What Does C. T. on a Boxcar Stand For?

It stands for Columbia Trust. I believe it was how some of the USRA built cars were financed/owned.

Here’s a set of decals with the “C.T.” marking after the car number for AT&SF.

https://www.protocraft.com/cat...53&Categoryid=20

@rplst8 posted:

Here’s a set of decals with the “C.T.” marking after the car number for AT&SF.

https://www.protocraft.com/cat...53&Categoryid=20

Thank you.  There is a prototype car with it marked the same way as my two models.  

@rplst8 posted:

It stands for Columbia Trust. I believe it was how some of the USRA built cars were financed/owned.

This is the correct answer.

@rplst8 posted:

It stands for Columbia Trust. I believe it was how some of the USRA built cars were financed/owned.

Here's another reference to CT standing for Columbia Trust:

https://sfrhms.org/rapido-bx-2-ho/

Stu

Thank you everyone for the answer of Columbia Trust!

Thank you Hot Water, B&O Chicago Terminal did make sense.

Columbia Trust history is interesting. One of it's founders was Patrick J Kennedy, grandfather of Pres. Kennedy, and JFK's father Joe Sr. was it's president for a time.

BTW most freight cars were / are bought through a trust arrangement of some kind, kind of like a mortgage financing in real estate. Usually the cars just have a small plate that has the trust information; it's small enough that if a model has it you probably won't notice it unless you really look for it.

@wjstix posted:

BTW most freight cars were / are bought through a trust arrangement of some kind, kind of like a mortgage financing in real estate. Usually the cars just have a small plate that has the trust information; it's small enough that if a model has it you probably won't notice it unless you really look for it.

You'd see plates on engines, too, indicating ownership by a trust (often associated with a large bank). It was fairly common for railroads to lease new locomotives through equipment trusts rather than buy them outright.

Thank you wjstix and breezinup!!  I never knew about the trusts!  I’m glad I have the two cars that prompted me to ask

The trusts can stay in effect even after the railroad changes. I recall in the 1980s seeing hi-hood Soo Line GP-9s that on high up on the short hood had a small "W.C.", which indicated these had been bought by Soo subsidiary Wisconsin Central under a trust agreement before WC was folded into the Soo in the early sixties...and wasn't related to the "new" Wisconsin Central that Soo spun off. Way back, when Northern Pacific bought the St. Paul & Duluth RR, the re-lettered engines had a "D" next to their number to indicate they were still part of a trust going back to their purchase by the St.P.&D.

I'd looked for the engine trust ownership plate I had when this thread was running, as an example, and finally found it today (in fairly plain sight, of course). This is made out of cast aluminum, it appears, very strong. Just over 3/8" thick. The fellow who sold me this years ago said it came off a GP18, I think. 

@breezinup posted:

I'd looked for the engine trust ownership plate I had when this thread was running, as an example, and finally found it today (in fairly plain sight, of course). This is made out of cast aluminum, it appears, very strong. Just over 3/8" thick. The fellow who sold me this years ago said it came off a GP18, I think.

Thank you very much!!!

@breezinup posted:

I'd looked for the engine trust ownership plate I had when this thread was running, as an example, and finally found it today (in fairly plain sight, of course). This is made out of cast aluminum, it appears, very strong. Just over 3/8" thick. The fellow who sold me this years ago said it came off a GP18, I think.

MGT financed quite a few locomotive purchases, for several different railroads. I believe at least some of the CNJ locomotives were financed through them, and I suspect the Reading as well... Also some Southern RR ones.