Do the railroads still use cattle cars these days? Does anyone still ship cattle by rail? I’ve seen cattle trucks but I haven’t seen a cattle car on a train since I was a kid. Of course, So. Cal isn’t exactly the heart of cattle country, or even train country, so I’m not in the best position to see that stuff.
I few years back I saw an UP frt with stock cars full of pigs, haven’t seen cattle in quite a while.
No they don’t…if you happen to see a “Cattle car”, in service; take a picture of it…doubt that it would be carrying any sort of animules…might be “In company service”, hauling ties or other junk…or at a museum.
With the advent of mechanicly refrigerated rolling stock, and trucks; the packing houses moved to the cities close to the live stock, and shipped the finished product. Even your local supermarket does less meat preparation now than years ago.
Some butcher shops find it less expensive to by specific parts of the animules, than buying a hind, or side…less waste, if they buy the specific cut, and less labour. (“Animules”= anything that might be found in a stock car < besides a driver> !!!)
They still use them in Mexico to haul animules and freight.
An interesting question. I hadn’t noticed the absence of 'em.
Fr. Fred is right, no animules, to labor intensive & time consuming, have to stop & unload for feed & water, then reload…
Narrow Gauge Lover said:Only being alive 38yrs I have never seen one working in real life! I have seen several different styles of working cabooses in my youth but my son never will. Interesting point though, when I see them modeled my eye always breeze's over them as if they don't exist? They never did in my time? "yes, send me down the gauntlet for a spanking with ties and plates"
An interesting question. I hadn't noticed the absence of 'em.
David ;)Ray Dunakin said:Yes Ray, they do, but not neccessarily in NA. ;) :)
Do the railroads still use cattle cars these days? Does anyone still ship cattle by rail? I've seen cattle trucks but I haven't seen a cattle car on a train since I was a kid. Of course, So. Cal isn't exactly the heart of cattle country, or even train country, so I'm not in the best position to see that stuff.
My favourite railway - the RhB in Switzerland - still runs solid stock trains in Spring and Fall to move the cattle to and from the summer pastures. Will make a nice addition to my operations. BTW they even have the equivalent of a drovers’ caboose, despite it only being an old passenger car.