Freight Car Numbers

[gabbyhayes]

Have some Aristo and USA coal hoppers - both brands have the same numbers.   How (can) I find out what series numbers were allotted so that I may remumber them

Gabby Hayes

[kstrong]

Assuming that the manufacturer followed prototype practice for the car (BIG "IF") then you can probably do a search on the web for that particular railroad and car roster. But it's also quite likely that the manufacturers just guessed on the numbers as well.

What I'd do is keep the first number, but change the rest (or some of the rest). Most railroads designated classes of cars by number, so a hopper class may be 3000 - 3999.

Later,

K

[gabbyhayes]

K

Thanks for the info.   I was going to keep one and work the others for different numbers around it as you suggest.    Will have to get on the web and have a look.

Gabbyhayes

 

[Anonymous]

An interesting subject.  Not meaning to "bash" gabbyhayes's post but, I was wondering if anyone has had experience changing numbers and road names on coal tenders?  How difficult is it to remove the exsisting name and replace it with a new one?  I know you can get decals made up to match most anything you want but, how do you get the orginial name or lettering off the item in question?

Thanks.

[ttrigg]

SRS;
At the risk of sounding like a smart , the quickest way to remove "undesired" markings would be to apply a few strokes of very fine sandpaper followed by a new paint job. I' sure there are many more hi tech methods of removal, but that is the way I have always done it.

[gabbyhayes]

SRS

You bash away mate it is the only way we find out things.   My other problem is trying to match the fonts already on the car.   Any ideas anyone?

Gabby Hayes 

 

[gabbyhayes]

to bring this back to the top

Can someone help re the fonts used on USA and Aristo 70 ton coal hoppers.   Have googled my little eyes out with no luck.   Am especially after the fonts for the numbers used.

 Gabby Hayes

[ttrigg]

to bring this back to the top

Can someone help re the fonts used on USA and Aristo 70 ton coal hoppers.   Have googled my little eyes out with no luck.   Am especially after the fonts for the numbers used.

 Gabby Hayes

 

Might be able to help with your search IF I knew what road name you are working in.  Tell me the name of the Rail Road you are modeling and I;ll help. 

[gabbyhayes]

Tom

 Both makes are Southern Pacific.   My wife is going to have a look in coral today at work and see but the more all the better.

Thanks

Gabby Hayes

[ttrigg]

Gabby;
Take a look here:
http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/bytype/hopper/ps2003lo.htm
70 Ton SP Coal Hopper car numbers by class.

[gabbyhayes]

Tom

Thanks for the link.    The USA coal hopper that I am look at has H39A which I presume is the class?.   Under that it has blt 5-59 which I presume is when it was built.   Everything I have come up with (including the site you sent) dosn't have that class.   Was there such a class or are USA just presuming.

No big deal I can work around the number I have for the other ones.   I was just wondering about all the data USA has put on their hopper.   Likewise with Aristocraft.

Gabby Hayes 

 

[ttrigg]

Gabby;

I think we have a marketing situation here.  The only H39A class 70 ton coal car I can find is the PRR series.  Example:


Which fits the physical description of the USA Trains car;


However the SP cars have a much different rib configuration.


I think both Aristo and USA took the PRR H39A car as their prototype and put everybody's heraldry on the one car which is a "bending" of the truth.

 

This leaves you with two possible solutions;

1) start bashing your cars and reduce the 13 ribs down to 7, or

2) go with the flow and start putting the SP markings on your cars.

Also the PRR H39A series is open top and the  SP H70 series is covered.

 

I would love to see some pic's of before and after your "bashing/remarking" 

[ttrigg]

Gabby;

One other note, you said the build date on your cars is 5-59.  Both the PRR H39A series and the SP H70 series were built in the late 50's to mid/late 60's.  This furthers my belief that both Aristo and USA took the PRR car as their "mold" and just painted everybody's name on the car. 

[kstrong]

If you're looking for fonts to use for custom lettering, the first place I'd look is railfonts.com. He's got fonts for a majority of the major (and some minor) railroads there. They're not too expensive, either.

The next step would be to have some custom decals, dry transfers, or vinyl letters made to match what you need. (See October and December '06 "Garden Railways Basics") for more on the differences between each of these, and how to apply them. I also listed some sources for getting them made.

Later,

K

[gabbyhayes]

Tom

Thank you - the build date on the USA car is definately 5-59.   The build date on the Aristo car is 9-77 and the class is H-100-34.   The aristo car is taller and a tad longer (480mm verses 430mm).   I don't want to bash any as I'm not good enough at it and besides they are tooooooo expensive (here) cost is $176. each.   As you suggest I'll go with the flow and change the numbers around one of them.

K

Thank you for the site on fonts and the GR article.   Will have a look at the site and read the article again.

Gabby Hayes

[ttrigg]

Gaby;

I cannot locate any H-100-34 by any road name. SP had 100, H-100-1 units 490000 - 490099, rated capacity of 90 tons, with a build date from 6-59 to 9-59, by Pullman-Standard

[gabbyhayes]

ttrigg

Looks like both firms have just plucked everything.   will just keep one car with a number and get some decals (matching) for the other cars.   As I said it isn't a big deal really just curious as we are soooooooooooooo far away down here.   I promise I won't put the decals on upside down either.

 Gabby Hayes

[ttrigg]

I promise I won't put the decals on upside down either.

Why Not, I mean the cars you have (the only ones available from the manufactures of LS) didn't run with the logo of your RR.  That's one of the many things we have to live with in our hobby.  But like I have said many times, Go play in the dirt and have fun!" 

[fontgeek]

Gabby, for the Pacific Railroad, i think the typeface you are looking for is "Antique Olive", this font is available in a variety of weights from a few different vendors, including Adobe, Bitstream, and Monotype. You can see the full display or samples of your text at fonts.com or myfonts.com, as well as the sites for the individual foundries.
If you have other lettering styles you are trying to match, you can PM me or email samples to me. I have a fairly extensive library of typefaces, and I am creating more typefaces all the time.

[gabbyhayes]

Fontgeek

Thank you and sorry for the delay in answering - have been away.   Will have a look at the sites you mention and see.   Just trying to match the numbers that are already on some Aristo and USA cars.   I don't know if they are playing the game though.   

Gabby hayes