Re: Sumpter Valley Stock cars

The early XM class stock cars with the "cupola" roof were converted because a horse could not stand upright in these cars.The photo in RS&P of car #819 was dated September 18, 1913, following a head-on collision at Larch Summit. I have never seen another photo of this type of stock car.
There were none of this type visable in photos of the stock train derailment at S-Wye on September 26, 1914. In this case, the cattle escaped from the cars after the roofs "poped-off" after overturning.I have heard that local cowboys were hired to round-up the straying cattle. It must have been a slow turnover, or most of the cattle would have been killed.
The Carson & Colorado's four Wells, Fargo & Co. "Fast Express" LaMoth boxcars also had small elevated "cupolas", but these were for ventilation.