early Southern Pacific delivery trailers used for piggyback service

[markpierce]

I have several 24-foot round-nose van trailers made in HO by Sheepscott. I want to paint and letter them to emulate Southern Pacific's early 22 -foot (with side doors) delivery trailers used in piggyback service. (These were prior to the 1955 entry of SP 25-foot trailers in silver color with "Southern Pacific" speed lettering with red "S" and "P".) The prototypes I'm interested in are multicolored: dark on the bottom 60%, a light/dark/light (white/orange or red/white?) colored striping above, and light color above that. On the front top it is labeled "Southern Pacific" done in a single color. On the sides are a "SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES" herald and the slogan "RAILROAD SERVICE TO YOUR DOOR." I'd appreciate any information on (1) the colors used, (2) information on the appearance of the rear (door end) of the trailer, and (3) the source and identity of any decals for the heralds, lettering (especially the "Southern Pacific" and "RAILROAD SERVICE TO YOUR DOOR), and striping. Thanks for your help.

[jrbarney]

Mark,
Two suggestions. One, have you visited this site ?:
http://www.intermodaltransport.com
They might have something useful. Two, have you considered joining the Yahoo intermodal group and posting your query there ?:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Hope this helps until a knowledgeable Espee fan gives you a better answer.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[West Coast S]

These were used for LCL (less then carload lots) door-to-door service and wore a variation of the eye catching dayight colors.

I've got a promo film made by SP in the late forties that depict the advantages of LCL service in a soft soap episode of how Johnny gets a new bike from his grandmother who lives several hundred miles away..

The story line stinks, but the film is a unique history filmed in color and that alone makes it a must have. I wouldn't have clue as to decals, sorry.

Dave

[cuyama]

Bob Smaus described modeling a couple of these early TOFC trailers in his April 1988 article in Railmodel Craftsman. He used Floquil Daylight Red below the black band and Daylight Orange above.

He also decribed how to build a circus-style TOFC ramp and a stand-in SP TOFC flat in the same article.

Regards,

Byron

[ericsp]

I do not remember if this article is also about these trucks, but I remember one in MR a long time ago (http://index.mrmag.com/tm.exe?opt=I&MAG=MR&MO=11&YR=1990&output=3&sort=A). When I searched for this, I noticed Bob Smaus has written many interesting sounding articles.

[cuyama]

eric,

You're right, the Nov. '90 MR article is also about a batch of these trailers. Bob describes bashing them from an Athearn model. I had forgotten about that one.

All of Bob Smaus' articles are great ... I especially enjoyed the "Port of LA" series that began in the Dec 1990 MR.

Regards,

Byron