Car shops

[Anonymous]

I want to model a contemporary freight car shop, including the interior. The problem is, you can't get near them because of security to photograph the interior or ask what goes on there. Any help?

[DTomajko]

Not all car shops are inside either. Buncher Railcar Services has a facility in Youngwood,Pa. that is completely outdoors.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the feedback and have thought about shortlines and contractor sites. Unfortunately, I just moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico from Baltimore and am at a loss as to what's around. I was referred to a BNSF facility outside of Albuquerque by the local hobby shop but hit a brick wall with security. I anyone knows of any shortline or contractor sites in NM, Colorado, west Texas, or Arizona I'd appreciate some direction. I may be heading to California for a vacation too, so a site around San Francisco, in the Central Valley, or northern California would work as well.

Or, if anyone has access and could provide some photos and some info, I'd be very greatful. I've been able to pull interior shots of loco facilities off of RailPictures.net and have seen some really interesting cranes and lifts, but kjnowing how all of that fits into the process of a car shop would help too. Any car shop employees out there?

Thanks all,

Bryan

[Anonymous]

check this out:

http://www.rrvw.net/FreightCarRepair.htm

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mikemcnh/flatcar/artner0402.html

[Mark300]

Basically what you are seeing in the photos, and what I've encountered touring CSX's facility in Cumberland MD is; a one or two story steel structure capable of receiving freight cars; usually front to back. That translates to about a 15" or 21" long building (in HO @ 1" = 7.6 ft give or take).

The Walthers HO rolling mill/steel mill building kinda looks similar to the facility I remember seeing in Cumberland MD. A good metal 'prefab' warehouse that allows cars to pass thru or back into, can also be kit bashed.

Cars are positioned so an overhead crane or a lift can 'pick' the body off of the trucks. Several complicated machines are used for this very simple procedure. Other truck assemblies are rolled in, the body can be suspended or positioned elsewhere (depending on the kinds of operations the facility is setup to perform). A one story building might only be good for servicing the trucks. A taller building will actually allow metal boxes/frames or tanks to be jockeyed or positioned as necessary. The bodies can be set down - perhaps outside - for repainting, rebuilding, new doors, hardware and so forth. Then they are picked up and reinstalled onto trucks and rolled out.

Some shops have winches with cable pullies that allows cars to pulled in or out of the facility without having a locomotive enter (with all of the clearance, pollution, noise and other problems).

There are workpits beneath the tracks and interior offices, storerooms and other warehousing rooms for parts, employee lockers and so forth.

Honestly it's just like building a model car only for real! It looks so simple and yet the operations require enormously powerful equipment, careful precision, safety, patience, real skill, many different crafts and good workmanship. If you can get to tour one these facilities - it's a real eye opener.

Real timely for Labor Day!

Good luck,

Mark

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryanpbohn
[br I was referred to a BNSF facility outside of Albuquerque by the local hobby shop but hit a brick wall with security.

Can't help with specifics, but contacting security seems like the last department I'd want to talk to. I'd try their public relations department first, especially if you have the remotest idea of publishing an article or photos of your modeling work.

The security department of any company has one mission and a key weapon in their arsenal (and the easiest to use) is the word "NO."

Wayne

[Anonymous]

hi, I´m christian
in my vacation on canada in 1996 I saw a CP- Rail sulphur freight train near vancouver. I want know how the cars are paint and the decals? Is there any campany who sells decals in HO? Thanks for answer me beforehand!

Greetings from Germany

[AltonFan]

Would recent editions of The Locomotive and Car Builders' Cyclopedia have relevant information? The old ones often had articles and pictures of state of the art shop facilities.

[dano99a]

Granted this is not a "modern" car repair shop but here's photos of Strasburgs shop

http://www.crtraincrew.com/gallery/dan/strasburg/index.html

[chicirjs]

This is all there is to the small car shops for a shortline in Michigan.

http://www.delraycrr.com/repairs.htm

[tjsmrinfo]

bryan if u live in santa fe nm u might want to take a drive to amarillo,texas. progressive rail has a car shop there no security just go on a weekend and u can get all the pics u want there


tom