friend611I have used videos of period film to determine what freight cars to purchase for my 1950's N&W layout. The have been especially useful in determining what was carried in N&W merchandise freights. lois
A excellent method..Another method is panoramic views of yards-look beyond the subject of the photo.
You tube has several vintage super 8 and VCR films.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
sandusky An author in MR from the 80s or so suggested 80% home road and 20% other iirc. I find that ratio more useful with a smaller (whatever that means) amount of rolling stock, but it does help show an identity for the railroad. I like varied rolling stock, so don't always stick to the above recommendation.
An author in MR from the 80s or so suggested 80% home road and 20% other iirc. I find that ratio more useful with a smaller (whatever that means) amount of rolling stock, but it does help show an identity for the railroad. I like varied rolling stock, so don't always stick to the above recommendation.
I recall that too and knew the fella was blowing smoke and wasn't even in the ball park with those figures and that was just from my railfan observations-not to mention my years working as a brakeman.
I have no idea where he got that misleading 80/20 ratio.
The ratios that have been developed are just guesses. The only way to tell would be to have a list of every car in a given time period.
Somewhere I read an article about a modeler, who, is modeling a specific location on a specific day . He was able to obtain the make-up of every train that went through that location. He dupilcated every train with correct engines and cars (types and reporting marks). He modeled as many of the cars as he could based on photos taken close to that time period.
Many small railroads have no revenue cars. So on them the number of home road cars is zero. In the '70's some small railroads made money with "per diem" box cars. When the market for them disappeared the cars were returned to the owner. At least one railroad did not own enoudh track to store them all.
The ratio will be different for every railroad and also be dependent on location on the railroad.
Somewhere in my computer I have a switch list for a Western Pacific local of about 20 cars. On that particular train there were 4 or 5 Southern Pacific cars. No Western Pacific cars and 1 or at most 2 cars from other railroads.
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.
DSchmittSomewhere in my computer I have a switch list for a Western Pacific local of about 20 cars. On that particular train there were 4 or 5 Southern Pacific cars. No Western Pacific cars and 1 or at most 2 cars from other railroads.
I recall several PRR urban locals that was about the same except once a week there would be 4-5 Santa Fe covered hoppers loaded with sand that went to a foundry.There was another alcohol distributer that received several Milwaukee Road boxcars a week..
From my modern railfan observations I fully believe the ratio would be 50/30/20-50% home road cars,30% lease cars and 20% foreign road cars..This is due to the mega mergers that resulted in seamless transportation..
You can load a NS boxcar in Kansas City for Savannah,Ga and it will never leave NS rail.
BRAKIEYou can load a NS boxcar in Kansas City for Savannah,Ga and it will never leave NS rail.
On the other hand there was a class of Western Pacific box cars that never touched WP rails. They went from the manufacturer directly into a pool service and were evendually scraped without ever going "home".
DSchmittOn the other hand there was a class of Western Pacific box cars that never touched WP rails
Wasn't those the 86' 4 door autopart boxcars?
BRAKIE DSchmitt On the other hand there was a class of Western Pacific box cars that never touched WP rails Wasn't those the 86' 4 door autopart boxcars?
DSchmitt On the other hand there was a class of Western Pacific box cars that never touched WP rails
It was a shorter car I don't remember the service., but it definately was not the 86 foot cars which served an autoplant in Fremont (San Francisco Bay area).
I have a photo of one in storage on the Sacramento Northern in Yuba City. It was in rough shape and had no doors.
The WP cars had a single set of double plug doors on centered on each side. Similar Southern Pacific cars had four doors. Two sets of double plug doors on eack side.
No,