This batch of cars appeared on the UP in the summer of 1966 in this paint scheme. The shield includes the word “RAILROAD” which was standard for UP in the 60’s. This batch also included the small version of the reporting marks. The “automated rail way” logo had evolved over the years with this version featuring a more playful lettering style, larger map, and “CUSHIONED LOAD” replacing “CUSHION RIDE.” These cars were initially assigned for loading at a Chevy plant on the New York Central in Cleveland.

As you would expect, DT&I had a HUGE fleet of 86’ auto parts cars and in a variety of paint schemes. In addition to variations of Sky Blue and Cypress Green, DT&I had these Magenta cars. This particular group was built by Penn Central in their shops for the DT&I. DT&I was owned by a PC holding company at the time. Without a doubt, DT&I had the nation’s most colorful freight car fleet, but these magenta monsters really take the cake.

Penn Central inherited their quad door car fleet from both New York Central and Pennsylvania. The combined PC fleet of 86’ boxcars was the largest in the nation, with Conrail inheriting the title after 1976. This group was assigned for loading at a Chevy plant in Flint, Michigan on the Grand Trunk Western for delivery to Chevy assembly lines across the country.

Missouri Pacific purchased 86’ boxcars under the auspices of MP, Texas & Pacific, and Kansas Oklahoma & Gulf subsidiaries, plus inheriting some from Chicago & Eastern Illinois. In the late 70s, as the Screaming Eagle logo began to supplant the old buzzsaw, MP was already changing the reporting marks of these subsidiary cars to MP. This paint scheme was being applied by the MoPac right up to the acquisition by Union Pacific in 1983..

In 1980, Chicago & North Western changed from boxcar red to this yellow and black scheme with a three-color logo on many boxcars. The C&NW logos also changed over the years. These cars were delivered in brown with yellow and black “Chicago and North Western Railway” logos which was later replaced by “Employee - North Western - Owned” but by the time these cars were painted yellow, they had long since switched to “Chicago and North Western System.”

In 1983, the merger-enlarged Union Pacific adopted this paint scheme. Cars from the WP and MoPac fleets carried their original road numbers. The single car has a UP number while the 2-pack has Western Pacific and Missouri Pacific road numbers. Note the variations in placement of other lettering. Even the logo on the UP car is in a different place. This kind of variation seems to be common on today’s Union Pacific fleet.

CP Rail’s auto parts fleet includes former Milwaukee Road cars like these. The 2-pack is shown here. The lettering arrangement for the single is the same as the upper image. The painted door bars and area around the door latches on this batch seems to be unique to CP Rail.