Too many gondolas - need ideas for loads

[BRAKIE]

EMD#1

Since they are going to a team track how about loads for the local track gang such as new crossties, 39' sections of rail, rail spikes (in small steel drums), tie plates or rail anchors?

Those types of loads would not go to a team track they would go to the MOW yard to be stored till needed.Spikes came in wooden barrels in boxcars and was unloaded at the MOW stores building-not left in the open.The section boss would need to sign for his supply of spikes,ties,tie plates etc so the stores department could keep a accurate record.Of course supplies for larger projects was loaded into MOW cars and moved by a special work train to the work area.This train would be kept at a outlaying yard,on a passing siding or any available track-this would include locomotive and caboose..In the steam era the engine would return to the engine service area for servicing.

[wm3798]

How about a nice weathered floor and some dunnage.  They have to return the empty sooner or later!!

Or maybe some rebar delivered to your local cement terminal...

I used lengths of stranded wire, cut to scale 20' and stripped of insulation. To simulate multiple layers, I put a layer of round toothpicks at the bottom, then laid strips of balsa wood to represent dunnage supporting the top layer. I painted the load with a blend of black and silver craft acrylics to get a dark gun metal color. A couple of washes of a brownish red rust color finish it off. Like all the loads I make, it is removable.

My favorite though, is scrap...

You can either go out and spend money on scrap loads the look pretty good, or you can follow the prototype, and make your own with junk you have drifting around your work bench.  N scalers will immediately recognize a lot of the stuff that went into that load...  Micro Trains shim plates, old Kadee wheels, sprues from various kits... among other things.  I built a "form" that matches the size of my gondola fleet, and cut a piece of styrene to next inside it.  I then threw a bunch of bits and pieces in there, and flooded it with some diluted white glue.  I let it set up over night, then went back over it with a couple of coats of red oxide primer from a rattle can.  Once it all dried, I pulled the form away, dry brushed on some highlights, and PRESTO.  Free scrap load, and cleaned up workbench, all in one stroke!

Lee

[james saunders]

How about some tractors or other machinery for the local town supply or even a load of sandbags on their way to shore up a fictional flood down the line...

[cowman]

Used to see loads of coal on gons in the 50's, probably drop bottom.  Could do sand for your sand house.

I have a couple of diesel generators that I plan to put on a flat or gon.  Any large machinery, in the open, boxed or under a tarp wouldn't be out of place.

Loads of ties or rail for a track repair crew.  Load of wheel sets coming in to the servicing facility.

They are very versitle cars, can carry most anything that can be exposed to the weather or travel tarped or crated.

Good luck,

Richard   

 

[mlehman]

Virtually anything under a tarp.

And once you have the tarp modeled, virtually anything can be under it.

[EMD#1]

Since they are going to a team track how about loads for the local track gang such as new crossties, 39' sections of rail, rail spikes (in small steel drums), tie plates or rail anchors?

[BRAKIE]

I try to think outside the normal box for gon loads so,here's what I have used.

Flat sheet steel

Angle steel

rip rap(large stones)

pipes

rebar-this is shipped in small rolls.

large ducts

old truck trailers headed for the scrapper-I actually seen such loads.

old railroad freight car trucks with and without wheels.

Telephone/utility poles-raw and treated.This makes a nice loads in/loads out industry-raw (untreated) poles in and treated poles out.

 

[chutton01]

Judging from your signature picture, you are modeling the 1950s maybe?
No matter, since you mention scrap steel, why not the obvious - steel I-bars, pipe, or rail to be used on a local project, transloaded at your team track.  Coil steel, perhaps 2 coils, lying on their sides over the trucks, with thick wood bracing below them to protect the coils from the gondola floor (and make removing them easier),
But, in the 1950s? Maybe early, primative containers like those for coke, cement, or even dry goods.

[el-capitan]

So, my trackwork is complete along with a majority of my industries which will be served by the railroad. Those that have not been completed are at least planned for in my head. My problem is that I am left with 2 gondolas that I am rather fond of and would like to incorporate into the railroad. Since there are no spots for these at any of the industries, I would like to have these loaded/unloaded on a team track (house track for us SF guys) but I am drawing a blank for what goods these could carry. Any ideas?

Also, I already have the scrap steel and scrap rail gons elsewhere and would like to avoid duplicating.

Thanks in advance for the help guys.