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HO scale Brekina trucks

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 2:46 PM

AntonioFP45

Sheldon,

your post caught my eye as I remember seeing Carolina Freight Trucks, up and down the southeastern U.S, back in the day.  I'm interested in modeling some of the trucks / trailers that they used during the 60's-70's time period. 

I vaguely remember seeing, what I thought, were trailers that appeared to be from the 50's due to their shorter lengths and heights. But of course, although I was observant as a kid, I realize that childhood memories are finnicky Wink

 

In my teenage years, my father was the Baltimore terminal manager for CAROLINA.

You may not be aware, but back in those days, CAROLINA was the largest common carrier trucking operation east of the Mississippi.

Before deregulation, which also brought about more uniform equipment regulations nation wide, most states in the east had length restrictions that required the use of Cab-over sleeper tractors to pull 40', and then the new 45' vans.

Carolina and most east coast haulers still used 32' and 35' vans for LTL pickups and deliveries in urban areas, so yes you would have seen older/shorter trailers, often pulled by older tractors like the B model Macks.

Carolina had a large fleet of FORD 9000 COE sleepers for over the road traffic. In fact, by my memory, FORD 9000 COE's and Mack B models (and few newer Macks) made up the bulk of the fleet.

Carolina had their own engine/transmission rebuilding shop at the home office in Cherryville NC, and had full service shops at most of their terminals. 

Because I worked for my father on occasion as the fill in janitor, I actually watched several Mack B61's get the full frame off rebuild and restoration in the mid 70's. When they were done they were museum quality new, just head back out on the streets of Baltimore again.

This hot rod I restored/rebuilt at age 19 also got painted in that shop by the lead mechanic one weekend......

So the Athearn combo offered a few years back with the B61 pulling a 40' van is very correct for the 70's or even early 80's. I have a few of them, as well as 32' vans that Walthers offered in the 80's along with their 75' piggyback cars.

I don't know how long the Macks lasted, my father left CAROLINA about 1980.

Sheldon

 

    

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 1,162 posts
Posted by PC101 on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 6:10 AM




My mistake, it was not A-Line, it was Rail Power Products (in kit form), well they both have yellow package labels at the top of the bags, so easy mistake for me, and Athearn tractor and trailer (RTR) made Carolina trucking Co. items. 


 

 

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 5:08 AM

Sheldon,

your post caught my eye as I remember seeing Carolina Freight Trucks, up and down the southeastern U.S, back in the day.  I'm interested in modeling some of the trucks / trailers that they used during the 60's-70's time period. 

I vaguely remember seeing, what I thought, were trailers that appeared to be from the 50's due to their shorter lengths and heights. But of course, although I was observant as a kid, I realize that childhood memories are finnicky Wink

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 9:10 PM

PC101

 

 
amill32073

I have a question concerning the Brekina trucks.  What type of trailers would be recommended to use with the trucks.  I am in particular interested in finding an appropriate trailer for the Brekina 1953-1966 Mack B61 Tractor (85975)

 

Andy

 

 

 

What time frame are you looking for? If the model B61 was built from 1953 to 1966, it could be pulling a trailer built from 1943 or earlier up to 1976 and later. I would need to look at photos of the time frame that I would be modeling. 

 

True enough, CAROLINA FEIGHT used B model Macks for local delivery as late as 1980. In fact they had an extensive in house maintenance program for their equipment and did complete "restorations" of B models in particular to keep them in service.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 1,162 posts
Posted by PC101 on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 8:46 PM

amill32073

I have a question concerning the Brekina trucks.  What type of trailers would be recommended to use with the trucks.  I am in particular interested in finding an appropriate trailer for the Brekina 1953-1966 Mack B61 Tractor (85975)

 

Andy

 

What time frame are you looking for? If the model B61 was built from 1953 to 1966, it could be pulling a trailer built from 1943 or earlier up to 1976 and later. I would need to look at photos of the time frame that I would be modeling. 

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Monday, December 11, 2023 10:34 PM

Classic Metal Works makes very nice 32' AeroVan trailers correct for that period.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • 16 posts
HO scale Brekina trucks
Posted by amill32073 on Monday, December 11, 2023 9:52 PM

I have a question concerning the Brekina trucks.  What type of trailers would be recommended to use with the trucks.  I am in particular interested in finding an appropriate trailer for the Brekina 1953-1966 Mack B61 Tractor (85975)

 

Andy

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