| Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad Class LO-2A 87404 at Cicero, Illinois on an unknown day in June 1980, Kodachrome by Chuck Zeiler. The following is from Burlington Route Historical Society's Bulletin 20, COVERED HOPPERS, edited by Hol Wagner: Production of Airslide cars began in 1954 and the Q acquired its first 100 of the 2,600 cubic-foot cars from General American in December of that year: Class LO-1's 87000 - 87099. Another 100 nearly identical cars ( but riding on No. 93 roller bearing A-3 Ride Control trucks ) came in 1955, numbered 87100 - 87199 and classed LO-1A. Fifty-two more of the 29-foot long, 2,600 cubic-foot capacity Airslides joined the roster in 1957 as CB&Q Class LO-2 and numbered 87200 - 87251. The next batch of Airslides - 75 more 50 tonners, classed LO-1B and numbered 87300 - 87373 were delivered in 1958, the year the Q adopted its new image, and consequently they came in the new painting/lettering scheme: gray body, black trucks and underbody ( meaning the hopper slope sheets and discharge outlets were now black instead of gray, though the bolsters and draft gear remained gray ), red lettering and a large Scothlite herald. January 1959 saw delivery of another 50 Airslide cars, and a separate order for 20 identical mates arrived on the property later in the year. Class LO-2A cars 87400 - -87469 were all 2,600 cubic-footers, rated at 70 tons because they rode on No. 86B roller bearing Barber Stabilized trucks. The stiffener beneath the Burlington Route herald was moved up and out of sight on these cars, and four metal angle anchors were added, one near each corner of the herald plate. These cars, like all Q Airslides, had a baked-on enamel lining. The Class LO-2A's were eventually renumbered into the BN 400800 - 401139 number series. |