)
But note each PDF has 2 or 3 issues of the register
Scanning quality is a bit "spotty" (some pages are "perfect", some are partly/wholly illegible)
Last "free" issues are 1917, so if you want something later, (I think) you have to "buy" them.
But they are "complete" issues (all railroads, private car lines, index, supplemental pages, etc.)

Hathi Trust
I believe one issue is available for "free", others may (or may not) be available if you pay (or access through participating institutions)

Available for purchase

Westerfield
Has a bunch covering all railroads:
1885-06
1888-08
1892-08
1897-08
1900-06
1905-06
1911-12
1915-01
1919-10
1925-05
1903-12
1935-07
1940-01
1945-01
1950-07
1955-01
1959-01
1965-01

and for the Penna RR, he has compilations of several years: "1888-1926"; "1927-1950"; and "1951-1968"

NMRA reprints (1953, 1943)
These are sold out on the NMRA store, but I believe they can be found on-line

Libraries

Barriger Collection, St. Louis Mercantile Library (University of Missouri at St. Louis)
If I had it to do over again, I would have started here. Hotels in the area are not outrageously expensive, and free parking can be had at the hotels and the library.
There is even a light-rail line with a station stop at the UMSL campus (along old Wabash RR right of way) if you are interested...
Has almost every register up to and including the "current" one. They are only missing (note I didn't look at everything after 1947, so I am assuming there are no missing registers after that...):

1885 - They are missing "all" (Jun. - Dec.)
NOTE: there were none published Jan. - May
1897 - They are missing the first half of the year (Jan. - Jun.)
1900 - They are missing "all" (Jan. - Dec.)
In addition, they are on open stacks (just walk up and get the ones you want) so you can proceed as fast as you want (no "only 10 or 15 items at a time, and we only pull once or twice a day" limits)

Library of Congress
Has 1948 - current, all as printed copies. Go to their web site to understand limits (how many they will pull at a time), getting Reader ID card, etc. If you live in DC area and can commute via the Metro / train / bus, probably not a bad option (or get a hotel in walking distance of one of the "far out" metro lines) When I was there, there were about 30 issues that were just "not available" Pull requests can (and should) be submitted ahead of time (on the web)

New York [City] Public Library
Has 1895-04(?) to at least 2011 (possibly to current issue?)
1895 thru 1960(?) have been microfilmed, after that they are printed copies Go to their web site to understand limits (how many they will pull at a time), getting library card, etc. Note these items are stored off-site, so in my experience getting more than 1 pull a day was hard to do - but note once you pick up the current "pull", you can immediately submit another "pull" request. Also note for the microfilmed issues, there are typically several ORER issues on one roll of microfilm, and each roll counts as one "pull" If you live in NYC area and can commute via train/subway, probably not a bad option, but visiting can be expensive (Hotel + car parking can easily run $250/day) Pull requests can (and should) be submitted ahead of time (on the web) Must(?) be viewed at the "Stephen A. Schwarzman Building" (the "flagship" building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street). Although THEY (NYPL) suggested I do an "inter-library loan" (ILL) request to get ones I missed, once I asked the local library to do so, it was "oh, those aren't available for ILL" [grrr....]

Local libraries in in the nearest "major" city near you
Buffalo's "main" library had about a dozen, I would assume other large libraries have a few. If they do, see if they will "ILL" them out to a branch near you.

Universities - Stanford, others
It looks like most of the Google Books ORERs were in the Stanford library, so I feel it would be safe to assume some other Colleges and Universities would have a few, if not a lot. I would guess community colleges do not :-) And colleges that were founded after your period of interest probably won't be very helpful.

Cal State Railroad Museum Library
Supposedly they have a lot (some from the ex-NMRA library). But every time I emailed them, they have been "less than enthusiastic" about helping me :-(

Various Railroad related historical societies / archives / museums
I would guess at least some of them (IRM?, Nat'l Museum of Transort in St. Louis?, Steamtown?, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, etc.) have one or more issues in their collections.

Revision History

File History for THIS page
Date	Who	Description
27-Jun-2022	KG Akerboom	Started