Trailer, 45 Foot, Pines

History: Pines Trailer produced a variety of semi box trailers. During the 1960s the 45 foot dry model was quite popular and many are still in service today.

Railroad/Company: Pines Trailer Corp is a privately held company based in Kewanee, IL. They specialize in the manufacture of semi box trailers. Pines was founded by Phillip Pines, who dies in a plane crash in 2011. Pines began his career in the trailer industry in 1958 working alongside his father, Leo Pines, at their Monon Trailer dealership. There, he and his father began refurbishing used trailers and soon after started their own trailer company, Pines Trailer Corp., in 1965. By 1970, Pines Trailer was a leading manufacturer of truck trailers. That year the firm purchased several vacant buildings at the east end of the former Walworth Co. property in Kewanee, Ill., for an assembly plant. In 1990, the company moved most of its operations to the present Great Dane location on Kentville Road, which had been a Hyster Co. trailer plant. Pines led his family-owned business, Pines Trailer Corp., for 25 years before forming a partnership with the Crown family in 1988. I