B&M 31500 Flat Cars

Boston & Maine 31500 Series Flat Cars

Index

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 5/1903
Length 34'
Width
Height
Capacity 40000

ORER Size Data - 1910-?
Description 8/1910 2/1914
M.C.B. Designation FM (11/1914)
Inside
Dimensions Length 34'
Width 8'-4"
Height
Outside
Dimensions Length 34' 34'
Width At Eaves or top of sides or platform 8'-4" 8'-4"
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 50000 50000

ORER History
ORER Date
(Year-Mo.) Car
Numbers # of
Cars Description
Split from 30000-31999 series
1901 - 07 31500-31999 300 Flat, 34', 50000 lbs. capacity
1901 - 08 (same)
1901 - 09 " (illegible) "
1901 - 10 " (illegible) "
1901 - 11 " (illegible) "
1903 - 03 " 400 "
1903 - 05 " 400 Flat
1903 - 06 " 364? "
1903 - 07 " 364 "
1903 - 08 (same)
1903 - 09 (same)
1903 - 10 (same)
1903 - 11 (same)
1904 - 07 (same)
1904 - 12 " 325 "
1905 - 01 (same)
1905 - 03 (same)
1905 - 04 (same)
1905 - 06 (same)
1906 - 08 " 305 "
1907 - 03 " 273 "
1907 - 04 (same)
1907 - 05 (same)
1907 - 06 (same)
1907 - 07 (same)
1907 - 08 " 266 "
1907 - 09 (same)
1907 - 10 (same)
1907 - 11 (same)
1907 - 12 (same)
1908 - 01 (same)
1908 - 02 " 263? "
1908 - 03 " 263? "
1908 - 04 " 263? "
1908 - 05 " 242 "
1908 - 08 " 239 "
1908 - 09 (same)
1908 - 10 " 237? "
1908 - 11 " 237 "
1908 - 12 " 236 "
1909 - 01 (same)
1909 - 02 " 233 "
1909 - 04 " 222? "
1909 - 05 " 220? "
1909 - 06 " 219 "
1909 - 07 " 216 "
1909 - 08 " 213 "
1909 - 09 " 212 "
1909 - 10 " 208 "
1909 - 11 " 205 "
1910 - 01 " 204 "
1910 - 02 " 201 "
1910 - 03 " 200 "
1910 - 04 " 198 "
1910 - 05 (same)
1910 - 06 " (illegible) "
1910 - 07 " 196 "
1910 - 08 " (illegible) "
1910 - 09 " (illegible) "
1910 - 11 " 186 "
1910 - 12 " 184? "
1911 - 02 " 180 "
1911 - 03 (same)
1911 - 04 " 179 "
1911 - 05 " 177 "
1911 - 08 " 170 "
1911 - 09 " 169 "
1911 - 10 (same)
1911 - 11 " 168 "
1911 - 12 " 165 "
1912 - 01 " 161 "
1912 - 02 " 156? "
1912 - 03 " 154 "
1912 - 04 " 152 "
1912 - 05 " 151 "
1912 - 06 " 146 "
1912 - 07 " 145 "
1912 - 08 " 140 "
1912 - 09 " 138? "
1912 - 10 " 138? "
1912 - 11 " 160 "
1912 - 12 " 170 "
1913 - 01 " 167 "
1913 - 02 " 164 "
1913 - 03 " 162 "
1913 - 04 " (illegible) "
1913 - 05 " (illegible) "
1913 - 06 " (illegible) "
1913 - 07 " 147 "
1913 - 10 " 130 "
1913 - 11 " 128 "
1913 - 12 " 127 "
1914 - 01 " 125 "
1914 - 02 " 123 "
1914 - 03 31650-31999 (illegible) "
1914 - 04 " (illegible) "
1914 - 05 " 115 "
1914 - 06 " 114 "
1914 - 07 " 108 "
1914 - 09 " 105 "
1914 - 10 " (illegible) "
1914 - 11 " 98 "
1914 - 12 " (illegible) "
1915 - 01 " 94? "
1915 - 02 " 92 "
1915 - 03 (same)
1915 - 04 " 90 "
1915 - 05 " 88 "
1915 - 10 " 84 "
1915 - 11 (same)
1915 - 12 " 80 "
1916 - 01 " 78 "
1916 - 02 " 73 "
1916 - 03 " (illegible) "
1916 - 04 " 67 "
1916 - 05 " 61 "
1916 - 06 (same)
1916 - 07 " 55 "
1916 - 08 " (illegible) "
1916 - 09 " 50 "
1916 - 10 (same)
1916 - 11 (same)
1916 - 12 " 47 "
1917 - 01 " 45 "
1917 - 02 " 41 "
1917 - 03 (same)
1917 - 04 " 39? "
1917 - 05 " 38 "
1917 - 06 " 35 "
1917 - 10 " 24 "
1917 - 11 " (no number) "
1919 - 10 31667-31921 10 "
1920 - 01 31692-31893 " "
1921 - 05 31720-31893 4 "
1921 - 12 31720,31833 2 "
1922 - 08 31720 1 "
1922 - 11 (same)
1923 - 02 Not listed

ORER Notes

Discussion, General Notes

Split off from 30000-31999 series on 7/1901. I am assuming these are existing cars being re-classified, plus (by 3/1903) new cars
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 # 27 - U
B&M Diagram # 51
Diagram Date 1907
Color on Diagram Brown
Notes on Diagram
Datum 1900 Index 1907 Index
Class of car (see 30000 series) Flat Car
Length n/a 34'
Capacity n/a 50,000
Car Numbers n/a 31500-31999
Page [original] n/a 51

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

Car Number(s) Vol Page First
Date Last
Date Builder $ / Car Notes
31931 1 26 1901-04 1901-05 B&M, Lawrence $352

Car Disposition Records

Source(s)
ID Box Folder Folder name Link Title Approx.
Start date Approx.
End date
A 1 5 Coal Cars 30015-32994 Flat - “A” 1929

Data
Car Number Disposition
Source ID Date Built Disposition
Date Disposition New Car #
31709 A 1891-02 1918-02 to 3984

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 31650 BM-16 18 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31651 BM-16 19 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31655 BM-16 20 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31658 BM-16 21 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31659 BM-16 22 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31660 BM-16 23 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31662-31668 BM-16 24 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31670 BM-16 25 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31673 BM-16 26 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31676-31679 BM-16 27 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31681 BM-16 28 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31683 BM-16 29 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31685 BM-16 30 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31687 BM-16 31 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31690 BM-16 32 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31692 BM-16 33 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31696 BM-16 34 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31699 BM-16 35 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31701 BM-16 36 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31703 BM-16 37 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31704 BM-16 38 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31706 BM-16 39 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31707 BM-16 40 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31709-31712 BM-16 41 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31714-31716 BM-16 42 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31718 BM-16 43 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31720 BM-16 44 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31723 BM-16 45 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31725 BM-16 46 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31731 BM-16 47 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31732 BM-16 48 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
B&M 31743 BM-16 49 Flat 1888-1907 various 50 wood wood
C&M 31746-31747 CM-2 61 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31755 CM-2 62 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31761 CM-2 98 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31762 CM-2 63 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31765 CM-2 99 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31770 CM-2 64 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31772 CM-2 65 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31774 CM-2 66 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31776 CM-2 100 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31777 CM-2 67 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31779-31780 CM-2 101 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31781-31783 CM-2 68 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31787 CM-2 69 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31797 CM-2 70 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31808 CM-2 71 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31810 CM-2 72 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31821 CM-2 73 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31824 CM-2 74 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31832-31833 CM-2 75 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31835 CM-2 76 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31838 CM-2 77 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31849 CM-2 102 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31852 CM-2 103 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31858-31859 CM-2 78 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31864 CM-2 104 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31867 CM-2 105 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31873 CM-2 106 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31878 CM-2 79 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31888 CM-2 80 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31891 CM-2 107 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31893 CM-2 81 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31897 CM-2 108 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31898 CM-2 82 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31900 CM-2 83 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31909-31910 CM-2 84 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31913 CM-2 109 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31916 CM-2 85 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31921 CM-2 86 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31926 CM-2 87 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31930 CM-2 88 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31934 CM-2 89 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31944-31945 CM-2 90 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31951 CM-2 91 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31959 CM-2 110 Flat 1900-1902 B&M RR 50 wood wood
C&M 31966 CM-2 92 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31969-31971 CM-2 93 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31980 CM-2 94 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31995 CM-2 95 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31997 CM-2 96 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood
C&M 31999 CM-2 97 Flat 1890-1896 Laconia 50 wood wood

Paint Schemes

References or other data

Magazine/Book article(s)

Photographs

Page Car # Photo Date
yr-mo-day Visible? Markings Paint
Scheme Herald Notes

Blodgett, BG and Richards, RR Jr. Iron Roads of the Monadnock Region Vol 2 Bauhan Publishing, 2020. ISBN 978-0-87233-307-8
p63 31980 ca. 1905 p S1& R R N ? none boiler load. note "pairing" of stake pockets. Arch bar trucks w/ external brake beam
Digital Commonwealth
If link no longer works, search on "Boston Maine Railroad" and page thru
Title = "Crucible Steel Co. of America building. B&M and NY&NH&H RR cars in front"
31796 ca 1898-1907 X A S1& R R N none loaded with rail, or small size steel sections?
Note variable spacing of stake pockets

Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions

Models

Revision History

File History for THIS page
Date Who Description
28-Dec-2019 KG Akerboom Initial release
22-Mar-2020 KG Akerboom Added data from 19 more ORERs
04-Apr-2020 KG Akerboom Re-did references/photos section
20-Apr-2020 KG Akerboom Adding Digital Commonwealth web sites photos
05-May-2020 KG Akerboom Moved ORER notes into separate section
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)
26-Oct-2020 KG Akerboom Added Car Book Data
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)
25-Oct-2021 KG Akerboom Added car disposition record data
22-Jan-2022 KG Akerboom Added ICC Valuation data