Trains.com

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!

Heritage Freight Cars

2099 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • 1,553 posts
Posted by PRR8259 on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 8:49 PM

I live near Enola Yard, on the west shore of the Susquehanna River, in Pennsylvania.  My house in Marysville is about 1 mile as the crow flies from the famous (former PRR) Middle Division main line (once four tracked).

We see it ALL here.  Anything can show up at any time, and that includes anybody's boxcar from anywhere.  Mexican cars--sure we see them.  Autoracks all the time and brown NdeM or FXE 50' boxcars fairly often.

You have to realize that in many cases, repaints were done quickly, and over a period of time the second coat of paint literally washes away if the surface was not properly primered.

Rock Island went bankrupt in 1980, yet on my way to The Station (train store in New Cumberland) on a Saturday a couple weeks ago, I saw a gorgeous blue Rock Island covered hopper, with the big R and everything.  Only the reporting marks differed.  The entire second coat of paint had washed away revealing gorgeous Rock Island blue and all factory lettering.

We have seen full red warbonnet Santa Fe diesels, not even patched, just a few years ago.  There were some running around yet, though they were getting a bit rough.  Former Santa Fe (early 1980's rebuild in kind) GP-30's.  Check--local shortline bought some and even ran them for awhile in pretty much full Santa Fe blue and yellow warbonnet.  It was quite surprising to be on one's way home from work and to see the full on Santa Fe blue and yellow warbonnet GP-30's sitting in Enola enroute to the shortline.

Mexican diesels, all they way up here?  Check--we see them mixed into N-S loco consists from time to time. 

Anything CP Rail or CN, nearly solid trains of Canadian newsprint boxcars.  Check.

However, I can't tell you the last time I saw an  86' hi cube boxcar in Enola.  It has been a couple years.  The NJ auto plants that received them are closed.  We saw a lot of those big boxcars up until just recently.  Now we miss them.

Solid cuts of 50 or more autoracks?  Check.

N-S Heritage units leading coal trains into/out of Enola Yard--all the time.  I think we've seen every single Heritage unit at one time or another.

Former Alco road diesel cut down into a slug, with distinctive Alco corner notches remaining.  Check.  Exactly two remain on N-S.  One is here in Enola.

Anything UP, BNSF, or KCS at any time.

John Mock

  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 7:55 PM

I have all the NMRA Heritage/Living Legends cars that were produced in S.  Some are RTR, most are kits.  I will happily run all of them on the layout (currently under construction).  I also run billboard reefers even though my layout is set in the early 50's just because I like them. 

Most of the cars themselves are of the era even if the paint schemes were outlawed or fanciful. 

Paul

 

If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 7:07 PM

 Wasn't all that long ago I saw a NS train run through locally with an un-patched LEF (Lake Erie, Franklin, and Clarion) box car in the consist. This railroad went bye-bye in 1993, this would have been maybe 2011 and the car wasn;t even all tagged, the logo and road name was clearly visible. Was interesting because my GF is from just outside of Franklin, and went to Clarion University. 

                                   --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    September 2008
  • 216 posts
Posted by NILE on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 6:07 PM
I took a modern approach. I have a five unit HO scale intermodal 48' well car, that was CSX blue. I painted out all the CSX reporting marks. I made the A and B parts "GT" with GTW reporting markings, and sections C, D, E are two different versions of Detroit Toledo & Ironton and one Detroit Toledo & Shore Line.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Monday, November 23, 2020 2:40 PM

MisterBeasley

I probably sin when I run my billboard ice-bunker reefers.  Not only were advertising reefers and other rolling stock outlawed, but ice bunker refrigeration also faded out before my era is done.

I don't recall what era you model, but according to the book "Pacific Fruit Express" ice bunker service officially ended in the US in late 1972 after an ICC decision. The ice reefers themselves were still used in top-ice and insulated boxcar services afterwards until they were eventually retired.

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, November 23, 2020 2:24 PM

MisterBeasley

I probably sin when I run my billboard ice-bunker reefers.  Not only were advertising reefers and other rolling stock outlawed, but ice bunker refrigeration also faded out before my era is done.

 
I had some of those billboard reefers from Train Miniature, but they were outlawed before my layout's late '30s era.  I sold some of them, and re-painted a few...
 
 
 
Wayne
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, November 23, 2020 1:39 PM

I probably sin when I run my billboard ice-bunker reefers.  Not only were advertising reefers and other rolling stock outlawed, but ice bunker refrigeration also faded out before my era is done.

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

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, November 23, 2020 1:30 PM

Lazers
...I just wondered if other Modellers have a fleet or items of 'favourite' Heritage Freight stock that they like to run on their layouts...

I had to track down Kevin's earlier post on this subject, as I was uncertain as to the meaning of "Heritage Freight". 
I seem to recall having a Gorre & Daphetid boxcar, and a couple (or more) from, I think, Allen McClelland's V&O.
I either sold or gave them away, although one or two of them might have been stripped and repainted, and may be still on my layout, with no indication of their former identity.  Collecting such cars was not one of my interests and I would have bought them mainly because they were affordable.

Wayne

  • Member since
    April 2016
  • 252 posts
Heritage Freight Cars
Posted by Lazers on Monday, November 23, 2020 12:08 PM

Hi, I picked-up on Kevin's thread (August) about NMRA Heritage Stock - after reading MR (Dec 20) about the MR&T's Heritage Locos.

Watching YouTube vids of Manifests rolling by, it's amazing what still shows up on Boxcar sides, 'Southern Pacific' (Hydra-Cushion) 'Conrail', BN Cascade green etc.

I fear have developed a fetish for 57 Varities of Boxcars. Recently a light-blue one with a circular yellow crest went by. I researched this to being a Corinth & Counce and was pleased that even though Patched-out, I could identify it's Heritage. Next thing, a HO model turned-up on ebay UK CCR#61394 and the impulsive buyer in me, bid successfully.

Then I saw N&S's Heritage loco SD70 'Illinois Terminal' livery. A nice yellow and green Boxcar, ITC#80783 appeared on ebay and....

Next up on ebay was a Chicago North Western CNW#718223, I quite like the instantly recorgnisable Badge. Also, I've always liked the Delaware & Hudson loco livery & Shield - and along came Boxcar DH#24001

For the moment (I won't risk 'final') a black livery Boxcar showed-up, silver-painted Plug-door, Seaboard Coast Line SCL#28690 proclaiming 'Smooth Cushion Load' with a 'DF Loader'. Roundhouse once again, trying to pass this one off as a Plate F.

I bought these because I like them for their liveries and I research their RR Co. history. Even though, apart from the CCR, I cannot legitimately run them on my Railroad, I reasoned that N&S might have refurbished an ITC Boxcar along with their SD70 and other RR Co. have done similar, therefore I can run them all, if I want to.

Whilst this may all seem a bit 'wheels off the rails' stuff - I just wondered if other Modellers have a fleet or items of 'favourite' Heritage Freight stock that they like to run on their layouts, even though they are stretching the history record book - a bit, either thru era and/or location. Regards, Paul

"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".

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!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!