Preserving the History of the Southern Railway

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Ties Magazine, Fourth Quarter 2025-First Quarter 2026, Volume 39, No. 4-Volume 40, No. 1

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FT and Heater Car at Bristol, VA

The box behind the FT is a heater car, used on passenger trains to provide steam for the train heat or air conditioning when the diesel was a freight unit without steam generating capabilities. There were several of those; they had a diesel generator and steam generator and water and fuel tanks. Some were FT B-units that had lost their prime movers. The one in the photo was built from a 50'6" 50 Ton box car in the early 1960's. It was originally numbered HC-5 and was later 960600. It survives in the TVRM collection in Chattanooga. The "HC" prefix with the number meant heater car.
Bristol, Virginia, 24201, United States

FT and Heater Car at Bristol, VA

Bristol, Virginia, 24201, United States
FT and Heater Car at Bristol, VA
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The Southern Railway Historical Association maintains an extensive archive of original source material from the Southern Railway and its predecessors. The Archives include thousands of photographs, drawings, and original documents from the Railway's operations.
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