NittanyLion FYI, there is a CPLX (no idea if they existed back then), but no one has CPX.
FYI, there is a CPLX (no idea if they existed back then), but no one has CPX.
SouthgateI don't want to put SP on cars they didn't have...
One possibility would be to use the ExactRail SP prototype woodchip gondolas, which represent cars build in 1965 http://exactrail.com/products/gunderson-7466-wood-chip-gondola-undecorated . Only the undecorated versions are currently in stock, but you can probably find factory decorated ones on ebay or someplace.
Rob Spangler
Generally in the '60's or earlier, the most common non-railroad owned or leased cars would be specialized cars like reefers, covered hoppers, tank cars, and (growing as the decade progressed) piggyback flatcars. I guess it's possible a company might buy a half dozen cars and get their own reporting marks in this situation, but remember the company then would be responsible for maintaining the cars, doing the re-weighs and updates necessary to keep the cars up to FRA code. I'd think it's more likely they would either lease cars from a third party lessor (or a railroad), or perhaps find some railroad-owned cars (not necessarily SP) and use them in 'captive service'.
Thanks for the further replies and references. Gives me plenty of what I need to work with. Dan
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Here's a place to start researching SP woodchip cars:
http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/bytype/gon/woodchip.htm
I'm not going to spend a lot of time researching these cars, but it seems many were renumbered when they were converted. I've got Equipment Registers for 1961, 65, 66 and 68. If the OP would care to specify one of these and supply a lookup list, I'll see if the cars are present.
Ed
Dan,CPLX would be correct and seeing a lot of companies owned their own cars in the 50/60s I would go with CPLX.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Another example of a wood chip car from the 60s, Bangor & Aroostook RR (BAR) converted a number of old 40' boxcars into wood chip cars by cutting off the roof, welding a plate and reinforcment over the doors and extending the car top. Any inexpensive 40' steel body box like an Athearn Blue Box would be a good starrting point for a kitbash.
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bar/bar3448aga.jpg
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
1960's Southern Pacific Woodchip Gondola Class G-50-20
http://www.southernpacificmodelerssociety.org/sp-390450-wood-chip-car-t2415.html
Similar sugarbeet cars which have been made in both HO (Red Caboose) and N (Micro Trains) could be used. The chip cars had 10'7" inside height. The beet cars 9' inside height.
Or a 41' steel drop-bottom gondola which has been made in both HO and N could be easily modified.
Note that there were also similar beet cars based on wood composite (G-50-20) gondolas. Some were apparently also put into chip service. http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/gon/g050-20.htm Models have been made in N scale and I believe also in HO.
The wood side cars were preferred by the sugar companys over the steel cars because the loads remainded cooler. The beets sometimes cooked in the steel cars.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
The idea is that I am modeling the west coast (SP territory) in the '60s, early in the era of when sawmills stopped burning all the waste, and started chipping and using that material more. Before there were dedicated chip cars, a number of other cars were converted; boxcars, hoppers, and gondolas, all with extended height. The boxcars were converted with open tops and doors welded shut or panels riveted in.
I don't want to put SP on cars they didn't have, so a logical way around it is to have the large mill own the 6-8 converted cars I'll have on the layout. My layout is freelanced, but in SP territory. I do prefer to keep the actual SP stuff as accurate as possible.
CPBX is cool.
Thanks for the answers! Dan
You are correct, the X indicates private ownership as opposed to a "common carrier" which would fall under different regulations and tariff rules under the A.A.R. standards.
Even though your Crown Pacific might have exclusive use of the cars, they could possibly be leased from another owner such as SHPX or GATX but still carry a custom paint job for your industry. If they were a large and growing concern they might own the cars outright and then would have their own "reporting marks".
A little more info here...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporting_mark There's an alphabetical listing of current reporting marks about 3/4 down the page.
Happy modeling, Ed
Does the X in markings such as GATX, SCCX, etc indicate cars owned by a company other than a railroad?
I want to 'bash and letter some wood chip cars for my Crown Pacific Lumber and Box Co. (made up name) Would CPX or CPLX properly apply? Thanks. Dan