B&M 9000 Gondola Cars

Boston & Maine 9000 Series Gondola Cars

Index

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
From 1942 class book.

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.
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 Value
Builder Rodgers Ballast Car Co. [AC&F]
Lot # 4 [B&M]
[per Ed Hawkins, *possibly* ACF (series 1) lot number 1927]
Car Numbers 9000-9039
Quantity 40
Build Date 1901-1902
AAR class HT [in ORER, MWB]
Description ex-Rutland Rodger Ballast Cars
Lt Weight 36,400 (approx)
Cubic Cap'y [not on class card: As hopper: 824 Cu. Ft.]
As gondola: 1,000 Cu. Ft.
Truss Rods six at 1½" dia.
Trucks Arch Bar
Journals 5" x 9" (80,000 lbs nominal capacity)
Springs ARA class "C"
Center Plates Spherical
Body and Truck Bolsters Steel plates with pressed diaphrams
Air Brake HC 812
Coupler MCB
Coupler Yoke 5" x 5" shank, 6½" butt

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data - 1903-1910
Dimensions 5/1903
Length 34'
Width
Height
Capacity 80000

ORER Size Data
Description 8/1910 8/1911 2/1914 11/1922
M.C.B. Designation MWB (11/1914) HT
Inside
Dimensions Length 33' 33' 32'-9" 32'-9"
Width 8'-4" 8'-4" 8'-4½" 8'-4½"
Height 4' 3' 3'
Outside
Dimensions Length 34'-1" 34'-1" 34'-1" 34'-1"
Width At Eaves or top of sides or platform 8'-9" 8'-9" 8'-9" 8'-9"
Extreme Width
Height
from
Rail To Extreme Width
To Eaves or top of sides or platform 4' 4' 4' 4'
To Top of Running Board
To Extreme Height
Door - Side
opening Width
Height
Capacity Cu Ft. Level Full 1100 822 822
Pounds 80000 80000 80000 80000

ORER History
ORER Date
(Year-Mo.) Car
Numbers # of
Cars Description
1903 - 03 9000-9039 40 Rodger Ballast
1903 - 05 9000-9049 " Coal, Roger Ballast
1903 - 06 " " Coal, Rodger Ballast
1903 - 07 (same)
1903 - 08 (same)
1903 - 09 (same)
1903 - 10 (same)
1903 - 11 (same)
1904 - 07 (same)
1904 - 12 (same)
1905 - 01 (same)
1905 - 03 (same)
1905 - 04 (same)
1905 - 06 (same)
1906 - 08 (same)
1907 - 03 (same)
1907 - 04 (same)
1907 - 05 " 140[sic - see note] "
1907 - 06 (same)
1907 - 07 (same)
1907 - 08 (same)
1907 - 09 (same)
1907 - 10 (same)
1907 - 11 (same)
1907 - 12 " 40 "
1908 - 01 (same)
1908 - 02 (same)
1908 - 03 (same)
1908 - 04 (same)
1908 - 05 (same)
1908 - 08 (same)
1908 - 09 (same)
1908 - 10 (same)
1908 - 11 (same)
1908 - 12 (same)
1909 - 01 (same)
1909 - 02 (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)
1910 - 01 (same)
1910 - 02 (same)
1910 - 03 (same)
1910 - 04 (same)
1910 - 05 (same)
1910 - 06 (same)
1910 - 07 (same)
1910 - 08 (same)
1910 - 09 (same)
1910 - 11 (same)
1910 - 12 (same)
1911 - 02 (same)
1911 - 03 (same)
1911 - 04 (same)
1911 - 05 (same)
1911 - 08 (same)
1911 - 09 (same)
1911 - 10 (same)
1911 - 11 (same)
1911 - 12 (same)
1912 - 01 (same)
1912 - 02 " 39 "
1912 - 03 (same)
1912 - 04 (same)
1912 - 05 (same)
1912 - 06 (same)
1912 - 07 (same)
1912 - 08 (same)
1912 - 09 (same)
1912 - 10 " (illegible) "
1912 - 11 9000-9040 39 "
1912 - 12 " " "
1913 - 01 9000-9049 " "
1913 - 02 (same)
1913 - 03 (same)
1913 - 04 (same)
1913 - 05 (same)
1913 - 06 (same)
1913 - 07 " 38 "
1913 - 10 (same)
1913 - 11 (same)
1913 - 12 (same)
1914 - 01 (same)
1914 - 02 9000-9039 " "
1914 - 03 (same)
1914 - 04 (same)
1914 - 05 (same)
1914 - 06 (same)
1914 - 07 (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 - 10 (same)
1915 - 11 (same)
1915 - 12 (same)
1916 - 01 (same)
1916 - 02 (same)
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 - 10 (same)
1917 - 11 (same)
1919 - 10 (same)
1920 - 01 (same)
1921 - 05 " 37 "
1921 - 12 " 35 "
1922 - 08 (same)
1922 - 11 (same)
1923 - 02 (same)
1924 - 11 9001-9039 30 "
1925 - 05 " 23 "
1925 - 07 " 22 "
1925 - 10 " 21 "
1926 - 08 9001-9038 9 "
1926 - 10 9001-9032 4 "
1927 - 06 " " Coal, Rodger Ballast, Convertible
1927 - 08 (same)
1928 - 07 9001, 9003 2 "
1928 - 08 (same)
1928 - 09 (same)
1928 - 10 (same)
1928 - 11 (same)
1928 - 12 (same)
1929 - 01 (same)
1929 - 02 (same)
1929 - 03 (same)
1929 - 04 9003 1 "
1929 - 05 (same)
1929 - 06 (same)
1929 - 07 (same)
1929 - 08 (same)
1929 - 09 Not listed

ORER Notes

Discussion, General Notes

Wood underframe Hart Convertible gondola/hopper
Per Tim Gilbert
There seems to have been a facination among the B&M's antecedents to find a convertible hopper/gondola - coal in hoppers inland, and stone, gravel, or other bulk commodities back. The 16-Dec-1887 Railway Gazette published a plan for a Fitchburg Railroad convertible car reprinted in John White's The American Railroad Freight Car. The weight and cost of the car did not bode well for success, but the B&M perservered with three groups of Twentieth century acquisitions from St. Louis' Rodgers Ballast [Car] Co., which was absorbed by AC&F by 1907.
The cars had flat bottoms with drop doors opening towards the center to dump the loads between the rails which missed damaging the truss rods. In a hopper configuration, the ends of the car floor would be raised to form a slope sheet. Unlike true hoppers, cubic capacity was reduced from the gon configuration because inside height could not be increased. The Hart Convertible design of the Rodgers Ballast [Car] Co. did have the attribute that virtually no weight was added because of the convertibility. The 1887 Fitchburg design used two steel plates which would fold down to form a flat bottom for the gon configuration. In a hopper configuration, these sheets were carried en route in vertical planes.
When purchased in 1901-2 [#9000-9039] and 1907 [#8900-8999] respectively, both series were given the MCB designation of "MWB" - Maintenance of Way-Ballast. In 1920, they were deignated as "HT" - defined as equipped with two or more hopper doors, and capable of self-clearing. Each pair of doors were probably considered to be bays of hoppers. Thus the MCB/ARA designation of "HT" would make them comparable with the four bay #8000 hopper series. Thoughout their lives, both cars were described in the ORERs as "Coal Cars - Rodgers Ballast". Given their original "MWB" designation, it is assumed that both series spent most of their lives in MOW service. Their ability to participate in revenue service was maintained by their ORER listing.
The class card of #9000-9039 referred to them as "Rutland Type". Since the cars were bought new, the design must have been similar to one developed for the Rutland RR, whose parent in 1901-1902 was the New York Central and Hudson River RR.
Both series were retired in the late 1920s after the third series [#9100-9199] of Hart Convertibles were purchased in 1923.

5/1907 numbers look like they include what later became the 8900-8999 series cars?
From the car acquisition books, it looks like these were bought used from the Rutland.
From the ORERs I have, in 1901 there are no car counts and they are (apparently) not listed.
By 1903-03, it may be this series:

Old Car
Series New Car
Series # of
Cars Inside
Length Capacity Description
7100-7124 1600-1699 60 34' 80000 Rodger Convertible Ballast & Coal

Note while the "old numbers" are do not have enough "range", the new series has the appropriate "room" to sell 40 cars (100 numbers available, but only 60 are used)
ORER history for above Rutland cars:

1901-11: not listed [no car counts either...]
[I need more ORER data in this range]
1903-03: as shown above
1903-05: as shown above
1903-06: only new number series listed
1903-07: not listed

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
9000-9039 1 51 1902-10 - $837 bought from Rutland RR [ex R #s = 1903 series 1600-1699]

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 numbers NOT listed have no data in either source, presumably retired before data was being compiled

Car Book Data Car Disposition Data
Car Number Vol Part Page Date Action Location ID Date Built Disposition
Date Disposition
9001 [not listed] A 1902-04 1929-02 Sold for Scrap
9002 1 2 9 1924-12-12 Destroyed Suncook, NH [?] [not listed in "A"]
9003 [not listed] A 1901-10 1929-07 Sold for Scrap
9006 [not listed] A 1901-10 1925-10 to W3981
9009 [not listed] A 1901-10 1925-11 to W3955
9010 [not listed] A 1902-04 1925-10 to W3959
9011 [not listed] A 1901-10 1925-10 to W3955
9013 [not listed] A 1902-04 1928-05 Sold for Scrap
9015 [not listed] A 1902-04 1925-12 to W3943
9016 1 3 8 1925-03-02 Destroyed [not listed in "A"]
9017 [not listed] A 1902-04 1926-07 to W3921
9018 [not listed] A 1902-04 1926-08 to W3579
9019 1 2 6 1924-05-01 Destroyed [not listed in "A"]
9020 [not listed] A 1902-04 1925-12 to W3931
9022 [not listed] A 1902-04 1926-08 to W3580
9024 1 3 6 1924-12-08 Destroyed [not listed in "A"]
9025 1 2 6 1924-05-01 Destroyed [not listed in "A"]
9026 1 2 11 1924-12-09 Destroyed Hooksett, NH [not listed in "A"]
9027 1 2 11 1942-12-05 Destroyed Hooksett, NH [not listed in "A"]
9028 [not listed] A 1902-04 1925-12 to W3940
9029 [not listed] A 1901-10 1926-07 to W3958
9030 1 3 8 1925-03-02 Destroyed [not listed in "A"]
9031 1 2 11 1924-12-08 Destroyed Hooksett, NH [not listed in "A"]
9033 [not listed] A 1902-04 1925-10 to W3980
9037 [not listed] A 1902-04 1925-12 to W3945
9038 [not listed] A 1902-04 1926-08 to W3581
9039 [not listed] A 1901-10 1926-01 to M3914

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 9000 series “Hart” gondolas 1926? 1929?

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 9000 BM-20 28 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9001 BM-20 38 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9002 BM-20 39 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9003 BM-20 29 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9004 BM-20 40 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9005-9006 BM-20 30 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9007 BM-20 41 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9009 BM-20 31 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9010 BM-20 42 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9011 BM-20 32 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9012 BM-20 43 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9013-9020 BM-20 44 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9022 BM-20 45 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9023 BM-20 33 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9024-9028 BM-20 46 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9029 BM-20 34 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9030 BM-20 35 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9031-9035 BM-20 47 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9036 BM-20 36 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9037-9038 BM-20 48 Ballast 1902 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 wood wood
B&M 9039 BM-20 37 Ballast 1901 Rodger B.C. Co. 80 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
20-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 cards
12-May-2020 KG Akerboom Updated class card table
14-May-2020 KG Akerboom Added data from 4 more ORERs (1911,1919,1921,1931)
28-May-2020 KG Akerboom updated 10/1919
16-Jun-2020 KG Akerboom Added lot number from Ed Hawkins info
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)
17-Oct-2020 KG Akerboom Added Car Book Data
18-Oct-2020 KG Akerboom Tracked down Rutland car series they may have come from.
20-Nov-2020 KG Akerboom Updated 1942 Classification Card(s)
25-Nov-2020 KG Akerboom Added 1955 Classification Card
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)
17-Sep-2021 KG Akerboom Added car disposition record data
16-Oct-2021 KG Akerboom Added remaining 7/1928 - 10/1947 ORERs
22-Jan-2022 KG Akerboom Added ICC Valuation data