Freight car decal & Conrail questions

[Dave V]

Okay guys, if I'm gonna do Conrail circa 1980 correctly as my layout's second era (the first being PRR 1956), I want to do it right.

Along with a replacement for the MT PC MicroTrains 50' boxcar I screwed up weathering, I ordered a Trainman Railbox car with big logo (per Ed's website, seems they're accurate!), and a set of Microscale ACI bar codes.

Question the first:  Are the Microscale Consolidated Lube Plates (http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=60-4126) OK for 1975-1980?  They say "1985+" but damned if I can read 'em.

Question the second:  Which Microscale sheet has the wheel inspection dots in N scale?

Now, on to the next subject...

Conrail.  I noticed Atlas' 50' Precision Design boxcars all come with the really tiny CR logos...  When were those used?  It looks to me from photos that circa 1980 Conrail had the really big logo.  Would the Atlas cars need to be repainted/decaled?

I figured the 50' PC boxcar I messed up can be used again.  I'll repaint it into a later PC scheme (all white with stencil letters) and maybe up-size the door and trim down the end ladders while I'm at it...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Dave
There were two (maybe three?) Atlas PD cars in CR. I can shoot photos for you if you want to compare em.

They did the big logos on the yellow "clean loading" cars. I think they alternate the schemes on production runs. I know they've done 4 different yellow door numbers.

I think the smaller logos started appearing in the mid 80s, but I don't recall any photo evidence to back that up. I'm relying on wishful thinking

[ljudice]

Clean LADING!

Check the Larry DeYoung "Color Guide to CR Freight Equipment" or photos before doing anything conrail related. Larry worked for Conrail and claims there were really no standard lettering/painting plans for all car types and even when they were, the rules were often violated.


Lou

[ljudice]

BTW - in very early CR days:

 - the PC and EL shops used green and maroon paint to paint up freight cars with
    home made stencils

- numerous oddball paintschemes - the giant can opener, for example.

[Allentown Hump]

I think the smaller logos started appearing in the mid 80s, but I don't recall any photo evidence to back that up. I'm relying on wishful thinking

Conrail Color Guide. I forget the page but the photo was from '88 or so...

[ai5629]

Dave,

First, the Microscale lube plate set is good for 1980 if you use the ones that are a rectangle divided in two, either vertically or horizontally.  This type of lube plate was used by Conrail (and every other railroad) until approximately June or July 1981.  As far as inspection dots go, I have a sheet, 60-193 (boxcar data I think is the name) that has inspection dots on it.  But, I will say this sheet is at least 10 years old, and I don't know if Microscale still makes it or includes the dots on it anymore.  For Conrail and PC decals, use 60-862 for Conrail reporting marks and logos and 60-1094 and 60-1096 for Penn Central cars.  The PC sets serve as the source for the demi-data for the CR cars also.  If you need large CR logos, use Oddballs decals 86' Conrail boxcar set.  In regards to the Atlas 50' Rib Side Single Door Boxcars (ACF PD), otherwise know as X71's, you want these cars: Atlas 45281 CR166313 and Atlas 45282 CR166721.  There is a small thing that needs fixed on these cars however.  They have a reweigh date of 12-85 (perfect for Ed!).  Here is the fix, take some 600 grit sandpaper, and using Microsol for lubrication, sand off the CRHP and 12-85.  Replace with a CR DL and 3-80 or 4-80.  Conrail started painted these cars in mass starting in March of 1980 or so.  They continued until early 1981 in this particular paint scheme.  For an example of an "as painted" car, go the the Fallen Flags web site, and find car 166103.  If you wanted to mess around with the Penn Central MT car, you could attempt to add a 10' door and repaint it as a Peroria and Eastern (PC subsidery) 944B.  Refer to the PC color guide, page 39.  Let us know how it works out if you do.  If you have any other CR quesions, please ask.  I model Conrail in a June 1984 timeframe, so I should be able to help you out.  Before I forget, you want to look for the following Atlas car, 33683 CR369161.  This is a 50' FGE plug door boxcar, a CR X73 reweighed in 5-79.  All you need to do is weather and go (I added MT stock car stirrups, 1023's, and miner brake when also!).  And don't forget both MT 50' fishbelly drop end gondolas.  I don't know there numbers off hand, but they have 1978 reweigh dates, and they are pretty good representations of G31A's.  As close as you are going to get in N scale anyway!  These cars end up on Ebay occasionally, so that is the best place to find them if you cannot find them at a LHS or online store.  I hope this helps you.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Conrail giganto logo to about 1979
Conrail midsized logo with "Conrail" on top (usially) to about 1986-87
Conrail micro logo 87+
Conrail micro + Quality Q 1992+

Different shops started at different times and there were always transitional experiments.

[Dave V]

Wow, guys, thanks!!!

[ljudice]

MS 60-193 is still listed as active and last set I picked up still had the dots on it...

Lou

[Wlal13again]

Dave,
 You can make a nice 1980 era coal train with the Atlas 90 tonners in CR, (no Q scheme of course) PC, and Reading (with the big RDG reporting marks) and some yellow ball PRR`s where still out there. EL never had 90 tonners, but it`s your railroad, enjoy...

[GonzoCRFan]

Dave,
 You can make a nice 1980 era coal train with the Atlas 90 tonners in CR, (no Q scheme of course) PC, and Reading (with the big RDG reporting marks) and some yellow ball PRR`s where still out there. EL never had 90 tonners, but it`s your railroad, enjoy...

So were these bad-boys 100-tonners? I thought the Atlas model was a really close representation for both the N&W/PRR/PC/CR 90 and 100-ton hoppers?

http://sean121982.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?road=EL

[GonzoCRFan]

Conrail.  I noticed Atlas' 50' Precision Design boxcars all come with the really tiny CR logos...  When were those used?  It looks to me from photos that circa 1980 Conrail had the really big logo.  Would the Atlas cars need to be repainted/decaled?

There's a photo of a pair of these X71s in the CR Color Guide, in fresh paint with the small logos dated 11/1/1987. So it appears the small-logo scheme is a tad too new for your era.

[Dave V]

Dave,
 You can make a nice 1980 era coal train with the Atlas 90 tonners in CR, (no Q scheme of course) PC, and Reading (with the big RDG reporting marks) and some yellow ball PRR`s where still out there. EL never had 90 tonners, but it`s your railroad, enjoy...

So were these bad-boys 100-tonners? I thought the Atlas model was a really close representation for both the N&W/PRR/PC/CR 90 and 100-ton hoppers?

http://sean121982.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?road=EL

I remember seing those EL hoppers parked on the siding in my town growing up.  They would be loaded with coal headed to the mental hospital at Kings Park, NY.

[Wlal13again]

Dave,
 You can make a nice 1980 era coal train with the Atlas 90 tonners in CR, (no Q scheme of course) PC, and Reading (with the big RDG reporting marks) and some yellow ball PRR`s where still out there. EL never had 90 tonners, but it`s your railroad, enjoy...

So were these bad-boys 100-tonners? I thought the Atlas model was a really close representation for both the N&W/PRR/PC/CR 90 and 100-ton hoppers?

http://sean121982.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?road=EL

Nope Sean the were 70 tonners. That class resembled the Pennsy H39`s. Thats straight rom the EL Color Guide...