Operating Era: 1918-1959. Atlantic Coast Line, Atlantic Coast Dispatch. THIS SERIES NOW COMES WITH OUR ONE-PIECE ROOF FRAME. Atlantic Coast Dispatch was a joint venture of Atlantic Coast Line and Pennsylvania, formed in
1887. It was not a separate company but a name given to expedited freight service. ACL owned
the cars lettered for ACD. Most were 36' DS cars but the O-15 was the exception. Based on the
USRA DS box car design, its 7-8 end is generally referred to as the later clone design. ACL
requested ventilated side doors and three-fin closeable end vents for the cars. Upon delivery in
1921 the cars came painted yellow with maroon and white herald. In 1929 the colors were
changed to oxide red with white herald. The cars were rebuilt about 1936 with larger opening in
the ventilated door and were given AB brakes a few years later. In 1947 the Gothic lettering came
into use and in 1954 ACL replaced ACD in the herald and prismo lettering was added. Some
cars
received an alternate door roller arrangement.
|