Roger C. Hinman (Author)
Signature Press
Physical Details: 296
Language: English
Merchants Despatch traced its origins to a railroad express service begun in 1855, with a connection to the American Express Company. From its earliest years it operated over the lines of the New York Central, and by 1871 its stock was owned by Vanderbilt Lines railroads. However, it was an independent part of the NYC family. As such, it outlived the Central, and this book carries its history to the year 2000. "Initially the rolling stock of Merchants Despatch was box cars to carry railroad "fast freight," but by 1878 refrigerator cars were included. The MDT fleet would eventually become almost entirely refrigerator cars, maintained (and many first built) at the sprawling Despatch Shops in East Rochester, NY. "Through much of its history MDT leased cars to railroads other than NYC. Lessees also included a variety of private shippers. By the 1950s the fleet included insulated box cars (bunkerless) and would subsequently include autoracks =, a category of rolling stock which enabled MDT to survive the Penn Central and Conrail mergers. Once Conrail went to CSX and Norfolk Southern in 1998, MDT reached the end in 2000. "298 photos, most previously unpublished, 44 drawings, 50+ period documents and graphics, extensive rosters and tables of car data and company info. This thoroughly researched, authoritative, well illustrated and complete history of Merchants Despatch presents both the long and complex corporate history and information and details about the design, construction, maintenance and operation of the vast car fleet. "Anyone interested in North American freight railroading from 1870 to 2000 will find this book a valuable addition to one's library.
...MoreReview Herring, Neill (Spring/Summer 2013) Review of "Merchants despatch: Its history and equipment". Railroad History (pp. 106-107).
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