Back in the day before autos and roads were king, did they transport horses in stock cars? the reason I ask - I've got a solitary HOn3 stock car kit that came as part of a lot, and am trying to justify its use on my railroad. Since it is mostly a mining related short line, I don't think livestock movements of cattle or sheep make a whole lot of sense. But, my town and the mining operations could make use of many horses and mules. Would it be plausible for a railroad to ship horses and mules in a stock car, or would it be more likely for horses and mules to be brought in via their own legs? I figure the length of the short line would be about 20 miles from the standard-gauge connection.

I may be way out in left field with this but my guess is they were transported in boxcars sometimes specifically designed to transport equine animals.

One issue would be how you'd persuade the horse to get in the car. I don't think it works the same way as with cows.

Railroads did haul race horses in specially equipped horse-baggage cars, but that's a whole different issue.

The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society magazine ran a story a number of years ago on transporting race horses. The railroad had a fleet of special cars that ran in passenger trains to move them. The railroad, of course, was prominent in the horse-breeding area of Kentucky where a lot of them came from.

Hmm. So you think a horse or donkey is too smart to go into a stock car? :mrgreen:

nachoman Wrote:Back in the day before autos and roads were king, did they transport horses in stock cars? the reason I ask - I've got a solitary HOn3 stock car kit that came as part of a lot, and am trying to justify its use on my railroad. Since it is mostly a mining related short line, I don't think livestock movements of cattle or sheep make a whole lot of sense. But, my town and the mining operations could make use of many horses and mules. Would it be plausible for a railroad to ship horses and mules in a stock car, or would it be more likely for horses and mules to be brought in via their own legs? I figure the length of the short line would be about 20 miles from the standard-gauge connection.

Boxcars...

"I don't think livestock movements of cattle or sheep make a whole lot of sense"

Cattle were hauled to mining towns as one of their primary food sources.

I found a few photos of horses being loaded into boxcars for military service, but nothing of horses being loaded into stock cars. Tyson - I thought of that, but for a single town's needs it may be just easier to slaughter the herd elsewhere and ship the meat. I'm just trying to justify why my narrow gauge mostly industrial shortline would need at least one stock car. But after reading what I just wrote, it may make sense to have at least once refrigerator car as well. Not only do I have to haul the mine supplies and machinery in and the processed metal out, but also all the supplies for the workers and the town.

nachoman Wrote:I'm just trying to justify why my narrow gauge mostly industrial shortline would need at least one stock car.

There is far and away more written about narrow gauge railroads than their importance would require. Surely your justification is out there in a dusty book somewhere.

A lot of railroads used old stock cars for storage of oils and other consumables needing ventiltaion or as MOW equipment for tool storage.
This might be an option for justification.

Horses load easily into boxcars using a simple ramp.

Every country has had to move them, and they all used boxcars, which were far more common and easily obtainable than stock cars. The French even labeled their boxcars 10/40's - ten horses or forty men.

MountainMan Wrote:Horses load easily into boxcars using a simple ramp.

Every country has had to move them, and they all used boxcars, which were far more common and easily obtainable than stock cars. The French even labeled their boxcars 10/40's - ten horses or forty men.

I remember some photos of the German army about 100 years ago loading man and horses into boxcars. The floor was covered with straw. German boxcars hat small ventilation flaps at that time.

Quote: I've got a solitary HOn3 stock car kit that came as part of a lot, and am trying to justify its use on my railroad.

Kevin, why not do what a lot of tghose old shortline railroads did and modify the car into a horse car.Basically cover the the sides but leave small windows for ventilation at least on the ends.If the car is outside braced you could cut panels to go between the braces.

railohio Wrote:The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society magazine ran a story a number of years ago on transporting race horses. The railroad had a fleet of special cars that ran in passenger trains to move them. The railroad, of course, was prominent in the horse-breeding area of Kentucky where a lot of them came from.

Here's a car that was custom built by Doctor Wayne showing what the Canadian National used to transport race horses

That looks like a Rivarossi roof. . .

Bethlehem Car Works makes a kit for a NYC horse express car <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.bethlehemcarworks.com/Products/Craftsman_Kit_Cars/images/kit1231_web.jpg">http://www.bethlehemcarworks.com/Produc ... 31_web.jpg</a><!-- m --> You can see these in NYC mail-express trains on Emery Gulash videos.