This is an accurate model, drawn from the plans, of the eight 260' barges that ferried cars to all of the ATSF's terminuses around SF Bay. Capacity is about 20 cars, with many limitations about length, position, and weight, leading to many fascinating operations possibilities.
The cast resin hull has many ventilators, access hatches, cleats, bitts and chocks, most hand applied. The bulwarks have the correct openings on each side and are scale thickness, as port and starboard are not identical. The tall capstans are castings derived from the drawings. The raised pilot house is from two layers of .010" styrene, allowing great detail.. The three tracks will accept C40 through C80 rail.
The completed ferry is $269 without rails installed. An unpainted, unassembled kit is $189. Rails mount quickly into the molded recesses. Note: you will have to obtain rail (not sectional track unless you strip the rails from it) of your choice. Shipping will be actual cost for materials and shipping charges. Note: the pilot house is shipped unmounted.
I placed nine reefers on the barge so that you will have some idea of how long a 260' barge is (19.5 inches). The first eight are available now; after the first eight, allow 3-4 weeks for delivery.
The matching dock allows precise alignment of the tracks leading up to the ferry. The dock and the bow of the ship mate with precision, making the loading and unloading trouble-free. Rails are not installed but, like the ferry, mount quickly into molded recesses. Loading and unloading operations often required "sleeper" flatcars between the cars and the engine, to keep weight off the dock, another interesting operations feature.
The dock is $69, unpainted (white). If bought with a ferry shipping is included; otherwise shipping is actual cost.
Rails, railcars, and tugs are not included.
Contact peterknolan@gmail.com for more details.
