In the 40s and 50s the MILW horizontal ribbed cars show up in a lot of eastern photos. Were they rare in your area, or you just didn't notice them?
I can vouch for what was along Delaware Ave in the 60's. Twice a month run to see Grandmom in Port Richmond was a rail fan trip of monumental portions. Industrial Highway from Chester past Baldwin's, then RDG Darby Creek engine house, over the Pratt Bridge and loading racks at Gulf refinery, up Oregon Ave to Delaware Avenue...B&O TOFC circus ramps, ore piers, all the warehouses and finger piers with rail traffic. Early Baldwins, 44 tonners, box cars from every RR including MILW ribbers, as well as the RDG sugar cars with the tarps and blue shield held at Shackamaxon to be spotted as needed. Then a short turn on to Lehigh Avenue and up to the third floor apartment that overlooked the RDG Port Richmond anthracite loading facility. Grabbing some soft pretzels on the way and it was a perfect day for an adolescent rail fan.
