05-01-2009, 12:02 AM
Greetings, Gentlemen:
When I needed flat weights for some gondolas and flat cars, I used lead "plumbing vent" flashing. This is the flashing that goes on a roof around the plumbing vent pipes. When the plumber routes the vent pipes up through the roof decking, they place the flashing over the pipe and then bend it down into the pipe to prevent rain from leaking around the hole in the roof. It consists of a base plate which is a flat piece of lead, about 12" x 12", with a 3" hole in the middle. There is a 3" lead cylinder about 12" in height soldered to the flat base. All of this lead is around 1/16" thick.
I think most plumbers have quit using the lead vents and have switched to plastic vents/gaskets/grommets. But the hardware store I shop at still carried the lead vents. The were relatively expensive, about $14+ each. Once you cut the lead cylinder and fold it flat, along with the base, there is enough lead to weight about 20 gons. I suppose this is a rather pricey solution, almost $1 per car, but, hey, if you're keeping track of the money, it ain't really a hobby!
As for the flat cars, I cut the sheet lead to the same size as the original steel weights. On some of the gons, the sheet lead fit underneath similar to the flat cars. On others, I cut the sheet lead to fit exactly inside the body of the gondola, essentially covering up the floor. With some black paint and various colors of rust, it looks pretty good.
As mentioned earlier, the lead shot out of a shotgun shell can work wonders for adding extra weight. Of course, always wash your hands thoroughly after working with lead, and cutting open live ammunition can never be recommended.
When I needed flat weights for some gondolas and flat cars, I used lead "plumbing vent" flashing. This is the flashing that goes on a roof around the plumbing vent pipes. When the plumber routes the vent pipes up through the roof decking, they place the flashing over the pipe and then bend it down into the pipe to prevent rain from leaking around the hole in the roof. It consists of a base plate which is a flat piece of lead, about 12" x 12", with a 3" hole in the middle. There is a 3" lead cylinder about 12" in height soldered to the flat base. All of this lead is around 1/16" thick.
I think most plumbers have quit using the lead vents and have switched to plastic vents/gaskets/grommets. But the hardware store I shop at still carried the lead vents. The were relatively expensive, about $14+ each. Once you cut the lead cylinder and fold it flat, along with the base, there is enough lead to weight about 20 gons. I suppose this is a rather pricey solution, almost $1 per car, but, hey, if you're keeping track of the money, it ain't really a hobby!
As for the flat cars, I cut the sheet lead to the same size as the original steel weights. On some of the gons, the sheet lead fit underneath similar to the flat cars. On others, I cut the sheet lead to fit exactly inside the body of the gondola, essentially covering up the floor. With some black paint and various colors of rust, it looks pretty good.
As mentioned earlier, the lead shot out of a shotgun shell can work wonders for adding extra weight. Of course, always wash your hands thoroughly after working with lead, and cutting open live ammunition can never be recommended.
Three Foot Rule In Effect At All Times