American Car and Foundry Company No. 4556

Class: TM

Built: 1939 

Manufactured: American Car and Foundry Company, Milton, Pennsylvania

Retired: c. 1970

The American Car & Foundry (ACF) Class TM tank car (the white car in the photo) was a steel, non-insulated general service tank car designed to transport various liquid commodities. These cars featured riveted steel construction and were commonly used in the early to mid-20th century. Typical capacities ranged from 7,000 to 8,100 gallons, lengths between 33 and 36 feet. The TM designation indicated a standard tank car without insulation or specialized linings, suitable for transporting non-pressurized liquids like petroleum, molasses, and chemicals. This car has three separate compartments, each equipped with its dome and unloading port. This enabled the car to haul multiple cargoes on a single trip.

I am not sure what the yellow car on the left is.  The stenciled lettering is an abreviation for Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE).  It might be a caboose but the cupola is not visible.

The car to the right of the tanker car is a Class RS freight car. It was built by the Fruit Growers Express Company in Alexandria, Virginia, and is a wood-sided refrigerated boxcar designed for transporting perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, and meats. These cars had ice bunkers at each end, which needed to be manually replenished to maintain a cool interior. Looking closely, one can see two figures on top of the car, positioned as if loading ice into the car. Notice what appears to be a 1930s-era flatbed truck next to the freight car, arranged as if loading or unloading produce.