Got two questions for my forums friends:
First, when did the BN decide to put cabooses into pool service? I have seen pictures from the early days where the cabooses show not in pool service but in some from the late 1970s show the pool service indication. (The "P" on the cabooses.)
The second set of questions involves the new Athearn builkhead flats. I have two of the BN/CS cars (616412 & 427) from the CS 616375-616474 series. From the pictures that I have seen (RailcarPhotos) for the mid-70s, I notice two problems: One the "Burlington Northern" doesn't look right to me (almost too wide), but then I could be over critical. Second, the inside of the bulkheads look like they had a white vertical stripe that is centered. I am not sure how wide that stripe is and whether the stripe extends to the deck or not.
As usual, any assistance anyone can provide would be most welcomed.
Most of the newer steel caboose like the wide vision ones were 'pool' cars. They usually have the 'P' on them. As repainting and window removal progressed the lettering was simplified.
As for the freight cars, the lettering was very simplified over the years. The paint job on the model may be from a different era...
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
FRRYKid First, when did the BN decide to put cabooses into pool service? I have seen pictures from the early days where the cabooses show not in pool service but in some from the late 1970s show the pool service indication. (The "P" on the cabooses.)
The UP started putting P's on "appropriate" cabeese in 1969. I would expect BN pretty much matched that, which would mean they would have STARTED appearing pretty quickly after the merger. I don't recall the predecessor roads applying "P"'s.
I do have a list of BN cabeese for April of 1974 that shows 350 in pool service out of 1078.
BN's first new cabeese were delivered in 1970-71, and they had the P's.
Ed
7j43k I do have a list of BN cabeese for April of 1974 that shows 350 in pool service out of 1078.
Does that list show specific cabeese? If so, when was BN 10077 (ex-GN X117) put into pool service?
jrbernier As for the freight cars, the lettering was very simplified over the years. The paint job on the model may be from a different era...
The dates on the pictures are from 1976 and 1977 which is right in the middle of the era that I model. The date on the model shows as 12/1972, which matches the date on the 1976 picture. The 1977 picture shows a reweight of 4/1977 and it still shows the vertical stripe. If I remember correctly, a repaint on a freight car would prompt a rewight date on the car.
The only other major change I saw to these cars was the addition of log bunks at some point after 77. (The picture showing the log bunks was from 2010.)
BN 10077 got its P before 1974. I do not know how much before. And it was still painted in GN Big Sky blue in 1980. I do not know when or if it was repainted in BN colors.
7j43k BN 10077 got its P before 1974. I do not know how much before. And it was still painted in GN Big Sky blue in 1980. I do not know when or if it was repainted in BN colors.
Thank you. That answers the caboose question. For the era I model it will stay blue as my cutoff is 1980.
I think I got my answer on the bulkhead from another source.
Thank you to all my forum friends for your assistance.