MDT in 1936; the new venture was chartered in Delaware on December 18. In 1962 the NRC was combined with Merchants Despatch. At the same time, greater emphasis was placed on auto carrier business; from 1961 to 1966, the company acquired nearly 1,200 autorack cars (although the base flatcars were owned by MDT, the rack structures were owned by the New York Central). MDT also entered the Intermodal freight transport business, and purchased 572 Flexi-Van container flats (intended mainly for use in mail service on passenger trains) between 1958 and 1965. As part of the consolidation of facilities planned for the Penn Central merger, the car shop was closed down on April 1, 1970, and the 72-acre property was sold off. In July, 1985 the MDT assumed the responsibility for car weighing and inspection previously under the purview of the Eastern Weighing and Inspection Bureau. After ceasing construction, MDT would continue as a repair shop, and a car lessor to both railroad and private companies. As an independent lessor, it was able to outlast NYCs merger into Penn Central, and their collapse into Conrail. However, after the 1998 purchase of Conrail, MDT's assets were merged and the company dissolved in 2000. Merchants Despatch Transportation Company Roster, 1900–1970: Northern Refrigerator Car Line Roster, 1930–1960: Source: The Great Yellow Fleet, p. 16. References White, John H. (1986). The Great Yellow Fleet. Golden West Books, San Marino, CA. . Hinman, Roger C. (2011). Merchant's Despatch; Its Equipment and History. Signature Press, Wilton, CA. . External links Rochester Images — contains images of the MDT car shops along with the Foster-Armstrong Company (later known as the American Piano Company and then Aeolian American Corporation). Refrigerator car lines of the United States American Express American companies established in 1857 Transport companies established in 1857