Bx-11/12 Raised Roof Renumberings

 The Santa Fe modified most of its Bx-11 and Bx-12 fleet during the early years of WWII to increase capacity.  The initial design raised the roof by six inches, increasing cubical capacity of the modified cars from 3550 to 3712, equivalent to the Bx-27/28/31 all steel cars.  Inside height increased from 9’5 to 10’.  An unknown number of Bx-11 received this original mod, along with 39 Bx-12 which are listed below:

 

Bx-12 with 6 inch sidewall extension

 

126118, 126205, 126247, 126296, 126410, 126529, 126675, 126816, 126855, 126930, 126938, 127156, 127472, 127535, 127599, 127769, 127867, 127956, 128047, 128065, 128113, 128119, 128175, 128181, 128294, 128319, 128346, 128375, 128553, 128735, 128736, 128782, 128840, 129114, 129228, 129255, 129288, 129290, 129372

 

Source: ATSF Freight Car Folio 211/4, Sheet B-10, dated November 29, 1948

 

Raising the roof was a good idea and a success, but the standard for new and rebuilt cars on the Santa Fe had increased to 10’6.  The upgrade program shifted to an even taller side panel extension that raised the roof by a foot.  All of these conversions took place in 1941-1944 when sheet steel was in short supply.  Santa Fe increased cubic capacity even further with this greater roof raising, to 3898, slightly larger than the Bx-37 and later steel rebuilds of the Bx-2.  At least 961 Bx-11 and 3213 Bx-12 received this modification.  Initially, the cars retained their original numbers and were not broken out in the ORER listing.  Starting in 1945, Santa Fe re-numbered cars with the 12 inch extensions into the 210000-211049 (Bx-11) and 211051-214549 (Bx-12) series.  211050 was a Bx-12 experimentally re-sheathed in plywood, increasing cubical capacity to 3942 with the thinner side walls.

  

Up to 250 Bx-12s were not rebuild with either raised roof.  If a Bx-12 not in the 39 listed above still had it’s original number after 1952, it had the original roof height.  Here’s an example that Stan Kistler caught in LA in 1968.  With a 1953 reweigh date, it hadn’t been in revenue service since the mid-50’s, but it was soldiering on for the RR in it’s original form.