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I just made a comment in this weeks photo fun that my Gern facility wasn't getting much traffic. I know I can fix that on my layout by getting more cars. I don't mean painting them, as RR company owned will work. But what if your Gern car showed up at Gern of WVa. or my Gern car showed up at your facility. I even have 2 Gern tractor trailers. Just a thought Nope Eek Thumbsup
Mr. Perry ...

Are you suggesting a GERN industries Car Swap ... or maybe a One-of-Yours-for-One-of-Mine Swap?

That might not be a bad idea, as long as swapping partners both model in the same era. We'd need a listing of who is "lost" in what Time Period. Like for me, it's always 1936, in the fall ... I miss the fall colors, living here in Florida, so I'm having them on my layout.

But it does sound like an interesting idea!
I was just going to ask that bil! I guess another possibility is to duplicate Gern cars other members have made and photograph them on our layouts.
Ralph
I like the car swap Idea, I think. But maybe not as a keeper. I have heard of this kind of idea but not sure how it works. Perhaps get information swap between all who are interested. Then start sending the cars around amongst ourselves. I don't know for sure. Lets start throwing Ideas around and see what we can come up with.
We've done something similar almost seven years ago. We used a "Gauge" HO scale box car I painted and decaled for the "Gauge Railway". An N scale also did a tour, but it was a custom job that I did for the guy then traveled from layout to layout on its way home(British Columbia I think).

Anywa, I don't think the original stories made it over here, you'll have to got to the "Old Place" and do a search.
The only traveling car problem is those little critters seem to just up and disappear sometimes.

I would like to suggest decal sets for boxcars,covered hoppers and road vehicles.say in a dark green or red to be used on either grey or white bodies.(dark blue would work too)
Sounds cool to me, but I am the odd man out being my personal layout is in O and S scales Icon_lol I am in the process of helping form an HO club in Obetz Ohio, and maybe a virtual switch list would be a good Idea say member a has a rail car say a boxcar and sends it to member b who has the same type car in staging(preferably same road number and railroad name or Gern name and number ) then member b sends it to member c and so on. If it works out good then some added challenge would be to send out one and receive one in one move. All gern cars should be simple basic models that would be typically found across all scales. Just a thought. It would save on shipping actual models across country Smile
Catt Wrote:The only traveling car problem is those little critters seem to just up and disappear sometimes.

I would like to suggest decal sets for boxcars,covered hoppers and road vehicles.say in a dark green or red to be used on either grey or white bodies.(dark blue would work too)

You beat me to the post Icon_lol
Catt Wrote:... I would like to suggest decal sets for boxcars,covered hoppers and road vehicles.say in a dark green or red to be used on either grey or white bodies.(dark blue would work too)

I think the decal idea has some merit, but I would suggest that because of different eras, car types and of course, scales, there is still a problem. Because even if the era and scale situations could be overcome, the color thing is always a consideration. Basic black and white decals would seem to address most situations, I would guess, except for possibly some sort of industry specific (GERN?) car that would not be the typical boxcar red, black or grey.

O.K., that's my initial two cents ... but I reserve the right to throw three more coppers into the pot after I've had an opportunity to let the problem simmer on the back burner for a period of time!
Right, the differences in scales and eras are an issue, as are the time, inconvenience, and possible loss and damage involved in mailing a car all over the place. That's why I think selectively copying each others cars might be the easy answer. If we had a GERN rolling stock thread in which members posted their already existing cars we could renovate a car of our own, or obtain a similar one, and decorate and number it to look like the original. Then it could be photographed on our own layouts as if it had been interchanged from the original owners. Steam era folks could emulate other steam era modelers and create similar wood sided cars while more contemporary modelers could mimic each others covered hoppers...regardless of scale. There is already a lot of diversity among GERN rolling stock so this could be very flexible and fun!

Just a thought!
Ralph
Don't forget that your GERN operation doesn't have to use GERN cars - the option of cars lettered for GERN is for those interested (and capable) of making their own, while others can simply use whatever is available in their scale and operating era. I have only six cars lettered for GERN (with a seventh under construction), but you're just as likely to see cars from my free-lanced home road or any of my more prototypical cars on GERN's loading tracks.
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[Image: Full-sizedGERNfoe-toes001.jpg]

Wayne
Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that GERN Ind. Ltd. was pretty much created by, and in the charge of, Doctorwayne, and that there was a "Master" list of active GERN Ltd. cars out there, so as to prevent duplication.

Judging from his recent post above mine, he did not mention his efforts to record the active GERN roster, so maybe I am wrong. I also plan on including a GERN Ind. presence on my layout. I just want to make sure that, whatever we do, we do not defeat any of Doctorwayne's ideas of what is or is not appropriate, since it's pretty much his baby.
wow lots of interest in this idea, sounds like fun.

Does this sound logical? GERN should receive raw materials from other cars(non gern cars) and generate Gern product to be carried to other Gern industries to aid in manufacturing other Gern products via gern railcars?
You're right, Dave, there is a "master list" of car numbers and their owners. It was created to avoid duplicate numbers, although I don't really mind if people want to pursue this idea. I'd simply add the duplicates under the name of original owner of the number, with a note on who owns copies. I have sold some GERN stuff locally ('70s-era equipment) and figured if there's somebody around here interested in it, it was probably best to not duplicate the numbers, just in case I ever have more that that same person might be inclined to buy. Wink 357
I'm not a big fan of mailing cars around the country (it's difficult to package well-enough to avoid damage and still make it easy to re-package for sending on to the next recipient, and it's also more expensive as the size of the package increases). Besides that, I have a very tough time parting with stuff which I've built, even if it no longer fits into my operating scheme. Those of you who have bought rolling stock from me (particularly Mister Nutbar) are well- aware of this. Wink Goldth

Since GERN is intended to be a traffic generating industry, I doubt that most will bother to do sufficient GERN cars to fulfill all of the traffic requirements. My plant has a siding capacity of more than 15 cars, and I can, if I wish, switch it several times a day. Eek This gives me the opportunity to bring in cars from all over North America, either delivering supplies from somewhere else, or as empties for loading with GERN products destined for somewhere on their home road. For instance, if a reefer brings a load of oranges from Florida to a town on my layout, then, after it's been emptied and is heading for its home rails and happens to pass near the GERN plant in Port Maitland, the local agent may re-route it for loading at GERN - perhaps there's a shipment of bagged, boxed, or tinned product heading to a customer in Georgia and there are no other empties available. A useable car, headed in the proper direction is better than leaving the freight on the loading dock, despite the fact that my home road or GERN won't be earning any per diem charges, since they don't own the car.

Wayne
I just thought it might be interesting / fun to see what happened. Dr wayne said something about the package size increasing. Lost me there. I am not keen on building more cars so they all match. I would be willing to mail one or two Gern cars out to guys who model HO Gern and would take great care of whatever might be sent to me. This way I could see someone else s Gern traffic on my road. Also I would Photo it and post it here or a designated thread so all could enjoy. The cars could be forwarded at a given time either back to home layout or another participating layout. I think it would be wise to send a card with owner information in the package. As far as scale goes other than HO is concerned, all I could do is paint up an O scale tanker as I have one here collecting dust. Lets get more ideas but keep it simple.
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