Production of Airslide cars began in 1954 and the Q acquired its first 100 of the 2,600 cubic-foot cars from General American in December of that year: Class LO-1's 87000 - 87099.. The cars were anything but colorful, with gray bodies, black plain bearing trucks, black lettering, and small black and white heralds on the car side between posts. The "Everywhere West" slogan appeared on both sides. Another 100 nearly identical cars ( but riding on No. 93 roller bearing A-3 Ride Control trucks ) came in 1955, numbered 87100 - 87199 and classed LO-1A. These first 200 Airslides ( generally used for flour loading ) featured outside posts which were open at the bottom. Vibrator castings, welded to the car sides, two per side, are characteristics of Airslides. These cars were built at GATC's East Chicago plant, and eventually were renumbered into the BN 400500 - 400699 number series.

Production of Airslide cars began in 1954 and the Q acquired its first 100 of the 2,600 cubic-foot cars from General American in December of that year: Class LO-1's 87000 - 87099. Another 100 nearly identical cars ( but riding on No. 93 roller bearing A-3 Ride Control trucks ) came in 1955, numbered 87100 - 87199 and classed LO-1A. Fifty-two more of the 29-foot long, 2,600 cubic-foot capacity Airslides joined the roster in 1957 as CB&Q Class LO-2 and numbered 87200 - 87251. The next batch of Airslides - 75 more 50 tonners, classed LO-1B and numbered 87300 - 87373 were delivered in 1958, the year the Q adopted its new image, and consequently they came in the new painting/lettering scheme: gray body, black trucks and underbody ( meaning the hopper slope sheets and discharge outlets were now black instead of gray, though the bolsters and draft gear remained gray ), red lettering and a large Scothlite herald. Note the cross stiffener between posts protruding above and below the herald. These cars, like all Q Airslides, had a baked-on enamel lining.

Production of Airslide cars began in 1954 and the Q acquired its first 100 of the 2,600 cubic-foot cars from General American in December of that year: Class LO-1's 87000 - 87099. Another 100 nearly identical cars ( but riding on No. 93 roller bearing A-3 Ride Control trucks ) came in 1955, numbered 87100 - 87199 and classed LO-1A. Fifty-two more of the 29-foot long, 2,600 cubic-foot capacity Airslides joined the roster in 1957 as CB&Q Class LO-2 and numbered 87200 - 87251. The next batch of Airslides - 75 more 50 tonners, classed LO-1B and numbered 87300 - 87373 were delivered in 1958, the year the Q adopted its new image, and consequently they came in the new painting/lettering scheme: gray body, black trucks and underbody ( meaning the hopper slope sheets and discharge outlets were now black instead of gray, though the bolsters and draft gear remained gray ), red lettering and a large Scothlite herald. Note the cross stiffener between posts protruding above and below the herald. These cars, like all Q Airslides, had a baked-on enamel lining. Unlike the earlier LO-1 and LO-2 classes which had open bottoms on the outside vertical posts, the LO-1B series posts had closed bottoms. The Class LO-1B's were eventually renumbered into the BN 400800 - 401139 number series.

Production of Airslide cars began in 1954 and the Q acquired its first 100 of the 2,600 cubic-foot cars from General American in December of that year: Class LO-1's 87000 - 87099. Another 100 nearly identical cars ( but riding on No. 93 roller bearing A-3 Ride Control trucks ) came in 1955, numbered 87100 - 87199 and classed LO-1A. Fifty-two more of the 29-foot long, 2,600 cubic-foot capacity Airslides joined the roster in 1957 as CB&Q Class LO-2 and numbered 87200 - 87251. The next batch of Airslides - 75 more 50 tonners, classed LO-1B and numbered 87300 - 87373 were delivered in 1958, the year the Q adopted its new image, and consequently they came in the new painting/lettering scheme: gray body, black trucks and underbody ( meaning the hopper slope sheets and discharge outlets were now black instead of gray, though the bolsters and draft gear remained gray ), red lettering and a large Scothlite herald. Note the cross stiffener between posts protruding above and below the herald. These cars, like all Q Airslides, had a baked-on enamel lining. Unlike the earlier LO-1 and LO-2 classes which had open bottoms on the outside vertical posts, the LO-1B series posts had closed bottoms. The Class LO-1B's were eventually renumbered into the BN 400800 - 401139 number series.

Quite pleased with the performance of the Airslide cars, the Burlington continued to place regular orders for lots of 50 or 60 more of the 2,600 cubic foot cars through the early 1960's. Following to 60 Class LO-2B car of 1960 ( road #'s CB&Q 87500 - 87549 and C&S 800 - 809 ) came 50 LO-2C's in 1961 ( Q 87550 - 87599 ) and 50 LO-2D's in 1962 ( Q 87600 - 87639 and C&S 810 - 819 ). A couple of tiny spotting features differentiate these cars. First, the vibrator brackets of the 1961 cars and all subsequent Airslides are mounted on oval pads somewhat larger than the rectangular pads used on all previous production. Then, on the 1962 cars, the number of rivets employed on the vertical channel braces at the ends of each car side is reduced considerably from previous standard practice; where earlier cars have 26 rivets per channel brace, the 1962 LO-2D's have but 12, and the bottom connection to the side is welded rather than riveted.

Quite pleased with the performance of the Airslide cars, the Burlington continued to place regular orders for lots of 50 or 60 more of the 2,600 cubic foot cars through the early 1960's. Following to 60 Class LO-2B car of 1960 ( road #'s CB&Q 87500 - 87549 and C&S 800 - 809 ) came 50 LO-2C's in 1961 ( Q 87550 - 87599 ) and 50 LO-2D's in 1962 ( Q 87600 - 87639 and C&S 810 - 819 ). A couple of tiny spotting features differentiate these cars. First, the vibrator brackets of the 1961 cars and all subsequent Airslides are mounted on oval pads somewhat larger than the rectangular pads used on all previous production. Then, on the 1962 cars, the number of rivets employed on the vertical channel braces at the ends of each car side is reduced considerably from previous standard practice; where earlier cars have 26 rivets per channel brace, the 1962 LO-2D's have but 12, and the bottom connection to the side is welded rather than riveted.

Quite pleased with the performance of the Airslide cars, the Burlington continued to place regular orders for lots of 50 or 60 more of the 2,600 cubic foot cars through the early 1960's. Following to 60 Class LO-2B car of 1960 ( road #'s CB&Q 87500 - 87549 and C&S 800 - 809 ) came 50 LO-2C's in 1961 ( Q 87550 - 87599 ) and 50 LO-2D's in 1962 ( Q 87600 - 87639 and C&S 810 - 819 ). A couple of tiny spotting features differentiate these cars. First, the vibrator brackets of the 1961 cars and all subsequent Airslides are mounted on oval pads somewhat larger than the rectangular pads used on all previous production. Then, on the 1962 cars, the number of rivets employed on the vertical channel braces at the ends of each car side is reduced considerably from previous standard practice; where earlier cars have 26 rivets per channel brace, the 1962 LO-2D's have but 12, and the bottom connection to the side is welded rather than riveted.

One last batch of 2,600 cubic-foot Airslide cars was purchased by the Burlington in 1965, and by that time, General American had made some noticeable changes in the design. The 50 Class LO-2E cars, Q 87700 - 87749, featured triangular gusset plates with a stamped stiffening rib at the upper end of each side in place of diagonal angle-iron braces previously used at the ends of the cars. And the vertical braces were gone, replaced by hat-section posts. Additionally, due to the use of the triangular gussets, some changes were required in the upper side ladder arrangement.