when did railroads stop using stock cars to deliver cattle and why?
(yes i know circuses still use stock cars)
This is just a guess but I would say between 1965-1970. Union Pacific did run a train of hogs. half came from Chicago and the other half from Kansas City. They would meet in Omaha to from one train to L.A. This last much latter. One of the things that killed the cattle trains was the fact that the packing plants moved out of the big cities, out to where the cattle was. Another thing was that cars were only used a short time and then they would just sit. Government regulations applied to railroads , but not to trucks. railroads had to stop and unload the cars to feed, water, and rest the cows. Try doing a Google search. I am sure that you will find a lot more, and better information.
conrail ran them on train tv12 until about 1985. those cars were steel 85 footers that i haven't seen models of, not the
wooden 40 footers commonly available in model form.
You. might want to consider using it in company service, maybe to transport maintenance supplies.
Les
Stock cars were also used in OCS carrying the previously mention drums of oil and lubricants as well as ties and anything else that wasn't effected by the weather too much.