OK, time to noob out here. This little bracket appears on a lot of rolling stock, but it isn't modeled in all HO cars:


My question to you experts out there is: what is it? And is there a detail part out there that can be used to add it to models missing it?

Many thanks!

(oops, double post)

I'm guessing a defect card holder?

--Randy

I think that it may be a routing card holder.

Regardless of what it is, I included a "representation" of one on this X-29 boxcar, using a small segment cut from a piece of stainless steel intake grill:


Here's the prototype:


And the model, painted and partially lettered:


Wayne

Wayne, I think you are right. Most defect card holders I have seen are tube shaped and have a cover so the card will stay somewhat readable. I did find a car once with a bad knuckle kicker, and the defect card had it listed and was 7 years old.
I couldn't locate a picture of a defect card holder in my collection
Charlie

Charlie B Wrote:Wayne, I think you are right. Most defect card holders I have seen are tube shaped and have a cover so the card will stay somewhat readable. I did find a car once with a bad knuckle kicker, and the defect card had it listed and was 7 years old.
I couldn't locate a picture of a defect card holder in my collection
Charlie

Now that I can help with, since the railroads thoughtfully label them:


These are from the same cars I featured above.

P5se Camelback Wrote:To: Paulman in Orlando (and anyone else who might be interested) ...]

Yep, I'll be there on Friday. Hotel was all filled, so I opted to hoof over to catch the panels I wanted to see all in one day. I hope the last shuttle isn't going up that Friday, or the commute will be insane...

doctorwayne Wrote:I think that it may be a routing card holder.

Regardless of what it is, I included a "representation" of one on this X-29 boxcar, using a small segment cut from a piece of stainless steel intake grill:

Nice hack, Wayne, and a routing card holder sounds logical. But would these crop up on modern cars? These two cars are probably a couple of decades old, but still...

This car has one and looks brand new:


There must be detail parts for this and the defect card. I did locate detail parts for AEI tags, which is a similar level of optional detail.

They prolly are route card holders. We always shoved home shop or bad order cards in there... honestly never saw any other card in them.

Paulman[Now [i Wrote:that [/i]I can help with, since the railroads thoughtfully label them:


These are from the same cars I featured above.

Thanks Paul, exactly what I was hunting
Charlie

Route card holder it is:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ecatalog.americanrailcar.com/product/18b20cd2-6c4c-4331-b5e0-8b025799e7ac.aspx">http://ecatalog.americanrailcar.com/pro ... 9e7ac.aspx</a><!-- m -->
Thanks, guys.

I'll keep looking, but this is all an initial search has turned up. I don't see much difference between this steam-era version and modern ones:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.steamfreightcars.com/modeling/new%20products/freest/carcut-rtecrdmain.html">http://www.steamfreightcars.com/modelin ... dmain.html</a><!-- m -->

If I were to take a guess at it, I would say it is for bad order repairs, once it is in the car mens shop. Most temporary routing locations are on a small piece of wood, which speeds the job of the clerk, as he can use a staple gun of sorts to attach the order.
I could be, and it is very likely, that I am wrong.

Matt

I'll have to take notice on the new cars, but I know the 14 years I was in the business, I never saw or filled out a route card. I find it hard to believe they even would still put the holder on the cars. All cars now have the magnetic tags for the scanners, and the cars are all interchanged over the Internet. Even the bill of lading is done on the web.
NS was charging $50 for every bill of lading that was faxed. I think the crew gets a print-out of the cars in their train and the material that is in the car for Haz_Mat regulations.

That is in fact a Bad Order card holder.