Best Of Which freight cars don't need to be lowered?

[nickelplate759]

Since I got the new BLMA trucks I've been looking at the height of my freight cars more closely.  To my surprise, not all of them need lowering to look correct, not even all the old ones.  Has anyone compiled a list of cars whose height is OK out of the box?

Here's mine so far - subjective, since I haven't really measured, and it only includes cars I own and have checked:

ESMC PC&F 40' refrigerators.
Deluxe Innovations 2-bay covered hoppers
Atlas Trainman 50' single door box
Roco 40' PS1 car
Roco 40' DD box
Roco 40' single-sheathed box
Roco 50' refrigerator
Atlas 40' USRA single-sheathed box
Atlas 40' double-sheathed box
Atlas 40' USRA rebuilt box
Kato 2-bay covered hopper
Fox Valley 40' Milwaukee boxcars (various) [corrected per Bryan's note below]
Atlas Trainman 50' Double-Door boxcar

George

[bbussey]

An additional (but not complete) group to add to your list:

ESM - All models.
BLMA - All models.
Bluford - All models.
Rapido - All models.
Wheels of Time - All models.
ExactRail - All boxcars and gondolas.
InterMountain - 40' steel ice reefer, ATSF ice reefer, 60' flatcar, Pfaudler steel milk cars, ATSF caboose, all passenger cars.
Con-Cor - All flatcars and gondolas.
Atlas - Evans gondola, Magor (C&O) caboose, International (NE6) caboose, extended-vision caboose, standard cupola caboose, FGE boxcar, twin fishbelly hopper, twin offset side hoppers, ACF 5701 centerflow hoppers, PressureAide centerflow hopper, Hart ballast car, 50' ACF Precision Design boxcars, 53' Evans DPD boxcar, ore car, PS2 cement hopper, articulated auto rack.
Athearn - 2-bay centerflow, ATSF ice reefer, Airslide, 52' mechanical reefer, 65' mill gondola, SP bay window caboose, ex-MDC modern 50' boxcars.
Micro-Trains - wood cabooses, steel cupola caboose, 40' steel ice reefers, 51' mechanical reefers, Evans covered hopper, PS2 high-side covered hopper, scale test car, all heavyweight passenger cars.
Red Caboose - auto rack, 60' beer boxcar, 40' flatcar, USRA (X29) boxcar, 52' mechanical reefer, Thrall multi-door boxcar.
Trainworx - 86' auto parts boxcars.
Kato - All passenger car models.
Bowser - All coal hoppers.

The FVM Milwaukee boxcars need to be lowered to be at a prototypical height.

[Robbman]

Bryan... how are you determining if a car needs to be lowered or not?  Do you have the height from TOR for all the models you listed, or are you just being subjective?     

[nickelplate759]

Wow - I thought I was beginning a project, but it looks like Bryan nearly finished it already!    The overall situation seems better than I'd hoped.

A slight bit of additional detail on passenger cars.  The Intermountain passenger cars with Micro-Trains trucks are at the correct height, but the early runs of the first-generation (no-interior) cars had American Limited trucks and washers to raise the car even higher and sat way too high.  The fix was easy -apply Micro-trains trucks.


George

[bbussey]

... A slight bit of additional detail on passenger cars.  The Intermountain passenger cars with Micro-Trains trucks are at the correct height, but the early runs of the first-generation (no-interior) cars had American Limited trucks and washers to raise the car even higher and sat way too high.  The fix was easy -apply Micro-trains trucks.

Or, remove the washer and body-mount the couplers.

[nickelplate759]

Here's an addition to the list

Micro-Trains USRA 1923 steel boxcar (I think this is actually the ARA car, not USRA, but the label says USRA).

[bbussey]

Here's an addition to the list

Micro-Trains USRA 1923 steel boxcar (I think this is actually the ARA car, not USRA, but the label says USRA).

Nope, that stands too high.  Put it next to the Red Caboose or Fine N Scale versions and you'll see the difference.

[nickelplate759]

Weird - I did put it next to my Red Caboose X-29, and it's actually a good match.  Were there multiple runs at different heights? 

[bbussey]

It's possible the Red Caboose car might stand too high as well.  I've had my RC cars so long, I don't remember at this point if I lowered mine or not.  The Fine N Scale version stands at the correct height.  To confirm if the MTL car is correct, put the car on the track and take a digital micrometer and measure the distance of the car top to the rail top.  Multiply the number by 160 and check it against the EXH printed on the model.

[Robbman]

To confirm if the MTL car is correct, put the car on the track and take a digital micrometer and measure the distance of the car top to the rail top.  Multiply the number by 160 and check it against the EXH printed on the model.

Assuming the roofwalk (if so equipped)is the correct thickness (i.e, not plastic or wood), the body isn't shortened to compensate, and the EXH printed on the car is actually correct... that would be a close method. 

[nickelplate759]

Hmmm...

According to the PRR equipment diagram reproduced here:

http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/PRRdiagrams.html?diag=X29-E73579.gif&sel=box&sz=sm&fr=

The PRR X29 should be 13'3" over the roofwalk, and 13' 11.25" over the vertical brakewheel.

Measuring my Red Caboose X29 cars I see the height varies a bit (they don't all have the same trucks), but tends to run a little  - maybe 6" high at most, but the roofwalk is a little thick.   However, cars this short (less than 13' 6" I think) don't need to have EXH listed at all (although they sometimes do).  They do need to list H, but that's supposed to be the height at the widest part of the car - 12'6".   That said, things seem a little inconsistent in dimension markings - My Micro-trains Maine Central 1923 "USRA" Boxcar shows EXH as 13'4", and it's just about spot on.  The similar Reading car show H (no EXH) as 13'3" - again, it's very close on the model.

[u18b]

Which freight cars don't need to be lowered?

The ones owned by Bryan Bussey.   ;D

Ron Bearden

[bbussey]

Which freight cars don't need to be lowered?

The ones owned by Bryan Bussey.   ;D

Ha!  Getting there.  So many cars, so little time! 

... The similar Reading car show H (no EXH) as 13'3" - again, it's very close on the model.

If you only see "H" instead of "EXH," use the "H" that is to the right of "EXW."

Good to know that the MTL USRA car is close enough.  I still prefer the Red Caboose version, which has the truck bolsters properly placed.

[bbussey]

Fox Valley 40' Milwaukee boxcars (various) [corrected per Bryan's note below]

Here is what the FVM Milwaukee boxcar looks like after being lowered and having the couplers body-mounted:

[bbussey]

Bryan... how are you determining if a car needs to be lowered or not?  Do you have the height from TOR for all the models you listed, or are you just being subjective?     

A combination of the two in some instances, since as you have noted not all paint schemes used on the various models are prototypical.  If the model is within a couple of inches I consider it to be at prototypical height.