GERN LO

[Gary S]

Here are the newest additions to the GERN Texas Division fleet.

I am including a poll because I am desiring some feedback on the weathering. Constructive criticism wanted! I think I tend to go overboard sometimes, just want to hear from the rest of you. Please be honest as this will help me to do a better job in the future. Thanks!



5653 and 5650


5655 and 5652

[doctorwayne]

Depending on the commodity carried, covered hoppers can get especially dirty, and, of course, they're subject to the same environmental conditions as any other car, too.
The TH&B's covered hoppers, mostly in phosphate service, I think, were so "weathered" that you could barely tell that they were actually painted black. The ones below look like they've been attacked by a squadron of pigeons:





Your cars? I like 'em.

Wayne

[Gary S]

Thanks Wayne,

Those pics of yours are right on target. I see alot of rib-sided covered hoppers at the BNSF Mykawa yard on my way to work each day. They are generally pretty "grungy." That's the look I was aiming for. However, I was wondering if GERN Industries would have washed their cars on a regular basis... my assumption is that the Texas Division doesn't waste any time on that!

[BR60103]

Are Gern cars 3% cleaner or 3% filthier?

On those TH&BRy cars, is there one clean panel at each end?

[doctorwayne]

On those TH&BRy cars, is there one clean panel at each end?

That's right; with no loading hatch on the roof above, little of the lading would be spilled there, to later be washed down the sides in those areas. The partial panels near the ends of the cars are inset somewhat, too, protecting them from any run-off. Note that the first car has 6 square hatches (three per side), while the newer car in the second photo has 8 round ones.

Wayne

[Gary S]

I experimented a bit with my camera settings. This is the best I could do. Max res is only 1600 x 1200.

[Ralph]

Look real good to me Gary! Nice work! Wish I had some.
Ralph

[Russ Bellinis]

Looks good Gary. I think how cars weather will depend on what commodity they haul. I'm not sure that any railroad wastes time and money washing freight cars, other than washing out the inside of reefers, corn oil tanks, or other cars carrying food products. They way silos work, not much if anything is going to be spilled when loading a covered hopper through the hatches, but I found out in a tour of the Cemex cement plant in Victorville, Ca at the 2008 NMRA convention that everything in or around a cement plant is covered with very fine cement dust in a short time without any cement spilling during the loading operation.

[MasonJar]

Depending on the commodity carried, covered hoppers can get especially dirty, ...

Well, if they are carrying roasted Flux-phate, then I suppose that's normal. If however, they are involved with the shipment of dessert-grade Flux, then someone should be getting a reprimand...!

They look great.

Andrew

[Trucklover]

Gary, I think the cars are right on and i love them!! They look well used and like they have seen many many years of hard service! Right on man, great work!

[LynnB]

Looks very good Gary , only suggestion would be to weather the logos them selves a bit more.

[Gary S]

Thanks for the compliment and the suggestion, Lynne. And the more I look at the photos, the more I think I need a higher res camera!

[doctorwayne]

Gary, my current "point and shoot" camera is rated at 4.0 mega pixels, while the camera which I used prior to that was my daughter's older 2.0 mega pixel model. Here's a sample picture from the old one:


I also used it for this view, and, in my opinion, the depth of field is better than the newer camera:


Maybe your camera just needs a fresh floppy?

Wayne

[sgtcarl1]

Personnally, I think some of newer digital stuff is pretty much inferior to the older cameras. The better qualiy 35's are hard to beat!!
If only they weren't so heavy.......

[sgtcarl1]

Personally, I think some of the newer digital cameras are inferior to the older cameras. The good quality 35's are hard to beat!! If only they weren't so heavy...