40's-50's Rolling Stock

[rlandry6]

I'm building a free-lance n scale layout, 40's-50's and maybe into the early60's, mostly steam and the early diesels like the Alco RS's. I'm assuming the 'Super Chief" will fit in nicely also. What types of rolling stock, boxcars, flatcars, tankers, reefers, etc. were common in this era? What do I need to avoid? My layout will be a relatively small around the room, folding dogbone. I'll end up with a few sharp curves, but I'll hide most of the worst offenders behind scenery. because of this. I'll stay mainly on short rolling stock,40-50 feet.
Were there many steam powered passenger trins during this period. What steam loce were prevalent during that time. I have one Mikado now and I want to add more steam as it progresses. Any sugesstions there? What were some of the shorter passenger cars of this era that would look decent on a layout with a few sharp curves. I'm scenery driven, so my main concern is that trains run well, and look good on the layout, so as of now, I'm not planning on counting rivets. Any advice here would be greatly appreciated.

[davekelly]

Perhaps the Kalmbach book modeling the 50's will help. Haven't seen it yet, although I have one on order.

[ericboone]

For passenger cars, stick with 70ft cars and avoid the 85ft cars.
For steamers, about anything goes in that time frame. Just keep in mind that a shortline is not likely going to have anything larger than a Mikado and a large line will have retired anything smaller (and older) that a Consolidation. In other words, a shortline is unlikely to have a Big Boy or a Challenger while a major railroad will likely have already retired its Atlantics, Ten Wheelers, and Moguls. If your modeling a shortline or a branchline, a Consolidation or a Mikado would be very appropriate. Considering that you have tight curves, I would avoid anything bigger than a Mikado anyway.

[jimrice4449]

I checked your profile and it doesn't show what area of the country you're from so I'll be general. It sounds like you're more interested in the late fifties end of the transition era so you'd want to have predominately steel cars. Wood cars lasted through WWII but as soon as they could most RRs retired them in favor of steel. 40' box cars would still predominate but 50' would be comming on strong. Most tank cars would be 40' w/ full underframes. Stock cars were still in use but their days were numbered. Depending on your prototype preferences wooden cabooses could still be used, although most would be steel, some bay window but mostly cupola (no wide vision w/ very few exceptions, none of which look at all like current WV crummies)
As far as psgr goes you have much latitude. I think the GTW ran steam commuter out of Detroit (behind Pacifics and Northerns) until 1960. The SP used steam in commuter service well into the late 50's. In HO Walthers offers some shorty psgr cars that are C&NW prototype (I think they're 70' but they could be 60'). Again in HO but possibly available in N are Roundhouse models of the Harriman (turtle back roof) carsThey're 60' which is slightly shorter that prototype, but "look right". For power you could emulate the SP and GTW and go w/ Northerns or use Pacifics. Psgr diesels could be any road untit (E or F) or GP or Alco RS.

[rlandry6]

I'm in Texas, and the area I'm interested in would be that covered by Southern Pacific ,Santa Fe and about any of the Western roads. I rose the Southern Pacific Sunset Limited when I was a kid, and that just kinda stuck with me. Which passenger cars would be the shortest in Nscale for that era. The catalogues and websites seem to be a little sparse on that information. I'll probably switch between diesel and steam passenger

[leighant]

Here are references to plans of Southern Pacific passenger train cars. Except for RPO and Express cards, nearly all passenger cars were 80' or longer in 1940-50-60 era.

Express Box 5700-5714 (40' AAR-design boxcar)
1964 pix at Dallas RailModJournal Dec89 p.45

mail car 40' Harriman roof, plans MR Feb50 p.46

baggage car 60' Harriman roof, plans MR Feb50 p.46

Baggage car "economy model" of 1960s _Mod RRer_ Sept93 p.74

Baggage-mail 63' Harriman roof, plans _Mod RRer_ Oct52 p.68

RPO-storage mail 60-BP-30-1 _RMC_ Aug88 p.74

RPO-coach combine 60-cp-15-1 _RMC_ Aug88 p.74

Coach 60' Harriman, 60-C-5 class, plan _RMC_ Aug88 p.73

Dining car, plans _Mod RRer_ Oct52 p.68

Sleeper 6-3 heavywt "Glen Major" SP
proto pix _RailModelJournal_ Dec97 p.49

Sleeper 8-5 heavywt "Clover Gem" SP
proto pix _RailModelJournal_ Dec97 p.49

Sleeper for Sunset Limited _RMC_ Nov72 p.,52

Sleeper 10-6 Sunset Ltd blt 1950 MR June89 p.81

Sleeper 10-6 blt PS 1950 RMC Jul72 p.38

Sleeper 13 bedroom heavywt "Night Ferm" SP
proto pix _RailModelJournal_ Dec97 p.49

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by rlandry6

I'm building a free-lance n scale layout, 40's-50's and maybe into the early60's, mostly steam and the early diesels like the Alco RS's. I'm assuming the 'Super Chief" will fit in nicely also. What types of rolling stock, boxcars, flatcars, tankers, reefers, etc. were common in this era? What do I need to avoid? My layout will be a relatively small around the room, folding dogbone. I'll end up with a few sharp curves, but I'll hide most of the worst offenders behind scenery. because of this. I'll stay mainly on short rolling stock,40-50 feet.

rlandry6,
either research a road or region, and build from there.
The last era of steam you will find bigger, high stepping locos in your part of the country *unless* you are specifying a branch or local only service layout.

Go with freight equipment first then worry about flash pasenger service.
Your buying opportunities will be many and without defining your criteria you will probably make less accurate buys than you will later want.

My idea is to go with a road, or roads, aim first for 30% home road equipment and locally served industry, or switching types and slowly build off road traffic.
If you are mainly running trains then spectacular ATSF stars and SP freight drags behind the biggest steam and early diesel consists will look best.

There were plenty of 50' cars (like automobile) in the 40's so dont generalise on eras. 'Boxcar red/brown and freight car red' will dominate (if you want) against yellow/ orange shade reefers-wood and steel.
Hope this helps,
dave [;)]

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