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Freight Cars - what should I be using? Locos and rolling stock
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Regular poster 160 posts porthos Regular poster 160 posts
porthos

My primary railroad is the Colorado & Northwestern RR, a Colorado turn of the century (1906) shelf layout. For this period I have all the research material I need.

What I need help with is the new bug. I recently stumbled across a picture of a Santa Fe GP7 threading its way between two curved buildings a "brick canyon" so to speak. So not only did I acquire the urban scenary bug but a more modern one as well.

I'm looking for resources that would help me figure out the types of freight cars one would be likely to encounter in the '70s. I have a good idea of the industries being served and the types of freight cars needed to serve them. But what is appropriate for that time period; 40 footers, 50 footers, mechanical reefers, iced reefers? What about the makeup of different railroads being represented; say 50% home road, 25% regional, 25% other? I want to model a specific area in Los Angeles either for 1972 when this particular engine (2125) received its warbonnet paint job or in 1978 when it's nose was chopped down.

Apparently my internet search skills are weak since I haven't been able to turn up anything that can give me this kind of information and my reference books are geared towards Colorado narrow gauge lines so they aren't much help with this.

I'm looking for books and internet sites that would help me figure what to get; what is available in that time frame of '72-'78. If anyone has information on the Santa Fe's "The Patch" switching district in Los Angeles that would be good too.
It's not denial. I'm very selective about the reality I accept. -- Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes)
Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
We occasionally stumble over the truth but most of pick ourselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. -- Winston Churchhill
Tardis Express: When it absolutely, positively, has to be there yesterday.
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

The Patc

Try

http://patchrailroad.net/The_Patch/Patch_Operations.html

http://www.bobsgardenpath.com/ATSF_ThePatch.html

 

For cars, one suggestion is to get an ORER for your era.. "Official Railway Equipment Register". Found on ebay. A guy sells CDs with them on disk on ebay as well.

 

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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porthos Regular poster 160 posts
porthos

Have those

Thanks, I have the two websites that you mentioned. They are both excellent, although Keith Jordan's is the most useful of the two, but neither get into the information that I'm looking for at the moment. Keith has been helpful in getting me maps of the area.

I take a look for that ORER for the '70s.
It's not denial. I'm very selective about the reality I accept. -- Calvin (Calvin & Hobbes)
Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
We occasionally stumble over the truth but most of pick ourselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened. -- Winston Churchhill
Tardis Express: When it absolutely, positively, has to be there yesterday.
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ChrisNH Super User 1,277 posts
ChrisNH

Easier in 1906

There are a number of ORERs on Google Books from the early 1900s..

You could look at those to see what it would be like and maybe decide if its worth pursuing... this one is from 1904

 

Chris

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”           My modest progress Blog
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Russ Bellinis Prolific poster 3,335 posts
Russ Bellinis

There is also the Yahoo Santa Fe list.

I joined the Santa Fe list on the Yahoo groups, and regularly receive emails of updates to the list.  If you ask a question on the list, you will be sure to receive answers, and many of the people there are extremely knowledgeable about the Santa Fe.  I would also recommend the Santa Fe Historical and Modeling Society. 

I think the early 1970's was when the Santa Fe was transitioning from ice bunker cars to mechanical reefers, so you could concievably see both types on the railroad.  Keep in mind as well that there would also be private road meat reefers from Rath, Morrell, Swift, and others still in use on the Santa Fe during that time frame.  The meat reefers were ice bunker cars and were 36 feet long.  The meat companies stayed with 36 footers long after the railroads went to 40 footers and later 50 footers because their doors on the loading docks were spaced for 36 foot car and they didn't want to make changes to their buildings.

Most boxcars would have been 50 footers, but there might have been a few left over 40 footers and the early 1970's were when some of the longer boxcars started to be produced.  In short virtually any type and size of car in common usage anywhere in the USA & Canada might have been seen in the Los Angeles area on the Santa Fe in 1972.  I don't remember ever seeing the large cylindrical grain hoppers common on Canadian roads in Los Angeles, but there are a lot fo covered hoppers.  A lot of people might be surprised at how many grain silos are scattered around the Los Angeles area.
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