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Do You Run Any Freight Cars That Have No Purpose

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Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, February 2, 2019 1:40 PM

My whimsical Superior Detritus boxcar I built many years ago for my 1890, 1900 eara railroad.

Superior Detritus boxcar. #238

Very detailed wood kit.

Full Circle Models, NY.

Long out of production.

Still have all the instruction sheets and magazine page.

I put smaller Kadee couplers on it many years ago.

The nature of the products shipped?
Diacoustic infusoria = a lot of noise
Basic Balunium Ores = a lot of coal dust
Air-Float Abrasives = smoke and cinders
Frangible Ceramics = breakable pottery
Sand and Gravel = self explanatory
Being of Superior quality, obviously these were all shipped in crates
or barrels. Workers had to put cotton in their ears when opening a
barrel of Diacoustic Infusoria!!

https://bigbluetrains.com/archive/index.php?thread-423.html

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, February 2, 2019 10:25 AM

dknelson

 

 
csxns
Track fiddler
grain hopper cars. Especially the two bay ones.

 Don't think grain shippers ship grain in two bays.

 

 

I believe the C&NW two bay centerflows that were painted yellow were assigned to ADM service, so I assume some sort of grain was shipped in them.  (Someone once told me that if you see a C&NW covered hopper painted yellow, think of it as grain because beer and corn are yellow.)

But it is true most of the two bays were used for heavier loads that would be too much weight for the larger covered hoppers.  The CNW had some in gray that I assume were for sand or cement or such.  Heavy and dense.  They also had some in a deep green - not sure of the loads for those.  I do know the yellow paint CNW used tended to fade rather quickly.

Dave Nelson

 

.

Funny you mentioned this Dave. I like the way the green and gray hoppers complement each other together. Apparently MTL thought so too because they were selling them in sets in N scale at one time. I picked up a few sets on eBay when the price was right and haven't even unwrapped them yet.

 

John Mock  I'm kind of a big fan of Wide Open Spaces myself after growing up on a very large lake in the wilderness most of my life.

I like the sight of Trains winding through the forest mountainsides or in the wide open spaces of a country or desert scene.

I have to stop on the shoulder of a two lane highway sometimes or I would soon become a menace.  I have to watch them come through the scenery. I think of it the same way on a layout.

Thanks     TF

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Posted by maxman on Thursday, January 31, 2019 9:52 PM

angelob6660
I got a lot of boxcars and insulted boxcars.

 

If you stopped telling them they have ugly ends maybe they wouldn't be insulted.

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Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, January 31, 2019 7:34 PM

mbinsewi
...In a past thread, about small layouts? Not too long ago,I posted a complete end to end view of what I have.

While I was allowed to view only one picture in photobucket, I did check-out the link to the other thread, and it was well worth the effort.  Nicely done! 

Wayne

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Posted by angelob6660 on Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:58 PM

I been getting maxi container cars, and auto racks. To build a small yard, but I'll just get them as my fast freight. In the future I'm trying to get bulkend flats, centerbeams and some other cars that don't interchange within my manifest freights.

The only interchange traffic will be on local. I got a lot of boxcars and insulted boxcars.

Modeling the G.N.O. Railway, The Diamond Route.

Amtrak America, 1971-Present.

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Posted by wp8thsub on Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:43 PM

csxns
Anybody have any Procor Pressure Flow Hoppers made by Intermountain...

I have a couple.  They are loaded at a drilling fluids plant on my layout, so they actually have a role with a modeled customer.

Rob Spangler

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Posted by BRAKIE on Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:17 PM

mbinsewi
he loads, and empties from your industries need to go to other places, and then come back as a load, or empty, whatever the case may be.

Mike,Indeed..Once a car has been switched and unloaded/loaded it then gets returned to the interchange and removed from the layout.New cars arrive on the interchanged daily..This interchange varies from 1-8 cars  and there are some days no cars arrive and the only thing the crew does is take cars from the industries to the interchange. This emulates the backbone of railroading---serving customers.

A ISL serves the end reciever whose loads orginated elsewhere and the shipper sends cars elswhere...I will also mention none of the industries recieves cars from each other since I model a industrial park or urban industrial area.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

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Posted by csxns on Thursday, January 31, 2019 4:15 PM

Anybody have any Procor Pressure Flow Hoppers made by Intermountain i have several and that is one that don't have a purpose got them because the different look's and to me a cross between a hopper and tank car.

Russell

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    November 2018
  • From: Just another small town in Ohio
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Posted by Erie1951 on Thursday, January 31, 2019 3:50 PM

My new layout is a simple transfer yard with some online industries. Cars will come in on the Erie side for further transfer to the Lackawanna and vice versa, and these could be anything including DL&W empties, Erie empties, loads coming and going from other roads to the Erie or Lackawanna, etc. All cars have to be built prior to 1952 and I have models already that fit the era. The online industries would use meat reefers, boxcars, and express cars from around the Eastern and Southern parts of the country. I'd like to add some well-detailed outside-braced braced and war emergency cars as well.

Russ

Modeling the early '50s Erie in Paterson, NJ.  Here's the link to my railroad postcard collection: https://railroadpostcards.blogspot.com/

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, January 31, 2019 1:01 PM

I don't have a layout until the basement is finished and can start building one so none of my cars have a purpose right now.

The planned layout will be  protolance of the D&RGW at Grand Junction and west, which is part of a bridge route.  So like Rob, much of the freight will be traveling across the represented parts and back into staging.  Others will surve on-line industry.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by PRR8259 on Thursday, January 31, 2019 12:19 PM

Hey there Track Fiddler--

I have not read any other replies, so am replying to the OP.

My layout is designed to depict (mostly) Southwestern Mojave Desert or semi-desert scenery.  There are no industries to serve whatsoever and currently only one barn on a farm property.  That is it.  I'm attempting to model the wide open spaces and long mainline runs typical of the region.  It's a very minimalist trackplan and approach, for someone that likes watching long trains roll.

So one could argue that none of my rolling stock has any purpose other than I run what I want from mainly the 1970's and '80's.

I graduated high school during 1986, when the SPSF Merger was in the works (but ultimately denied) and as I get older I find that I prefer the Kodachrome paint schemes the most.  I like Santa Fe yellow warbonnet, and I like tunnel motors, so it's the best of both worlds.

Shouldn't Paint So Fast = the railroad that, for me, should have been.

John Mock

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    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
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Posted by dknelson on Thursday, January 31, 2019 12:01 PM

csxns
Track fiddler
grain hopper cars. Especially the two bay ones.

 Don't think grain shippers ship grain in two bays.

I believe the C&NW two bay centerflows that were painted yellow were assigned to ADM service, so I assume some sort of grain was shipped in them.  (Someone once told me that if you see a C&NW covered hopper painted yellow, think of it as grain because beer and corn are yellow.)

But it is true most of the two bays were used for heavier loads that would be too much weight for the larger covered hoppers.  The CNW had some in gray that I assume were for sand or cement or such.  Heavy and dense.  They also had some in a deep green - not sure of the loads for those.  I do know the yellow paint CNW used tended to fade rather quickly.

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,878 posts
Posted by maxman on Thursday, January 31, 2019 11:17 AM

mbinsewi
I'm not sure if Ramax ever had an N scale.

N scale?  Pretty sure they didn't.

Never mind!

  • Member since
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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 31, 2019 11:07 AM

maxman
If that is the Ramax model, they are not that hard to find.

I have a few.  I'm not sure if Ramax ever had an N scale.  That's what TF models.

Mike.

  • Member since
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, January 31, 2019 10:55 AM

I have a white Toys R Us boxcar with a picture of Jeffrey the Giraffe on it.  I would only put it on the tracks if kids were coming over to look at the layout.

When I got this (my sister found it at a yard sale) it had horn hooks, one of which was mounted upside down.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by maxman on Thursday, January 31, 2019 10:28 AM

Track fiddler
This is my favorite two bay center flow hopper. I only have one, I'd like about six. They're very hard to find. I lost one to another bidder in an eBay auction last month.

If that is the Ramax model, they are not that hard to find.  I bet I can find several on my not yet built and may never be shelf.  Hearld King used to make a bunch of different decals to fit them.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Thursday, January 31, 2019 10:10 AM

Well thank you very much Wayne!

I didn't feel like spending close to $50 for the Walthers 65' pellet hoppers, so I made do.

You can click on any of the photos I post, and you'll go to my Photobucket.  You should be able to see everything.

If you do, pay no attention to that little video screen on the lower right hand side.  I have no control over that, it's a PB thing.

When I'm logged into my account, I don't get that.

In a past thread, about small layouts?  Not too long ago,I posted a complete end to end view of what I have.

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/273853.aspx

Scroll down a ways.

Mike.

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Posted by Southgate on Thursday, January 31, 2019 12:37 AM

I have an ISL, but can and will run the oddballs on through freights. Dan

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Posted by Paul3 on Thursday, January 31, 2019 12:24 AM

When I had my layout, all cars on the layout had a purpose.  The post-war NH that I modeled was mostly loads in, empties out.  I followed this by having one staging yard at the end of the mainline, then had two freight yards and 4 switching areas (two locals per yard).  The freight car count on the layout was around 300 cars.

Between sessions, I had roughly 100 cars in staging, 80 cars at industries, 50 cars going to industries, 50 cars going to staging, and 20 cars in storage tracks (10 in each yard).

Each and every car had an industry it served on my layout: TOFC, reefers, stockcars, flats, gondolas, hoppers, tanks, covered hoppers, etc.  Any cars I own that didn't fit my layout were in boxes under it; most of those were sold off as time went by.

I restrict myself to modeling NH, and it saves me time and money.  It also means that I don't buy things that wouldn't fit my interest, and since I only model what I'm interested in, I have no conflict between buying what I want and using what I have.  Either it fits into my operation or it's gone.  The only exceptions are for sentimental reasons (club cars and the like).

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Posted by wp8thsub on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 11:16 PM

doctorwayne
That car looks very similar to the old Ramax covered hopper.  It was available, as far as I'm aware, only as an undecorated flat kit:  separate parts for the sides, ends, roof and underbody. 

Those were available in a number of roadnames.  A revised version was later sold by Detail Associates, with improved end cages, gates, and other details, but retaining the running boards of the original Ramax kit.

DSC00527

by wp8thsub, on Flickr

Here's one of the Detail Associates versions awaiting loading at my cement plant.

DSC03166

by wp8thsub, on Flickr

I have quite a few cars that do nothing but run through from east staging to west staging.  Above are some Arrowhead Models D&RGW hoppers delivering coal from an off-layout source to another off-layout customer.

DSC03229 (2)

by wp8thsub, on Flickr

Here's a load of lumber doing the same thing - originating and terminating off the layout.  Provided you have more than one way for cars to get on or off the modeled part of your railroad, you can use lots of cars that would otherwise have no role with your on-line customers.  Route them between interchanges and/or staging destinations representing additional parts of your road.

Rob Spangler

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Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 10:46 PM

Good-looking covered hoppers, Mike, and it looks like there's some very nicely-done layout in the background, too.  More photos would not be inappropriate. WhistlingSmile, Wink & Grin

Wayne

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Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 9:34 PM

Thanks TF !  That bare masonite area on the left of that string of cars is for a kit-bashed/scratch built station that is on my bench, under construction.

Here's a picture from a couple of years ago, seeing how it will fit.  Yea, I said a couple of years ago.  Huh?

Have a great night.

Mike.

 

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    March 2017
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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 8:47 PM

For the record. 

I occasionally post a thread.  It is all easy going here.  No one can ruffle any feathers. We all have already ruffled them through the years and are seasoned now. 

Text, pictures, discussion, debate, disagreement, Off Topic...... we're not that fancy,  we are all good here.

TF

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 8:09 PM

No problem Mike I'll gladly accept your beer, raise you a beer and cheers you!

TF

I can't wait till my layout gets to the point where I can finally see something like yours isYes  I still have a picture of your waterfalls in my RR photo log.

I revisited your image posted.  Very nice modeling Mike. Dealing with Kraft for a living all my life, I can appreciate your work.

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Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 8:03 PM

I have collected quite a few of those Ramax cars.  DocWaynes post shook my memory !  Thanks !

They are in various states of assembly, picked up off Ebay through the years.

I'll get that sand train together yet.

This turned out to be a great thread TF!

Do you mind if I barge in and show my plastic pellet hoppers?  Thanks, I was hopeing you'd say yes.

Started out as the basic 55' ACF ceneter flow, they are still 55', but I stripped them of lettering, painted, added basic data decals, rearanged the hatch locations, and added some shop fashioned vented hatch covers found on the prototype, lightly weathered them, new truck, couplers and IM wheel sets:

Thanks TF for the space.  I owe ya!  Beer

Mike.

 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 7:50 PM

SeeYou190

 

 
cv_acr
And where do the cars go once they come off the ferry?

 

.

They go into a drawer, and the cars from the next drawer down go onto the ferry.

.

I had a ten drawer unit, and repeated the cycle all the way down, then started back at the top.

.

-Kevin

.

 

Maybe just me but that was hilarious and you didn't even have a :-) my kind of humor

Thanks for that    TF

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Posted by Track fiddler on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 6:39 PM

Thanks Wayne

Very similar it is.  I'm going to look into that kit.  I sometimes like to have a more relaxed hobby on a Saturday afternoon than a complex elaborate bridge to build.  I need a break from these bridges sometimes.  

I'm starting to think I may just really like yellow.  I happen to have a long dog of what you displayed.

I noticed on the site you provided for the kit, there were just blank yellow parts to this 2 Bay Hopper. It makes me wonder if I could get Chicago Northwestern decals to complete the kit.  The yellows of the two are not a Dead Ringer but close enough for me. Sometimes Reds and yellows fade in the sun anyway.  If the cars look different, the more realistic it is anyway.

Thanks for the info.     Track Fiddler

 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 6:36 PM

cv_acr
And where do the cars go once they come off the ferry?

.

They go into a drawer, and the cars from the next drawer down go onto the ferry.

.

I had a ten drawer unit, and repeated the cycle all the way down, then started back at the top.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 6:35 PM

doctorwayne
Unfortunately, I couldn't find Columbian Carbon decals, so used those provided with the kit.

.

I built this covered hopper car starting with a Funaro & Camerlengo Carbon Black hopper kit.

.

I added square roof hatches and built new bottom outlet doors for it.

.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

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