The Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.

Condensed Roster of Pere Marquette Freight Cars

 Updated: 13-MAR-2006
This roster is intended to describe, in a general fashion, all of the major types of freight car owned by the Pere Marquette, following its creation at the turn of the century. Given the sketchy records that exist of the PM's early freight cars, it is bound to be incomplete. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

This roster is divided into sections by general car type:

Pere Marquette Revenue Freight Cars (cover)

PM Freight Car Book

The definitive book on PM freight cars, Pere Marquette Revenue Freight Cars, by PMHS President Art Million and Secretary-Treasurer John Paton is in stores now.

Insulated Box and Refrigerator Cars

The PM was a pretty heavy user of insulated box cars and reefers, due mostly to the great volume of produce it hauled. Among other commodities, the PM hauled large amounts of celery out of the Hudsonville area, cherries from the Grand Traverse Bay region, and onions from Newaygo County. Other fruits and vegetables were hauled from other places as well, but mostly from West Michigan (much less-perishable produce, such as beans and sugar beets was hauled from the Thumb) . As a result, the PM was an early participant and stock holder in Fruit Growers Express.

Numbers
Description
    Inside
Length		    Capy.
Cu.Ft.		    Capy.
Pounds		   
Builder
    Year
Built		    Retired
By
1-10 Refrigerator (wood)    27'6"    ?    50000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
11-110 Refrigerator (wood)    32'1"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
111 Refrigerator (wood)    33'4"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
25000-25299 Refrigerator (wood)    33'2"    1880    80000    PM Ry. Shops   
1924
   
1941
66001-66025 Box (steel underframe)    39'7"    2370    80000    ?   
before
1939
   
1954
67001-67010 Box (steel underframe)    33'2"    1880    80000    ?   
before
1939
   
1949
69001-69004 Ins. Box    39'7"    2370    80000    ?   
before
1941
   
1954
69011-69018 Ins. Box (steel u.f.)    40'6"    2896    80000    ?   
before
1947
   
1954

Boxcars

PM boxcar #83564From its beginning, the PM was closely associated with the furniture industry and the automotive industry. This traffic necessitated the PM developing a large fleet of boxcars specially outfitted for these uses.

Four ex-PM boxcars are preserved. Two steel 50' boxcars have been cosmetically restored, #72222 at Grand Haven, Michigan and #72332 at Owosso. Two 40' single-sheathed wooden boxcars are preserved, #58305 at Owosso, Michigan and #88958 at the B&O Museum in Baltimore. At least one other wooden ex-PM boxcar is stored in Ludington, Michigan, as well.


Numbers
Description
    Inside
Length		    Capy.
Cu.Ft.		    Capy.
Pounds		   
Builder
    Year
Built		    Retired
By
500-805 Furniture (wood)    40'    3010    60000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
806 Furniture (wood)    40'    3010    60000    ?   
before
1908
   
1931
900-949 Furniture (wood)    38'    2829    50000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
950-958 Furniture (wood)    35'    50000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
960-985 Furniture (wood)    40'8"    2760    50000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
986-995 Furniture (wood)    50'    3780    40000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
996-999 Furniture (wood)    45'    3673    50000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
999 Furniture (wood)    49'6"    3726    50000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
1700-1799 Charcoal (wood)    33-35'    ?    30-40000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
1800-1825 Charcoal, tight roof    33-35'    ?    30-40000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
2800-3016 Box (wood)    27-29'    ?    24-35000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
3017-3149 Box (wood)    27-29'    ?    24-35000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
3150-3479 Box (wood)    32-34'    ?    40000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
3489-4999 Box (wood)    32-34'    ?    30000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
5000-5185 Box (wood)    32-34'    ?    40000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
5200-5383 Box (wood)    33'6"    2002    50000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
5610-5633 Box (wood)    33'    1637    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
5635-5669 Box (wood)    33'6"    1810    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
5850-5858 Box (wood)    37 '5"    2419    50000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
5870-5888 Box (wood)    37'4"    2562    50000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
5895-5999 Box (wood)    37'4"    2452    50000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
6000-6249 Box (wood)    35'10"    2332    60000    ?   
before
1900
   
1931
6300-6923 Box (wood)    38'    2459    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
6989-6999 Box (wood)    34'    1950    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
7000-7155 Box, ventilated (wood)    38'    2429    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
7200-7207 Box, ventilated (wood)    36'    2440    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
7500-8499 Box (wood)    38'    2429    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
20000-21999 (lst) Box (wood)    33'    ?    ?    ?   
before
1904
   
1908
22000-22999 Box (wood)    33'9"    ?    30000    ?   
before
1904
   
1908
26000-26999 Box (wood)    33'9"    ?    50000    ?   
before
1904
   
1908
28000-28049 Box (wood)    36'2"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
30000-30099 Box, ventilated (wood)    36'    2448    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
30100-30513 Box (wood)    36'    2448    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
30514-30527 Box (wood)    36'    2448    60000    ?   
before
1908
   
1931
31000-31999 Box (wood)    36'    2448    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
32000-33249 Box (wood)    36'    2424    60000    ?   
before
1908
   
1931
40000-42649 Box (wood)    38'    2136    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1939
42650-43149 Vehicle (wood)    36'    2524    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1939
43150-43649 Box (wood)    38'    2118    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1939
50000-52499 Box (wood)    36'    2524    85000    ?   
before
1908
   
1939
52500-52999 Auto (wood)    36'    2524    85000    ?   
before
1908
   
1939
53000-53999 Box (wood)    36'    2524    85000    ?   
before
1908
   
1939
54000-54044 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    75000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1954
54100-54163 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    80000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1954
54200-54240 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    80000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1954
54300-54344 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    70000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1957
54500-54571 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    75000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1954
54600-54620 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    70000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1960
54700-54709 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    37l2    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1960
55100 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1957
55200-55209 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1960
55300-55309 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    80000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1954
55310-55319 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    80000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1954
55400-55407 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    80000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1957
55500-55527 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1954
55600-55694 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1967
55750-55799 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1967
56000-56014 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    37l2    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1957
56200 Auto (steel)    40'6"    3712    75000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1973
56300-56316 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    65000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1957
59500-59529 Auto (steel)    50'5"    4587    75000    Ralston   
1936
   
1960
59600-59611 Auto (steel)    50'6"    4545    70000    Ralston   
1936
   
1965
59701-59727 Auto (steel)    50'6"    4545    65000    Ralston   
1936
   
1965
59728 Box (steel)    50'6"    4545    75000    Ralston   
1936
   
1957
59750-59763 Box (steel)    50'6"    4545    75000    Ralston   
1936
   
1957
60001-60014 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    70000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1957
60015-60019 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    30000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1957
60050-60059 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    75000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1957
60060-60064 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1957
61001-61040 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3098    80000    Std. Stl. Car   
1920
   
1949
61041-61050 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3098    80000    ?   
1919-20
   
1949
62001-62015 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3098    80000   
1919-20
   
1949
63001-63060 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1957
64001-64050 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3098    80000    ?   
1919-20
   
1954
64075-64084 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1949
65001-65061 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1965
65062-65069 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1957
65070-65093 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1949
67050-67057 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3098    80000    ?   
1919-20
   
1949
68001-68049 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1949
68050-68069 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    75000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
   
1949
69045-69099 Auto (steel underframe)    40'6"    3098    80000    ?   
1919-20
   
1949
70000-70999 Box (steel center sill)    40'    3060    80000    Haskel & Barker   
1917-18
   
1949
71000-71249 Furniture (steel)    50'6"    4545    75000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1930
   
1974
71250-71349 Auto (steel)    50'6"    4587    65000    Ralston   
1936
   
1976
72000-72049 Auto, Furniture (steel)    50'6"    4629    100000    Greenville   
1940
   
1976
72050-72099 Auto, Furniture (steel)    50'6"    4629    100000    Greenville   
1940
72100-72124 Auto, Furniture (steel)    50'6"    4629    100000    Greenville   
1941
72125-72149 Auto, Furniture (steel)    50'6"    4629    110000    Greenville   
1941
   
1976
72150-72199 Auto (steel)    50'6"    4629    100000    Greenville   
1941
   
1976
72200-72349 Auto (steel)    50'6"    5037    100000    Ralston   
1946
72350-72399 Damage Free Box (steel)    50'6"    5037    100000    Ralston   
1946
80000-80499 Auto (steel u.f., USRA)    40'6"    3098    80000    Standard Stl. Car   
1920
   
1949
80500-80999 Box (steel u.f., USRA)    40'6"    3098    80000    Standard Stl. Car   
1920
   
1949
81000-81109 Box (steel u.f., USRA)    40'6"    3098    80000    Keith   
1919
   
1949
81110-81323 Box (steel u.f. USRA)    40'6"    3098    80000    McGuire Car Co.   
1920
   
1949
81324-81989 Box (steel u.f. USRA)    40'6"    3098    80000    Pacific Car & Fdy.   
1920
   
1949
82000-83499 Box (steel)    40'6"    3053    100000    Std. Stl. Car Co.   
1930
83500-83649 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    100000    Amer. Car & Fdy.   
1941
83650-83799 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    100000    Pullman-Standard   
1940-41
   
1976
83800-83999 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    100000    General American   
1941
84000-84099 Box (welded, steel)    40'6"    3733    100000    Pullman-Standard   
1940
   
1977
84100-84199 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    100000    Amer. Car & Fdy.   
1941
   
1975
84200-84299 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    100000    General American   
1941
84300-84399 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    100000    Pullman-Standard   
1941
   
1975
85000-85000 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    80000    Western Stl. Car   
1922-23
   
1957
86000-87499 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3170    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1923
   
1957
88000-88349 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    80000    Nat'l. Stl. Car   
1926
   
1954
88350-89299 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1960
89300-89349 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3403    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1935
89350-90349 Box (steel underframe)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1929
90350-90399 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pullman   
1930
   
1975
90400-90499 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pullman   
1930
   
1970
90500-90849 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pullman   
1930
90850-90999 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pullman   
1930
   
1975
91000-91499 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pullman   
1930
   
1975
91500-91699 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pullman   
1930
   
1975
91850-92349 Box (steel)    40'6"    3712    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1930
   
1974
93000-93199 Auto (steel)    40'6"    3847    80000    Ralston   
1936
   
1975
93200-93399 Auto (steel)    40'6"    3847    80000    Ralston   
1936
   
1973
93400-93499 Auto (steel)    40'6"    3847    80000    Ralston   
1941
   
1974

Livestock Cars

Yes, the PM actually had livestock cars of its own. Presumably, much of this traffic was between points in rural Michigan and meat packing plants at Detroit and Chicago. Several photos published recently show one or two cattle cars coupled just behind the locomotive on various PM freights in the late 1930s.

None of these are known to have been preserved.

Numbers
Description
    Inside
Length		    Capy.
Cu.Ft.		    Capy.
Pounds		   
Builder
    Year
Built		    Retired
By
1915-1969 Stock, single deck    32-33'    ?    28-40000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
1970-1999 Stock, single deck    38'    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1939
2000-2199 (1st) Stock, single deck    38'    2362    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
2000-2049 (2nd) Stock, single deck    40'6"    3403    80000    Pressed Stl. Car   
1927
   
1971
2200-2249 Stock, adj. dbl, deck    38'    2362    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
2250-2308 Stock, adj. dbl. deck    38'    2362    60000    ?   
before
1908
   
1931

Gondola and Early Coal Cars

The Pere Marquette owned a good-sized fleet of gondolas over the years. The most striking load regularly carried by its gondolas in later years was auto and truck frames.


Numbers
Description
    Inside
Length		    Capy.
Cu.Ft.		    Capy.
Pounds		   
Builder
    Year
Built		    Retired
By
9000-9100 Coal, drop bottom    35'6"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
9101-9200 Coal    34'10"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
9201-9300 Coal, drop bottom    34'10"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
9301-9400 Coal    34'10"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
9450-9499 Coal    32'6"    ?    50-60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
9500-9949 Coal    31-35'    ?    35-60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
9969-9999 Coal    19'4"-31'    ?    24-40000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
10000-10199 (1st) Coal Gondola    35'6"    ?    60000    ?   
before
1904
   
1931
10000-10059 (2nd) Gondola (steel)    40'6"    1899    100000    Ralston Stl. Car   
1930
   
1967
10060-10072 (2nd) Gondola (steel)    40'6"    1899    100000    Ralston Stl. Car   
1930
   
1957
10100-10169 (2nd) Gondola (steel)    50'6"    1439    140000    Greenville   
1930