What year did railroads begin to mark freight cars and cabooses with the large black box with data inside? I model up to 1960. Should those markings be removed from factory painted cars that otherwise are period appropriate in order to be prototypical?
Mike Thomasson
Austin.
I believe that the C.O.T.S. (Clean, Oil, Test, and Stencil) labels were first used in 1972 - often referred to a "lube plates". The data on them was formerly stencilled directly on the brake reservoir.
If the paint scheme on the car is otherwise suitable for your layout's era, you can simply remove them.
Wayne
To further Wayne's information, here is a handy "primer" on freight car markings:
https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/d5e.pdf
I seem to recall the white-outlined, black rectangle of modern practice being refered to as a "Consolidated stencil". There may be other terms used but that's the one I hear often.
mreagant I model up to 1960.
You wouldn't see it, nor the "ACI" label* prior to 1970.
* Actually, KarTrak (ACI) labels began to appear in 1967 but very few cars had them.
By 1975 about 90% of the freight car fleet had the labels applied.
Good Luck, Ed
Thanks for the replys. I was pretty sure that those markings were later than the period I model. Now to see if I can make them go away. I have heard that such stamp painted markings can be removed with a pencil eraser. Never tried it so I guess a little research is in order.
Mike