Tank car era question

[Charlie B]

how you have incorporated everyday items into convincing scenes helps motivate me to get away from meticulous research and just build something that looks convincing.

Kevin, that section of your quote is the answer to having fun modeling. I think it is true you can spend too much time researching. Learning comes with building as far as I am concerned. If it makes you happy, then that is good. In this case Ralph liked these cars and would have made them work, it just happens they do, and he got a terrific buy too. I know of some folks that wanted to do something but their research was fruitless so they abandoned the projects. If there is nothing to be found then who is to say if you are right or wrong.
Charlie