From an old post by
lynnpowell on Trainorders, the Stockton Terminal Co owned warehouses, not to mention the railroad and a fleet of boxcars.
As a transportation business model it is interesting. They had revenue streams from warehousing, shipping, and probably car leasing. By controlling car supply they could also guarantee good service.
I remember seeing an STE boxcar in Bellevue, WA in the early 80's near the Safeway distribution center, so I know these boxcars traveled far and wide.
Quote:Trainorders
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Date: 03/13/08 21:11
Re: Questions about the Stockton, Terminal & Eastern
Author: lynnpowell
I can only remember two canneries served by ST&E, Tillie Lewis Foods on Waterloo Rd (still in business under different owners, and still served by ST&E) and another one about three miles east of Hwy 99 (now out of business). Many of the warehouses on the ST&E east of Hwy 99 were owned by Stockton Terminal Co. (owned by the Beard family, as is the ST&E) and were leased to canneries; they trucked their product from the cannery to the warehouse for storage and distribution. Those red boxcars have hauled one heck of a lot of canned goods in their day!
PHOTO:
"Stockton Terminal and Eastern, ST&E, 50' insulated boxcar number 2002 when new. Slide processed JULY 1979."
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