I have some Chooch loads on order and some others (a transformer) for some flat cars and gondolas in my fleet. Some of the flats have stake pockets on the side so I can connect a chain or other to there. But some flats have nothing, one has holes in the floor, one has holes only toward the ends. And the gondolas are just open boxes but some loads need to be tied to avoid shifting. Do prototypes have spots where eye bolts can temporarily be added at a useful spot for a given load? Or other attachment methods?
Of course, if it's eye hooks I made some orders today and forgot to get some (but I got more chain).
Thanks in advance for any advice or examples.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
Gons sometimes have tie-down looping built into the top chord or inside the walls.
Large bulky loads like transformers often travel on metal-decked cars, with the tie-downs often welded to the deck.
Some flatcars will have deck holes that permit blocking or posts to be placed in them.
For good examples of modern cars with loads and associated tie-downs, I suggest checking you favorite freight car pic site for the type of car, the railroad, and maybe even the exact car type and see what loads they've been pictured hauling. This is one of my favorites, because it has a great search engine with multiple options: http://www.railcarphotos.com/
For older cars from roughly the transition era through the 80s or so, try: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Thanks, Mike. I'll check those out.
In my experience, shippers would go to any end to secure a load. They would drill, cut, chop, weld etc. to get a load tied down. The railroad company would just patch the car up, if necessary and go on using it.
Charlie
Some more useful info. The military does a lot of this stuff and documents it in depth for different purposes: training; user (how to tie down your tanks); and transport professional (complex manuals that cover virtually everything you can imagine -- at least the stuff that's declassified ). Here are links to some copies.
www.atsfrr.com/resources/BarryJohn/ArmyTiedown.pdf
www.mypurchasingcenter.com/download_file/view/1743/
www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/55-65/ch6.htm
www.transcom.mil/dtr/part-iii/dtr_part_iii_app_aa.pdf
www.tea.army.mil/pubs/nr/deploy/fgpamphlets/pam_55-19.pdf
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CGAQ6QUoADAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.armystudyguide.com%2Fcontent%2FPrep_For_Basic_Training%2Findex.shtml&ei=LlcaVIKANYr2yQSQ8YDgCQ&usg=AFQjCNEp_1ujLPVAcKgKIaTcq54GwLQ8iA&bvm=bv.75097201,d.aWw
A starter page of pics linked back to their sites:
https://www.google.com/search?q=military+railroad+car+loading+manual&client=firefox-a&hs=rv9&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=sb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=LlcaVIKANYr2yQSQ8YDgCQ&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1147&bih=765
The Alaska RR handles just about everything and they have an extensive, detailed load manual. Paul, this is probably what you're looking for in simplest, well-illustrated terms:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CCEQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskarailroad.com%2FPortals%2F6%2Fpdf%2Ffreight%2FLoad%2520Manual.pdf&ei=enYaVLDuB4H8yQTd0ICIDw&usg=AFQjCNHYOUiin7hqwvZqwyU1pntDsJ_Hsg&bvm=bv.75097201,d.aWw&cad=rja
The Canadian National Load Website:
https://www.cn.ca/en/customer-centre/guidelines/equipment-guidelines/loading-rules-instructions
An AAR presentation on current rules to those who know their open loads from stacking lots of lumber:
www.pnrailshippers.com/pnwars_pdfs/2013_sandoval_presentation.pdf
These may help:
Alaska Railroad Load Manual
https://www.alaskarailroad.com/sites/default/files/MNL_TrainBldg_Load_Manual.pdf
Links to CN rules and manuals https://www.cn.ca/en/customer-centre/guidelines/equipment-guidelines
BNSF Load Manual http://www.bnsf.com/customers/pdf/larsibumanual2005r2.pdf
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.
Thanks, everyone!