Prototype Information for Transition Era Union Pacific

[thumpernickle]

I model the Southern Pacific in 1950 and am trying to build my foreign car fleet. I am looking for lists of prototype N scale cars for the major railroads of 1950, especially the GN, NP, UP, ATSF, WP.

For example, I have a deluxeInnovations/GHQ AAR Standard 53'6" flat car in Union Pacific lettering with yellow "Route of the Streamliner" printed on the side. Is this correct for 1950? When did UP use this paint scheme?

[C855B]

My resource for historical UP info like that is https://utahrails.net . He covers locomotive schemes extensively, but I don't know offhand if he does something similar with freight cars. I think in your case the script motto is right for the era, but whether it was applied to flats... I dunno.

[pjm20]

I have this clinic saved as it is extraordinarily helpful:

https://harley-trains.smugmug.com/UP-PLN-FRT/2019-UP-Freight-PLN-Clinic/i-vLjCFqT

[dem34]

Its really going to depend on where you are specifically modelling. If its a bridge line, then ratios could be all over.  If its a branch with a couple industries, its going to heavily depend on where the freight is arriving from. For example, in my neck of the woods the loads are arriving from the PNW. So even though I'm about as far East as can be before being in the Ocean the bulk of the rolling stock arriving is (even to this day) ex-SP, CP, ex-Bcol etc. While turning the clock back MLW,NP,GN, etc.

[Cajonpassfan]

I model the Southern Pacific in 1950 and am trying to build my foreign car fleet. I am looking for lists of prototype N scale cars for the major railroads of 1950, especially the GN, NP, UP, ATSF, WP.

For example, I have a deluxeInnovations/GHQ AAR Standard 53'6" flat car in Union Pacific lettering with yellow "Route of the Streamliner" printed on the side. Is this correct for 1950? When did UP use this paint scheme?

Just a quick response, and welcome to the group.
UP first started to go to the all yellow lettering in 1947, with "Route of the Streamliners" on one side and "Serves All the West" on the other. In '49, the "Serves..." slogan started being replaced with "Be Specific Ship Union Pacific" while the other side remained unchanged. It took a while to repaint their fleet, so for 1950, you could have all of these on your layout.

As to freight car models based on specific prototypes, there are many, and for ATSF, I can think of a handful off the top of my head:

IM- steel USRA rebuilt reefers, stock cars, 50' Automobile cars, 40' woodside gons; Atlas- ballast hoppers, (old tooling) stock cars; MT- two bay hoppers, both emergency wood and steel side,  Athearn- mill gondola, 50' reefer, Kato- two bay covered hopper, Bluford- two and three bay hoppers

In addition to the roads you mention, note that Pennsy, NYC and even Milwaukee Road had massive fleets of cars plying the rails nationwide and you need their cars just about anywhere in the country. Fortunately, there have been many models of their prototypes available at one time or another.

Otto K.

[Scottl]

My resource for historical UP info like that is https://utahrails.net . He covers locomotive schemes extensively, but I don't know offhand if he does something similar with freight cars. I think in your case the script motto is right for the era, but whether it was applied to flats... I dunno.

That is a great site, fantastic resource.

[Cajonpassfan]

My resource for historical UP info like that is https://utahrails.net . He covers locomotive schemes extensively, but I don't know offhand if he does something similar with freight cars. I think in your case the script motto is right for the era, but whether it was applied to flats... I dunno.

This might answer that question...

[CBQ Fan]

A nice library of books with photos of your time period also helps. I have run across many freight car, passenger car and even loco combinations that I have been able to replicate based on photos.

[lock4244]

I have this clinic saved as it is extraordinarily helpful:

https://harley-trains.smugmug.com/UP-PLN-FRT/2019-UP-Freight-PLN-Clinic/i-vLjCFqT

Seems the answer is here... excellent info source for UP modelers.

'Road of the Streamliners' right side house, flat, hopper cars, 1936. 'Serves all the West' left side house, flat, hopper cars, 1936.

[thumpernickle]

Thank you all. The links are helpful and I will continue to explore them.

Otto:
Thank you for helping me figure out accurate cars for the ATSF. That is very helpful as I go through my old collection and look to add to it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I have this clinic saved as it is extraordinarily helpful:

https://harley-trains.smugmug.com/UP-PLN-FRT/2019-UP-Freight-PLN-Clinic/i-vLjCFqT

That's an understatement. Wow!