ALL 6 OF OUR 2024 RAILROAD CALENDARS ARE NOW IN STOCK: SANTA FE, UNION PACIFIC, BNSF, CSXT, RIO GRANDE AND NORFOLK SOUTHERN

NOTE: The 2024 Norfolk Southern calendars are sold out as of November 27, 2023, however, we have ordered an additional printing. Orders for the 2024 NS calendar, or orders including the NS calendar, will be delayed until our supply arrives. We expect the NS calendar to be back in stockĀ about December 11th.

MERCHANTS DISPATCH/Hinman

Default Title: $55.95 USD

Merchants Despatch or, to give its full name, Merchants Despatch Transportation or MDT, was one of the largest owners and operators of refrigerator cars in the United States. Though owned by New York Central, it was independently operated from headquarters in Chicago and operated a major shop at East Rochester, New York. Over the years, not only refrigerator cars for MDT and it subsidiaries such as Northern Refrigerator Line, but many freight cars for New York Central, were built at Despatch Shops.

This company, with origins with the American Express company in 1849, eventually was incorporated in its own right and survived beyond the Penn Central merger into the Conrail era. This book describes that 150-year history in some detail, emphasizing the construction and operation of refrigerator and other freight cars. It contains a great wealth of photo illustrations, the majority never before published. It will provide freight car enthusiasts as well as New York Central fans with much interesting and valuable history and information.

List price $65.00, hardcover, 298 photos, 90 graphics and drawings, 296 pages. SKU: MDT. Posted 11-1-11.