LCL service in the USA
- Thread starter Thai1On
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jacksonbarno
Alco Spoken Here
LCL service started in the 20's, when dedicated trains were made on the PRR, NYC, and NKP. The NYC and PRR used specialized container cars like these:
By the 1930's the railroads providing dedicated LCL trains had expanded to also include the Erie, SSW, SP, UP, C&O, B&O, and the Wabash. The first use of a name to indicate certain timetabled LCL freights was the Blue Streak Merchandise service used by the SSW. The other prewar use of a naming system was the SP's Overnight service. Postwar, the B&O (Timesaver (1945) & Sentinel Service (1951)), NYC (Pacemaker (1945) & Early Bird (1952)), NKP (Flying Saucer (1947)), C&O (Time-Freight (1947)), and PRR (Merchandise Service (1947)) joined in the naming trend. By the late 50's solid LCL trains fell out of favor and blocking LCL cars in standard hotshots became the norm due to declining LCL loads because of competition from trucking and TOFC service.
By the 1930's the railroads providing dedicated LCL trains had expanded to also include the Erie, SSW, SP, UP, C&O, B&O, and the Wabash. The first use of a name to indicate certain timetabled LCL freights was the Blue Streak Merchandise service used by the SSW. The other prewar use of a naming system was the SP's Overnight service. Postwar, the B&O (Timesaver (1945) & Sentinel Service (1951)), NYC (Pacemaker (1945) & Early Bird (1952)), NKP (Flying Saucer (1947)), C&O (Time-Freight (1947)), and PRR (Merchandise Service (1947)) joined in the naming trend. By the late 50's solid LCL trains fell out of favor and blocking LCL cars in standard hotshots became the norm due to declining LCL loads because of competition from trucking and TOFC service.
Thanks for the info Jackson. These are very interesting looking cars and with any luck a creator may pick up project.
LCL service will fit perfectly with the route I'm making. Tweaking history a little :hehe: gasoline and diesel is simply too expensive to be practical for transportation. LCL will be the main way small towns and cities will receive freight. Railroads will use steam powered trucks and tractors to deliver freight from rail heads and pick up merchandise to be returned to the rail head and shipped out. For overseas high speed freight; railroads have contracts with newly formed zeppelin airlines to service Europe.
On a side note the creator of the beautiful wagon top boxcar has approved a DLS upload of the L&A LCL box car. The L&A will start their LCL service in 1919 and begin their streamlining motif after a few German engineers fled WWI as it hasn't ended in an Armistice, but a cease fire as both sides retool for war. The engineers convinced the head of the railroad that streamlining was becoming the rage in Europe and this could help give the L&A an edge in both looks and speed against the giant rail lines of the time.
Dave
LCL service will fit perfectly with the route I'm making. Tweaking history a little :hehe: gasoline and diesel is simply too expensive to be practical for transportation. LCL will be the main way small towns and cities will receive freight. Railroads will use steam powered trucks and tractors to deliver freight from rail heads and pick up merchandise to be returned to the rail head and shipped out. For overseas high speed freight; railroads have contracts with newly formed zeppelin airlines to service Europe.
On a side note the creator of the beautiful wagon top boxcar has approved a DLS upload of the L&A LCL box car. The L&A will start their LCL service in 1919 and begin their streamlining motif after a few German engineers fled WWI as it hasn't ended in an Armistice, but a cease fire as both sides retool for war. The engineers convinced the head of the railroad that streamlining was becoming the rage in Europe and this could help give the L&A an edge in both looks and speed against the giant rail lines of the time.
Dave
jacksonbarno
Alco Spoken Here
I was just referring to the practice of blocking cars specifically filled with LCL shipments in special trains.
jacksonbarno
Alco Spoken Here
Less than Carload. Essentially the concept is that the boxcars or containers are filled with many different loads such as bikes, furniture, etc... bound for a common destination instead of bulk loads like auto parts or paper.
Don't forget REA (Railway Express Agency), they had their own cars tacked onto the front of passenger trains and also had their own depots, warehouses, and drayage in big cities. I believe it was jointly owned by all major lines.
jacksonbarno
Alco Spoken Here
Before REA was created in 1917, and then took over all other express operations in 1929, there were a few other reefer systems such as the American Railway Express, American Express, Adams Express, and Southern Express.