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[billski]

Help!!! Recently I purchased some cards to operate my layout realistically and I cannot find what letters to use to identify auto racks, cushion coil cars, and hoppers that carry plastic pellets/grain. I printed out the AAR Mechanical Designations (http://members.rogers.com/iancranstone2001/aartype.html and talk about being confused! Is there anyone out there who can help and make it not so difficult?[:(]

[joseph2]

Looks like auto rack flats are FA,all covered hoppers are LO.The fine print one one of my cushioned coil cars says it is a GBSR,a godola with covers for coil hauling.

[ndbprr]

yes and no. Obviously the AAR designations have to cover every contingency so it is somewhat complex and very lengthy. In order to be accurate as possible in assigning cars to loads the railroads require that degree of sophistication. However, for model railroads you could just choose some of the dsignations for say box cars, flats, TOFC, etc. Which ones you use is strictly up to you or you could make up your own like B=box, F-flat, T=tank, TOFC = TOFC, etc.

[billski]

Thanks for the response - It seems that it would be simpler to model the early steam era but I like all the modern diesels and cars as well. Anyway thanks again