CHATEAU MARTIN
Wine Cars of the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s
Copyright 2007, 2009, 2010 by James E. Lancaster
Last updated July 31, 2010.
Wine Cars of the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s
Copyright 2007, 2009, 2010 by James E. Lancaster
Last updated July 31, 2010.
Roster
of CHATEAU MARTIN Wine Cars from 1940 to 1975
The Chateau Martin wine cars were mostly former milk cars and were owned by the Commodities Car Company, Inc.
of New York City (reporting marks CMWX). To view a roster of the CMWX car fleet from 1940 to 1975, Click Here.
Click your browser's Back button to return to this page.
The CMWX reporting marks first appeared in the ORER in October 1940. The final entries were in July 1975.
The July 1976 ORER had a note that the CMWX reporting marks would no longer appear.
There are several interesting entries in the roster. CMWX 110 was on the roster in 1950 and from 1953 to 1966 but
was missing in 1952. CMWX 113 and 115 only appear in 1950, CMWX 152 only in 1959 and CMWX 1002 only in 1962.
ORER data from the author's collection, Cliff Prather, Kurt Laughlin and the California State Railroad Museum.
AAR Designations Used in the
ORERs
TL - Tank car equipped with container lined with any material other than glass (for example, rubber).
BMT - House car constructed and equipped for passenger train service and used for the transportation of liquids.
Equipped with one or more insulated tanks and with or without pumps and compressor. Not equipped with means
of refrigeration.
XT - A house car with or without doors, with or without insulation, either metal lined or enclosing one or more
tanks.
By 1965 all remaining BMT cars had been redesignated XT.
All of the BMT and XT cars were former milk cars. Each BMT and XT car had two internal tanks. CMWX 101-105
were conventional tank cars, CMWX 106-171 were wood cars and CMWX 1001-1009 were steel cars.
Other ORER
Information
Commodities Car Co. was headquartered in New York City. Home points for the CMWX cars were the Bronx
Terminal Market, NY, NY and Waterford, CA. The Home Repair Yard was Waterford, CA.
Brief History of CHATEAU
MARTIN Wines
The Chateau Martin brand was owned by Eastern Wine Corporation of New York. The winery was in Waterford, CA
on the SP Oakdale Branch and bulk wine was shipped in Chateau Martin cars from Waterford to the Bronx.
The wine was bottled in New York. The diagram below shows the track arrangement in Waterford in 1975.
Waterford, CA track diagram from Southern Pacific SPINS book dated 2-1-75. (Cliff Prather Collection)
New Photo added July 2010
This image is cropped from an aerial photo of Waterford, CA in 1947. The light-colored buildings in the
center are all part of the Chateau Martin winery complex. Just left of center and above the winery is
what appears to be the SP depot. (The original image, from the John Signor Collection, is in an article
by Gary B. Jones on the SP Montpellier Branch in the Summer 2010 issue (#104) of SP TRAINLINE,
the official publication of the Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society.)
New Photo added July 2010
This photo shows two wine tank cars, CMWX 1006 and 1009, on the spur next to the Chateau Martin winery
in Waterford, CA. The photo was taken by Robert Schleicher in the late 1960s or early 70s and appeared in
an article on modeling milk tank cars in the September 2005 issue of Railmodel Journal.
(Robert Schleicher photo, used by permission)
This image is cropped from an aerial photo of Waterford, CA in 1947. The light-colored buildings in the
center are all part of the Chateau Martin winery complex. Just left of center and above the winery is
what appears to be the SP depot. (The original image, from the John Signor Collection, is in an article
by Gary B. Jones on the SP Montpellier Branch in the Summer 2010 issue (#104) of SP TRAINLINE,
the official publication of the Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society.)
New Photo added July 2010
This photo shows two wine tank cars, CMWX 1006 and 1009, on the spur next to the Chateau Martin winery
in Waterford, CA. The photo was taken by Robert Schleicher in the late 1960s or early 70s and appeared in
an article on modeling milk tank cars in the September 2005 issue of Railmodel Journal.
(Robert Schleicher photo, used by permission)
A Chateau Martin wine bottle label included the statement "From the San Joaquin Valley of California." CMWX cars
were also loaded at wineries in San Martin, CA on the SP Coast Route and at Mattei, CA on the Santa Fe Visalia
District.
In February 1948, 25 tank cars of Chateau Martin wine were shipped from the Waterford winery to the Bronx NY.
The trade magazine Wines & Vines reported in its March 1948 issue that the record trainload carried 200,000
gallons of wine. The train left Waterford behind 2-6-0 SP1770 with 15 cars of Port, 7 cars of Muscatel and 3 cars
of Dry Red Wine. A long banner on the side of the train proclaimed:
"LARGEST TRAINLOAD OF WINES in HISTORY
CHATEAU MARTIN WINERY in CALIFORNIA to N.Y.C."
CHATEAU MARTIN WINERY in CALIFORNIA to N.Y.C."
New Photo added July 2010
This SP photo from the UP Museum shows the train ready to leave Waterford.
(UNION PACIFIC MUSEUM collection, used by permission)
This SP photo from the UP Museum shows the train ready to leave Waterford.
(UNION PACIFIC MUSEUM collection, used by permission)
The press covered the arrival of the train in the Bronx where digniteries were given a taste of wine directly from
one of the tank cars. The photo below shows the participants and some of the press at the celebration. Note that
the banner is again attached to the sides of the tank cars.
The 25-car trainload of Chateau Martin Wine arrives at the Bronx Terminal Market on February 21, 1948.
(Irving Haberman Photo, Author's Collection)
In 1972 Eastern Wine Company and its famous wine label were purchased by Canandaigua Industries.
On December 4, 1972, Canandaigua Industries changed its name to Canandaigua Wine Company.
CMWX Photo Gallery
CMWX 108 at SP's Taylor Yard in Los Angeles, 1958. (Bruce Petty Photo)
CMWX 109. Except for the car number, this car appears to have no identification. San Francisco, CA, ca. 1963.
(Jim Haugh Photo)
CMWX 119. This car has unusual lettering. Location unknown, dated October 1952. (Author's Collection)
CMWX 119 on the SP. The car has been repainted with another unusual lettering scheme. Date and location
unknown. (Author's Collection)
CMWX 141 at SP's Taylor Yard in Los Angeles, 1958. (Bruce Petty Photo)
The gallery contains
photos of three different types of cars (all ex-milk cars) and five
different lettering schemes.
The photos are the property of the indicated owners and may not be reused without prior permission.
Wood Cars
The photos are the property of the indicated owners and may not be reused without prior permission.
Wood Cars
CMWX 108 at SP's Taylor Yard in Los Angeles, 1958. (Bruce Petty Photo)
CMWX 109. Except for the car number, this car appears to have no identification. San Francisco, CA, ca. 1963.
(Jim Haugh Photo)
Additional 1963 close-up photos show details of CMWX 109: left truck, bottom of door and underbody, right truck,
lower part of end, and upper part of end. (Jim Haugh Photos)
lower part of end, and upper part of end. (Jim Haugh Photos)
CMWX 119. This car has unusual lettering. Location unknown, dated October 1952. (Author's Collection)
CMWX 119 on the SP. The car has been repainted with another unusual lettering scheme. Date and location
unknown. (Author's Collection)
CMWX 108, 109 and 119 are
representative of "General American-built 40' wood milk tank cars as
typically leased by
General American-Pfaudler under GPEX reporting marks (some of the earliest cars were leased by GA under GARE
reporting marks prior to GA's forming the car-leasing joint venture with Pfaudler)." Reference: New Haven Railroad
Historical and Technical Society, New Haven Railroad Forum, July 24, 2005 (posted by "John in NY").
General American-Pfaudler under GPEX reporting marks (some of the earliest cars were leased by GA under GARE
reporting marks prior to GA's forming the car-leasing joint venture with Pfaudler)." Reference: New Haven Railroad
Historical and Technical Society, New Haven Railroad Forum, July 24, 2005 (posted by "John in NY").
CMWX 132. This car has the same lettering scheme as CMWX 119, above. Oakdale, CA, 1954.
(Author's Collection)
(Author's Collection)
CMWX 141 at SP's Taylor Yard in Los Angeles, 1958. (Bruce Petty Photo)
In an undated* photo, what appears to be CMWX 142 is in a cut of reefers passing the U.S. Post Office
(left) and MO Tower (right) on the New York Central in the Bronx, NY. The location is near the Bronx
Terminal Market, the eastern terminus of the CMWX cars. The lettering on the car is the same as on
CMWX 119, above. (Author's Collection)
CMWX 155 in Baltimore, MD, circa 1965. (Gene Deimling Collection)
CMWX 157. The car has new siding. San Jose, CA, May 28, 1970. (Kenneth Clyde Jenkins Photo)
CMWX 158 at Denver, CO, August 1965. (Matt Herson Photo)
CMWX 158 at North Little Rock, AR in 1966. (Charles Ost Photo)
CMWX 161 in the Santa Fe yard, Richmond, CA, circa 1969. The car's accident has partially revealed
one of the internal tanks. (Jeff Root Photo, Copyright 2007, used by permission)
Two photos of CMWX 170 at San Jose, CA on May 28, 1970. (Kenneth Clyde Jenkins Photos)
CMWX 171 at Escalon, CA on the Tidewater Southern. (Gene Deimling Photo)
End and Underbody of CMWX 171. (Gene Deimling Photo)
Another view of CMWX 171 in Southern California. (Ron Morse Photo)
CMWX 171 in the Bay Area in the late 1960s. Compared to the photos of 171, above, the car has new
trucks as well as new siding - probably plywood. (Gene Deimling Photo)
1967 Santa Fe Switchlist for freight train on
the Visalia District showing delivery of
CMWX 171 to Mattei, CA.
(Randy Sunada Collection)
CMWX 1003 in Southern California. The car has yet to be repainted from its former milk car paint scheme
into the Chateau Martin colors. Note the hand lettering. (Ron Morse Photo)
CMWX 1003 with the standard Chateau Martin lettering scheme at Point Richmond, CA on January 23, 1972.
(Kenneth Clyde Jenkins Photo)
CMWX 1005 in Binghamton, NY. (Chuck Yungkurth Photo, Gene Deimling Collection)
CMWX 1008 in Southern California. (Ron Morse Photo)
CMWX 1008 in Pine Bluff, AR, January 1975. (Brian Ehni Photo)
CMWX 1009 in Yonkers, NY in 1967. (Rick Dietrichson Photo)
CMWX 1009 in Yonkers, NY in
1967. (Rick Dietrichson Photo)
Chateau Martin Matchbook Cover, Unopened Bottle of 1946 Vintage Chateau Martin Wine, and
Close-up of Wine Bottle Label. (Author's Collection, purchased on E-Bay)
(left) and MO Tower (right) on the New York Central in the Bronx, NY. The location is near the Bronx
Terminal Market, the eastern terminus of the CMWX cars. The lettering on the car is the same as on
CMWX 119, above. (Author's Collection)
* Although there is no date on the original slide, if the car is in fact CMWX 142 then the date is likely to be sometime
in the mid to late 1950s. CMWX 142 entered the Chateau Martin car fleet after October 1953 and was off the roster
before July 1961. The slide was processed by Pavelle Color of New York City. Pavelle was purchased by Technicolor
in August 1956 but it is not known how long after that the Pavelle name continued to be used.
in the mid to late 1950s. CMWX 142 entered the Chateau Martin car fleet after October 1953 and was off the roster
before July 1961. The slide was processed by Pavelle Color of New York City. Pavelle was purchased by Technicolor
in August 1956 but it is not known how long after that the Pavelle name continued to be used.
CMWX 143. The photo was possibly taken at San Martin, CA, where one of the Chateau Martin wineries was
located. (Wilbur Whittaker Photo)
CMWX 151. Except for the car number, this car appears to have no identification. San Francisco, CA, ca. 1963.
(Jim Haugh Photo)
CMWX 151. Except for the car number, this car appears to have no identification. San Francisco, CA, ca. 1963.
(Jim Haugh Photo)
Additional 1963 close-up photos show details of CMWX 151: lower part of end, middle part of end and
upper part of end. (Jim Haugh Photos)
CMWX 154. Yet another lettering scheme photographed in San Francisco, CA, ca. 1963. (Jim Haugh Photo)
upper part of end. (Jim Haugh Photos)
CMWX 154. Yet another lettering scheme photographed in San Francisco, CA, ca. 1963. (Jim Haugh Photo)
CMWX 155 in Baltimore, MD, circa 1965. (Gene Deimling Collection)
CMWX 157. The car has new siding. San Jose, CA, May 28, 1970. (Kenneth Clyde Jenkins Photo)
CMWX 158 at Denver, CO, August 1965. (Matt Herson Photo)
CMWX 158 at North Little Rock, AR in 1966. (Charles Ost Photo)
CMWX 161 in the Santa Fe yard, Richmond, CA, circa 1969. The car's accident has partially revealed
one of the internal tanks. (Jeff Root Photo, Copyright 2007, used by permission)
Two photos of CMWX 170 at San Jose, CA on May 28, 1970. (Kenneth Clyde Jenkins Photos)
CMWX 171 at Escalon, CA on the Tidewater Southern. (Gene Deimling Photo)
End and Underbody of CMWX 171. (Gene Deimling Photo)
Another view of CMWX 171 in Southern California. (Ron Morse Photo)
CMWX 171 in the Bay Area in the late 1960s. Compared to the photos of 171, above, the car has new
trucks as well as new siding - probably plywood. (Gene Deimling Photo)
1967 Santa Fe Switchlist for freight train on
the Visalia District showing delivery of
CMWX 171 to Mattei, CA.
(Randy Sunada Collection)
CMWX
141 through 171 represent "classic 40' wood milk tank cars"
of MDT design. They have the "later style
underframe with the distinctive exposed-channel side sill with outward-facing flanges." Reference: New Haven
Railroad Historical and Technical Society, New Haven Railroad Forum, July 24, 2005 (posted by "John in NY").
CMWX 1001 is unlike the other steel cars in the Commodities Car Company fleet, in that it's a box car rather than
a Pfaudler milk car (several of the Pfaudler cars are pictured below). Stenciled in the white rectangle at the lower
right just above the side sill are the following words:
underframe with the distinctive exposed-channel side sill with outward-facing flanges." Reference: New Haven
Railroad Historical and Technical Society, New Haven Railroad Forum, July 24, 2005 (posted by "John in NY").
Steel Cars
CMWX 1001, San Martin, CA, September 29, 1962.
(Richard Burg Collection, used by permission. Richard obtained the photo from Paul Dunn)
(Richard Burg Collection, used by permission. Richard obtained the photo from Paul Dunn)
CMWX 1001 is unlike the other steel cars in the Commodities Car Company fleet, in that it's a box car rather than
a Pfaudler milk car (several of the Pfaudler cars are pictured below). Stenciled in the white rectangle at the lower
right just above the side sill are the following words:
FRAGILE CONTAINS
GLASS LINED TANKS
DO NOT HUMP
GLASS LINED TANKS
DO NOT HUMP
CMWX 1003 in Southern California. The car has yet to be repainted from its former milk car paint scheme
into the Chateau Martin colors. Note the hand lettering. (Ron Morse Photo)
CMWX 1003 with the standard Chateau Martin lettering scheme at Point Richmond, CA on January 23, 1972.
(Kenneth Clyde Jenkins Photo)
CMWX 1005 in Binghamton, NY. (Chuck Yungkurth Photo, Gene Deimling Collection)
CMWX 1008 in Southern California. (Ron Morse Photo)
CMWX 1008 in Pine Bluff, AR, January 1975. (Brian Ehni Photo)
CMWX 1009 in Yonkers, NY in 1967. (Rick Dietrichson Photo)
Either CMWX 1009 (above) was painted in a
light color or the wine red paint has badly faded and bleached out. I
suspect the latter. Below is a closer look at the center of the car. Note the small patch of faded red to the lower left
of the door. This same car appears in a photo on page 54 of the September 2005 issue of RailModel Journal. In the
RMJ photo the car is at the winery in Waterford, CA on the opposite side of the country from the Yonkers photo.
suspect the latter. Below is a closer look at the center of the car. Note the small patch of faded red to the lower left
of the door. This same car appears in a photo on page 54 of the September 2005 issue of RailModel Journal. In the
RMJ photo the car is at the winery in Waterford, CA on the opposite side of the country from the Yonkers photo.
Rick Dietrichson provided additional photos of
the car
end, the left end of the side and the right
end of the side.
CMWX 1003, 1005, 1008 and 1009 represent "a General American milk tank car but of the postwar 40' all-steel
design. These cars were "once leased by General American-Pfaudler under GPEX reporting marks." Reference: New
Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Society, New Haven Railroad Forum, July 24, 2005 (posted by "John in NY").
The following photos show the remaining buildings of the Chateau Martin winery complex in Waterford CA as they
appeared in March 2008. (Photos by the author)
CMWX 1003, 1005, 1008 and 1009 represent "a General American milk tank car but of the postwar 40' all-steel
design. These cars were "once leased by General American-Pfaudler under GPEX reporting marks." Reference: New
Haven Railroad Historical and Technical Society, New Haven Railroad Forum, July 24, 2005 (posted by "John in NY").
The following photos show the remaining buildings of the Chateau Martin winery complex in Waterford CA as they
appeared in March 2008. (Photos by the author)
Chateau Martin Matchbook Cover, Unopened Bottle of 1946 Vintage Chateau Martin Wine, and
Close-up of Wine Bottle Label. (Author's Collection, purchased on E-Bay)