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Missabe Ore Cars

 

 

 

U30 Class Ore Car

The Missabe's equipment roster has largely concerned itself with ore cars of one sort or another. Both the D&IR and DM&N created rosters of similar equipment, although, at first, the specifications from each reflected the different personalities of each railroads' officials. As the two companies came together under common ownership, common standards emerged.

The ore car began as a relatively short 24-foot standard, owing to the weight of iron ore and the wood construction of cars in the 1880's. Both railroads rostered wooden ore cars, some built by local shops, some by Pullman Standard. By the 1910's, demand for volume of ore was such that the first steel cars were received. These cars were of 50-ton capacity. Variations existed, as each successive order of cars seemed to try out a new innovation, including rib sides, different doors, long end platforms and panel sides.

In the 1930's, capacity was increased to a 70-ton car, and from then on out, the 70-ton car followed consistent design, even though orders alternated between ACF and Pullman Standard through 1957 when the last order of ore cars was placed. Beginning in the 1960's, side extensions were added to some ore cars to increase volume capacity on cars hauling the less dense taconite pellet.

Having almost reached the end of their lives, the ore car fleet is old, dwindling in numbers due to FRA mandated retirements, and failure from years of hard service. The Missabe has acquired side-dump cars from Minntac, and is in the process of refurbishing them for flux stone service. It is also looking at the possibility of acquiring new ore cars, and expects a major purchase at the turn of the century.


Duluth & Iron Range Cars and Classes

Car Classsort iconStart NumberEnding NumberQty in SeriesBuilt DateCar TypeStencil WeightCar CapacityCubic ContentsBuilderPhoto
3045304951911Steel100000Northwestern Steam Boiler Co.
D20130483081892Wood2400050000
D1305033993501900Steel Rib29000120000670
D234003449501903Steel Rib32000120000880
D3345038994501903Steel Rib33000120000680
D3390043995001905Steel Rib32000120000690
D4440048995001906Steel Rib32000120000710
D4900096997001906Steel Rib32000120000710
E59700104998001909Steel Panel32000120000650
E611250113991501910Steel Panel32700120000715
E611400114991001910Steel Panel32500120000680
E710500112497501910Steel Panel32100120000650
E811500122998001913Steel Panel
E912300124992001913Steel Rib
E1012500127492501916Steel Rib
E1112750132495001916Steel Panel
E121350013999500

Duluth, Missabe & Northern Cars and Classes

Car Classsort iconStart NumberEnding NumberQty in SeriesBuilt DateCar TypeStencil WeightCar CapacityCubic ContentsBuilderPhoto
180001800451911Steel100000Northwestern Steam Boiler Co.
S140120006001896Wood2430050000305
T6000770717081898Wood2670070000454
U8000800451899Steel Rib28500100000668
U1800583543501903Steel Rib32200100000680
U283558404501903Steel Rib32000100000682
U38405995415501905Steel Rib32200100000689
U41008497501906Steel Rib32200100000689
U51200012026271910Steel Panel32500100000
U614000141491501910Steel Panel32700100000669
U716000167497501910Steel Panel32600100000667
U8 (?)17000
U9145001549910001913Steel Panel34500100000669
U10190001999910001914Steel Panel34400100000704
U11200002000011915Steel Panel100000
U11200012100010001916Steel Panel34500100000704
U122100121026261925Steel Panel49300140000935
U132110121125251925Steel Panel476001400001046
U1422001221251251928Steel Panel47200140000935
U1523001231251251928Steel Panel47800140000943
U16231712317771931Steel Panel506001400001080
U1723975247998251938Steel Panel434001400001000
U1724800249992001937Steel Panel410001400001000Pullman Standard
U1825000254995001937Steel Panel439001400001000GATX

Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Cars and Classes

Car Classsort iconStart NumberEnding NumberQty in SeriesBuilt DateCar TypeStencil WeightCar CapacityCubic ContentsBuilderPhoto
U1925500259995001942Steel Panel434001540001000Pullman Standard
U2026000264995001942Steel Panel433001540001000GATX
U2126500269995001942Steel Panel432001540001000ACF
U2227000274995001943Steel Panel433001540001000Pressed Steel Car
U2327500279995001948Steel Panel441001540001000Pullman Standard
U2428000284995001948Steel Panel441001540001000ACF
U2528500289995001948Steel Panel442001540001000Pressed Steel Car
U2629000294995001948Steel Panel442001540001000GATX
U27295003049910001949Steel Panel442001540001000Pullman Standard
U2830500309995001949Steel Panel441001540001000GATX
U29310003249915001952Steel Panel441001540001000Pullman Standard
U3032500329995001953Steel Panel443001540001000Yes
U3133000334995001957Steel Panel447001540001000Yes