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+--- Thread: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's (/showthread.php?tid=9915)
Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-20-2024
Good day everyone.
I want to share my rail car photos from the late 70's for the modelers that like to weather their cars. I did manage to take quite a few photos ad I will try to enlarge some areas so the details can be seen a little better.
Charlie
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-20-2024
My first offering will be this Rock Island box car that was on a westbound in April, 1977.
It is well used but still very serviceable.
Here is an enlargement of the "A" end. Note the ladder still goes to the roofwalk and the lettering is still readable.
The B end shows the lettering is still good too. Also notice the trucks and wheels. The old cars with friction bearings did not rust on the outside because there was always oil leaking from the journal boxes. The wheels would get as much as an inch of oily dirt built up an them and it was almost impossible to get off.
As for the door, they had to be latched, either in the full closed or full open position before they were supposed to leave the yard. Rules were not always followed.
Charlie
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - tompm - 07-20-2024
Thank you, Charlie. This is something that is truly a valuable resource.
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - hillyard999 - 07-20-2024
(07-20-2024, 07:51 AM)Charlie B Wrote: My first offering will be this Rock Island box car that was on a westbound in April, 1977.
It is well used but still very serviceable.
...Charlie
Nice pictures of a time gone by.
Most strikingly, there is no graffitti, which I detest.
I am amazed at what currently passes for normal "weathering" on freight cars today.
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-21-2024
Here is a nice 40 footer still running around making money in 1977. Notice some of the patched lettering. And no graffiti.
Charlie
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-21-2024
Here is a link to the KarTrak tag information. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KarTrak
Charlie
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-22-2024
One thing I noticed that I have never seen is the lettering for "ten steel" by the door. I am assuming this would be Cor-ten steel.
Charlie
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-22-2024
Here is a well used hopper that was on the siding on the west side of town in February of 1977. Yes, it is on Conrail trackage.
A blow up of the wheel section shows the difference in the weathering of friction bearings and roller bearings.
Charlie
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-26-2024
This car was set off in May 1977 due to an insecure load.
rather than the fault of the folks that secured the load. It is something that would be easy to model (a car set off due to a load shift) with most any cargo. We do tend to ignore the problems found on a railroad which could add interest to an operating session.
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - TMo - 07-26-2024
Great shots, Charlie - and very useful. My mom currently lives within walking distance of the Nor-Bath main which mostly serviced the multitude of concrete mills on the north side of the Lehigh Valley with interchanges with both the LV and the EL. Sadly, the Nor-Bath is no more (along with the LNE, Ironton, CNJ and a few others that used to inhabit the area) - but you can walk or bike on a portion of it.
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-30-2024
This is a good example of the need for bulk head gondolas. N&W had a large fleet of them but this one was loaded one pipe width too high. . A "DO NOT HUMP" sign should have been applied and observed. This would be an easy model and another addition to require a set off in a modeling operating session.
Charlie
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - hillyard999 - 07-30-2024
Charlie,
I've seen model railroads that have piled their loads too high as well.
This is a great prototype photo why this should not be done.
thanks for sharing!
hillyard
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - BR60103 - 07-30-2024
Charlie: There is a video somewhere of a train making an emergency stop. When it starts again, you can see automobiles that have shifted and are poking out the doors on the ends of the cars.
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - Charlie B - 07-30-2024
(07-30-2024, 07:26 PM)BR60103 Wrote: Charlie: There is a video somewhere of a train making an emergency stop. When it starts again, you can see automobiles that have shifted and are poking out the doors on the ends of the cars.
Well speaking of cars, You really need to be careful of routing as this July, 1979 Chessie photo shows. I guess these folks had a delay on the delivery of their new Granada.
RE: Rail Cars and details of the late 1970's - LiveSteamer - 07-31-2024
Great photo's Charlie and a very good resource for those wanting to get those little details.