More NEW TOOLING from Bluford Shops!

[mstl 246]

After reading all the descriptions I wonder when the first steel paneled cars started to appear?

Also interested in learning when the rebuilding started for the cars.

Nat

[Bluford Craig]

Also interested in learning when the rebuilding started for the cars.

Nat

The rules requiring the use of wood siding were eliminated in 1944 and war emergency cars that were already on order were delivered with the familiar diagonal braces but with all-steel bodies from that point on. The rebuilding of various fleets started around 1950 and continued for the next eight years. A couple of roads never rebuilt their cars (Ann Arbor for instance) 

[Chris333]

So sooner or later you will be doing something that ran in 1948 

[bbussey]

So sooner or later you will be doing something that ran in 1948 

If there were cars in production post 1944 that were built with steel sheets, some of them must have been built prior to 1948.

[mstl 246]

The rules requiring the use of wood siding were eliminated in 1944 and war emergency cars that were already on order were delivered with the familiar diagonal braces but with all-steel bodies from that point on. The rebuilding of various fleets started around 1950 and continued for the next eight years. A couple of roads never rebuilt their cars (Ann Arbor for instance)

Thanks for explaining that Craig, missed the part about all steel from after 1944 from your site.

[Spikre]

 
  wipe the Drool off the floor SPFs,Pennsy didn't have this exact car.
  they had a version of the H31 which was shorter and closer to the
  specs of the USRA Twins,even though they didn't look it.
  the WW-2 Composite version was the H31B,easy to mix up PRR
  designations as an interested observer of the Standard RR.
  can recall seeing a car or 2 of this type in Roanoke around 1980,
  but cant recall which former road they were from ?
  interesting seeing one of the C630s and a slug shoving around former
  Virginian and NKP cars back then.
   Edit- both groups of CB&Q cars were in Sugar Beet service into the 70s,
          most or all never got steel side sheets.
     Spikre
     

[Cajonpassfan]

If there were cars in production post 1944 that were built with steel sheets, some of them must have been built prior to 1948.

Right, but which ones? If one wanted to buy some AND be historically accurate....
Otto K.

[Chris333]

Right, but which ones? If one wanted to buy some AND be historically accurate....
Otto K.

Well all the roadnames listed so far have detailed descriptions including when they first started getting rebuilt. I may fudge a couple for variety, but hope for some protos as well.

[jmlaboda]

One thing I have found while doing some research on the Southern cars is a note that is at the bottom of one diagram.  It says:

"When steel sides and slope sheets are applied, in lue of wood, cubit capacity increases from 1970 c.u. to 2045 c.u."

Another surprise was that there were a number of cars (both Southern and Central of Georgia) that had their hopper bottoms altered for clay loading with different doors being applied, likely in support of brick manufacturers.  Looks like it may be where I will need to take a further look since such loads would be a part of what my freelanced lines will be hauling.  Your CG car drawing has a number for one of the clay cars.

[sirenwerks]

Any chance of this design being done anytime soon, Bluford?

[davefoxx]

Any chance of this design being done anytime soon, Bluford?

I'm going out on a limb here, but I'll say no.   

[Missaberoad]

Any chance of this design being done anytime soon, Bluford?

Was that design specific to GN? I think an Atlas or Microtrains car could be used for a close approximation.

Btw... We can't imbed images from railcarphotos due to the password requirement (likely why they put the password in place).

[Bluford Craig]

Those GN cars (34'9" offset side with Enterprise ends) are unique to GN and EJ&E. That's why that particular prototype has never been done in any scale (except in brass.) We've talked about the 33' with Enterprise ends though.

Craig
Bluford Shops

[Spikre]

 
  the pics arnt coming in here.
   what is an Enterprise End ?
  Enterprise designed complete cars usually,not components.
  Stanray,Chicago-Cleveland,Youngstown Steel Door,and others
  supplied ends over the years.
  Enterprise was mainly a Design Firm for complete cars.
    Spikre
       

[Bluford Craig]

  the pics arnt coming in here.
   what is an Enterprise End ?
  Enterprise designed complete cars usually,not components.
  Stanray,Chicago-Cleveland,Youngstown Steel Door,and others
  supplied ends over the years.
  Enterprise was mainly a Design Firm for complete cars.
    Spikre
       

The Enterprise end is a reference to how the pleating of the side sheets resolves in the upper corners of the car sides. Enterprise pleat angles are more abrupt and result in a flat section about 18 to 24" wide between the car ends and the beginning of the "offset" portion of the side. Take a look at Athearn/MDC 3-bay offset side hopper for an example of this. Wine ends have pleats that are more subtle and terminate at or very near the end. See the Bluford 3-bay offset side hoppers for an example of Wine ends. There are a couple of subtle variations of this.

Craig
Bluford Shops