USDA Agriculture weighing car

I found another picture of one here:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=286972&nseq=6

I don't know exactly how they are used.

Rick

fgwx200000

It is a scale calibration car.

http://thecrhs.org/Images/FGWX-200000-Reading-PA-380?pid=1270

Doug 

FGWX200000

Thanks Doug.

Here it is in Green

August 7th 2006 CSX South Philadelphia Greenwhich yard.  

Where to start

A friend of mine insist that I need to build this car and run it on my layout.  After thinking about it and learning more about the car, I think he has a good point!  So what would be a good starting point for modeling this car?

It would be an interesting build

My first thought was a Red Caboose X-29, because of the smooth ends and riveted side panels.  Looking more closely, I don't think that would work.  Realistically, I see two options.  Ideally, you'd have to scratch build the model to really get it right.  A somewhat simpler option would be to take something like a 50' box car and shorten it by removing the door, leaving just the solid side panels.  Those ends would probably have to be scratch built, although there are a few box car models out there with end doors.  I think Bowser makes a B&O or PRR car like that.  Maybe you could kitbash two of those together to get the required length.

Decals

Well, I have started into the task of building this car!  I started out with an old Bachmann plug door boxcar.  We cut the doors out and shortened the car down to the proper length and added a door to the A end per the prototype.  I added the the windows to the sides and after a little more detail work the car should be ready for paint!  But here is my question.  What can i do for decals?????    

Decals for scale test car

Dustin:

You could hunt for a while for commercial decals, but I'd vote for making your own.  I tried this within the past year, and there is definitely a trial and error component to getting what you like, but if you have a graphics program you can work with, a color printer can make nice decals if you use a kit (I used the Testor's custom decal kit; there may be better ones.)  For the grain scale test car, in orange or green, it looks like you would have to use the white decal paper rather than clear.  The good news is that the photos in this string appear to contain a lot of detail you could use to make a good set of markings in the correct size.  You could also choose your own railroad or organization for markings.

Good luck, and please post photos of your work!

Rog

Warts and All....

This is what I started with.  A Bachmann 50' Plug door box car.

And Here it is slightly modified....

My goal here was not to build a 100% prototypical model but to recreate a good enough stand in of this car.  I chose to leave the B end alone and just modify the A end for the doors.  The roof walk has been removed and Tichy windows added.  I still have some fine tuning and small finishing details to add after the decals and weathering, but all and all I'm pretty happy with the way this car turned out!

Decals

You could probably get the correct font from a letter set from Micro Scale, but for the insignias you will probably need to make your own up.

B End

Does anyone know what the black hose is for that is coming out of the B end.  You can see it in the link that Rick posted.   

Although I didn't model the B end of the car, I did add the black hose to my model!

USDA official web site

I thought this might be of interest to someone.  I'm still trying to find a good clear image that shows that older USDA seal.

http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/

	Scale Testing and Test Weight Certification
	GIPSA provides official testing for a variety of scales used in official grain weight certification under the USGSA including Automatic Bulk Weighing (Hopper) scales, Vehicle scales, Railroad track scales and small Platform scales used in commodity check weighing. This service is performed by GIPSA Industrial Specialists or by a delegated State Agency that has been authorized by GIPSA to perform the official services. Currently, authorized delegated State Agencies include the Department of Agriculture in the states of Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington and California. Railroad Track Scale testing service is provided by GIPSA using five special designed Test Weight Carts of calibrated weight up to 110,000 pounds traceable to NIST that are transported on the rail lines in special box car units with self contained power generation and hoist equipment. (GIPSA’s newest unit FGWX700000, one of two railroad cars that replaced two 50 year old test car units) GIPSA is accredited under the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Metrology certification program for calibrating Class F test weight field standards from 25 to 10,000 pounds providing weight traceability to NIST standards. GIPSA calibrates it own test weight standards used in the Test Car Units. GIPSA also provides special service to calibrate test weight standards on site inside Grain Elevator headhouses. This calibration service utilizes portable equipment that is set up at a calibration station in the grain elevator in accordance with GIPSA requirements as set forth in Chaper III of the Weighing Handbook. If you would like additional information, please contact Byron School, FGIS, Policies, Procedures and Market Analysis Branch via email at Byron.C.School@usda.gov or telephone 1-202-720-0280.

Here it is

Well I finally got around to making the decals for the car.  I used transparent decal sheets from Testors and my Ink Jet Printer.  I made the artwork using Microsoft Works.  I didn't follow the prototype exactly, but its pretty close.

That's the spirit!

grain inspection car

Dustin: I built one of these cars about 15 years ago. A customer of mine sent some copies of the logo for the car, i gave him a price to build it and he never got back with me. So I used the logos to build the car. I believe I used an Athearn 50 foot car to make it. I still use the car to inspect the scales at the Grain Elevator on my layout.