Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
Well for one thing, car length. You would want to stick with 30-34 foot cars, definitely no 40 footers. All of course would be wood. Truss rod cars would have ruled the railroads at that time period. A truss rod car can be identified by rods under the frame of the car that support the car and keep the floor flat. This was done prior to the heavy steel beam framed cars of later years. Most lumber roads used dis-connected skeleton flat cars in the early years. The lumber itself created the car with just wheel sets on each end. Early flat short flat cars would work fine, too. Getting into the disconnected log cars is probably too much for a beginner in model railroading. Flat cars with lumber loads should make for an interesting train. Also be sure and get the smallest caboose possible. Bobber cabooses, or four wheel cabooses were typical for lumber railroads. Using a big two truck, 8 wheel caboose would have been quite rare in the 1880 period. Just keep everything as small as possible and you'll be on the right track. Unfortunately the modeling community does not have much variety to choose from in the time period you want in the way of rolling stock. AHM made quite a bit of early freight equipment, and MDC Roundhouse you have found out has some nice early freight cars. The popular time period for modeling is the 1940-1970 period and most of the steel freight cars modeled cover that timeframe.
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community