Prairie Shadows NEW gondola and bulkhead flats

[sdodge]

FYI — these models have a 14" radius minimum!  That's going to tick off a lot of people if that pertinent information is not specified in the advertising and on the package.

Yes, the 14" min radius is a bummer. Probably will not work on my layout. Mine was completed in 1992 designed for cars with truck mounted couplers and a lot of the newer rolling stock with body mounted couplers do not work. Not a complaint, just reality.

[Denver Road Doug]

Here's another thread with more info on these cars... https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=28810.0

[Sokramiketes]

I was just going to ask that.  The other deciding factor for me would be the service dates on the cars.  The CP appears to be 10/43.  What are the dates on the CN (pre-noodle) and TH&B cars?

FYI — these models have a 14" radius minimum!  That's going to tick off a lot of people if that pertinent information is not specified in the advertising and on the package.

Well it's very clear on the homepage... and as someone who lead the world in body mounted couplers, are you concerned with a 14" minimum or just speaking from experience that people will complain if unaware?

[bbussey]

Well it's very clear on the homepage... and as someone who lead the world in body mounted couplers, are you concerned with a 14" minimum or just speaking from experience that people will complain if unaware?

The latter.  I have no issues personally with a 14" minimum.  But with only a minority of model railroaders being Internet users, it behooves the manufacturers to include that information in all advertising and on the packaging as well.

[PGE_Modeller]

My Prairie Shadows CN & CP gondolas arrived in this morning's mail delivery and they are absolutely gorgeous.  These were well worth the wait.  A very iconic Canadian car - I am only sorry that the PGE didn't get their 52'-6" cars until 2 years after my modelling period and, even then they didn't get drop-end cars.  While the side braces are not true Z-bars, the appearance is very good with the shape of the lower end faithfully reproduced.

For those interested, these cars weigh in at 25 grams compared to an NMRA RP 20.1 weight of 32 grams.

Overall, a wonderful addition to the N-scale Canadian freight car fleet.

Well done, Prairie Shadows and Rapido Trains!!

Cheers,

[primavw]

I'd love to have a bunch of bulkheads but boy are they pricey!

[craigolio1]

Artwork numbers match following series:

CN 143000-143499 blt. 1949 Eastern Car Co.
The small block lettering is the original paint; the noodle is of course 1961+ repaints.

CP 339000-339499 blt. 1943 National Steel Car
Other similar series built into the early 1950s. The red CP Rail is of course 1969+ repaints.

THB 2300-2399 blt. 1953 National Steel Car



The bulkhead flatcars are early-mid 1970s cars.

CN 603025-603324 blt. 1975 Hawker-Siddeley
CNIS 603400-603424 blt. 1975 Hawker-Siddeley BUT: ex-CN 603400-603424 (1980), ex-NAFX 53185-53237 (1979)
DWC 605200-605599 blt. 1973 Hawker-Siddeley
BCIT 16150-17449 blt. 1973 Hawker-Siddeley (most later renumbered BCOL same #s)

Any idea when the BCR cars were remarked as BCOL?

Craig

[Catt]

My minimum radius is 15" so that is not a problem.What might be is the era of these beauties,are they current or pre 2000?

[Scottl]

My CN gondola arrived last week with my PSC caboose.  I was also really impressed with the unit.   My only concern was the trucks were painted oxide red, which will need to be weathered or repainted.  An easy fix and a fantastic car.

[Denver Road Doug]

My minimum radius is 15" so that is not a problem.What might be is the era of these beauties,are they current or pre 2000?

According to an older post, the gons are not appropriate for 2000 except possibly for MOW service.  (I asked, as I model '98-'03)  I was not able to find any example of the number series' at the time on any of the standard photo sites for that time period.   The flats were definitely still around in 2000, some in differing capacities...I found one photo of two (one CN, one DWC) where they were fitted with center stakes (a quasi-"center beam" configuration) dated September of 2005.  http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=186159   Not sure what the use was, as they were empty but they were in Texas so obviously still in some revenue role.

[lock4244]

My minimum radius is 15" so that is not a problem.What might be is the era of these beauties,are they current or pre 2000?

In general, I'd say pre-2000 for the gon, pre & post 2000 for the bulkhead.

Gondolas - Eastern Car Co:
CN noodle - serviced 12, 1965, (BLT 8-10 1949), all gone by 2000
CN block lettering - BLT 8-10 1949, all gone by 2000 (few if any made it to the end in this image)
CP block lettering - BLT 10, 1943, all gone by 2002
CP Rail - serviced 11, 1973 (BLT 7-12, 1952), all gone by 2002
TH&B - BLT 6, 1953 (these are numbered for  Nat. Steel Car prototypes), all gone by 1992

Bulkhead Flat - Hawker Siddley:
CN Brown - BLT 12, 1974 to 3, 1975 - still noted as in service
CNIS Orange - BLT 1975? Acquired by CN / serviced by CN 7, 1980
DWC - BLT 6-9, 1973, still noted as in service, but likely dropping like flies given 40 year rule if not already all retired
BCIT - BLT 10-11, 1973, re-stenciled BCOL 1987

Info from http://nakina.net/index.html

[lock4244]

According to an older post, the gons are not appropriate for 2000 except possibly for MOW service.  (I asked, as I model '98-'03)  I was not able to find any example of the number series' at the time on any of the standard photo sites for that time period.   The flats were definitely still around in 2000, some in differing capacities...I found one photo of two (one CN, one DWC) where they were fitted with center stakes. (a quasi-"center beam" configuration)  Not sure what the use was, as they were empty but they were in Texas so obviously still in some revenue role.

The center posts were added to make them centerbeam type cars. The centerbeam was a CN invention, so it stands to reason that they applied this to their older cars.

Many of these went into other services as newer, larger capacity cars came about for hauling lumber. Steel wire, slab, billet, structural service, as well as aluminum ingot were some of these uses.

A number have had steel stakes added to the sides for pulpwood service. These seem to get WC reporting marks.

[lock4244]

My fleet of 40 cars arrived last week and I couldn't be happier with them. Especially the bulkhead flats as, given my locale and era, these were just too common to not be present in quantity. Throw a pair of SD40-2W's on a string of them with a Pointe St Charles van on the tail and you've got some serious train porn.

[skm]

waah! and i still can't buy any gons! 

[Scottl]

My fleet of 40 cars arrived last week and I couldn't be happier with them. Especially the bulkhead flats as, given my locale and era, these were just too common to not be present in quantity. Throw a pair of SD40-2W's on a string of them with a Pointe St Charles van on the tail and you've got some serious train porn.