Detailing insides of closed freight cars

[FJ and G]

Some of us have added passengers to passenger trains. Some have even added passenger train decor.

But have any of you scrounged up some details inside freight cars. Notice I said "Inside closed freight cars" not gondola or flatcar loads which are very common to do, but inside boxcars, such as sacks of grain or boxes or some cattle for the cattle car, or crates of beer for beer reefers.

Would be nice if an "uncoupling-like device" could open and shut doors parked at warehouses or team tracks.

Even tho you can't see the bottom of trains; folks like detailing their so why not inside?

Dave Vergun

[orsonroy]

With my top level at 58", I can DEFINITELY see the underside of my freight cars! And I glue the doors shut on most of my boxcars, so detailing the insides isn't an issue for me.

I'll eventually model a few boxcars witht he doors open. When I do, I'll probably use the AMB peel-n-stick wood interior to replicate the insides.

[rayhippard]

FJ and G, Some ideas that come to mind for box cars with opening doors; either glue or use " tack it " ( from Woodland Sceinics I believe ) to place some " freight " inside of car by the door opening. This could be as you suggest, boxes, barrels, sacks, small farm equipment ( not all was shipped on flat cars ) stacks of automobile tires and or wheels, etc. . Another common use of box cars was for grain loads. This was done by covering most of the door opening from the inside with heavy brown paper reinforced with steel bands nailed to the inside between the paper and the outside of the car. Then loaders would use a large pipe from the grain elevators to blow grain into the cars through the high opening until car was full. Unloading was done in reverse with pipes vacumning out the grain. Usually at the plant where the grain would be turned into consummables such as cereal. Cattle cars would be easy to stuff with animals. Add some light tan fine ground foam to simulate sawdust or straw for bedding on car floor. You could open or close doors as needed for operating interest. Alas, you have to use your fingers as making auto opening doors that small would be difficult. Maybe when we have " nano technology " available to us this could change ! Ray

[ndbprr]

Or you could put a couple of "Bo's" back away from the door a little.

[Anonymous]

I've used a box car with the doors open as a static display model with crates being loaded at the Sunkist warehouse. However the model is never moved.
I usually see the doors closed on box cars when in transit and only open when being loaded, unloaded, cleaned or sitting on a track waiting to be loaded. I paint the floors a grimmy black color but that's about all the detailing I do to the inside.
There was a story some time ago in Trains Magazine where a scrap dealer bought two old box cars to be cut up. The doors were rusted shut , but when he cut the doors open, Inside he found two old new automobiles. Somehow the box cars were misrouted or bad ordered and forgotten.
Sorry I don't recall what make and model they were. I'd like to say Duesenberg, but I'm not sure. Anybody else remember reading the story? It was about 8 or 9 years ago.
I think that would make a nice mini scene.