Saw new freight cars from Prairie Shadow/Rapido

[Denver Road Doug]

I am (hopefully) interested in a couple of these cars.   Even though I'm in Texas, Canadian cars are in virtually every manifest freight train.   But I do like to see some evidence that a particular car had a reason to come down here.  And, that it fits my era.   So I usually go to sites like rrpicturearchives to find matches and hopefully find photos in the region.

Based on the road numbers in the flyers, I've been having trouble finding much for these cars.   Any help with photos?

So I model 1998-2003 BNSF and some UP.   I expect any of these cars could fall into that timeframe, no?  There was a LOT of building products heading into Texas during that time period, so pretty sure I could justify the bulkhead flats with wood or wallboard or the like, but see below for "not wood/wallboard" evidence.  Anyway, here's what I was thinking:
1. CN Noodle gon - I have some CP cars but little or no CN that I can recall.   I even commented to a buddy the other day that I needed to find some CN cars and this one will be perfect since I also need more gons, too.  I have seen some pretty good matches for this car, so that means it's a purchase.
2. Other Gon?   As I said, I already have some CP stuff, including the Exactrail "CP Rail" pacman gon.   So I don't think another Pacman is warranted.  Is the simple Canadian Pacific scheme black gon appropriate?
3. Canadian National bulkhead flat - this one has been a challenge.   I have seen similar cars in different number series...one even photographed in Texas, in one of the towns I model.   But, this one had thick heavy metal stakes installed...are these the same cars just with the stakes added? http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=186159  (You'll also notice an adjacent DWC/BCOL color-scheme car next to it, I think)  And yes, the photo is a little out of my time period, but I would probably purchase based on that photo.
4. Maybe either DWC or BCOL scheme bulkhead flat.
5. Any of the other cars be a better fit?

I'm definitely interested in the Prairie Shadow special run CEFX grain hopper as well, so I'm hoping I can tie all this together for an order. (yes realizing it will be a little bit, no hurry here)   Anyone know what method of payment they accept?  PayPal?

[cv_acr]

I am (hopefully) interested in a couple of these cars.   Even though I'm in Texas, Canadian cars are in virtually every manifest freight train.   But I do like to see some evidence that a particular car had a reason to come down here.  And, that it fits my era.   So I usually go to sites like rrpicturearchives to find matches and hopefully find photos in the region.

Based on the road numbers in the flyers, I've been having trouble finding much for these cars.   Any help with photos?

So I model 1998-2003 BNSF and some UP.   I expect any of these cars could fall into that timeframe, no?  There was a LOT of building products heading into Texas during that time period, so pretty sure I could justify the bulkhead flats with wood or wallboard or the like, but see below for "not wood/wallboard" evidence.  Anyway, here's what I was thinking:
1. CN Noodle gon - I have some CP cars but little or no CN that I can recall.   I even commented to a buddy the other day that I needed to find some CN cars and this one will be perfect since I also need more gons, too.  I have seen some pretty good matches for this car, so that means it's a purchase.

Keep in mind that these are early 1950s built cars. By 2000, there'd basically be none left in revenue service, although you can still find these occasionally in MOW service (with new numbers).

2. Other Gon?   As I said, I already have some CP stuff, including the Exactrail "CP Rail" pacman gon.   So I don't think another Pacman is warranted.  Is the simple Canadian Pacific scheme black gon appropriate?

See above.

The black scheme is the older paint scheme; the CP Rail is a repaint of the same car. (but both would coexist together and I've seen MOW tie gons in the original black with block lettering (but not original numbers).

3. Canadian National bulkhead flat - this one has been a challenge.   I have seen similar cars in different number series...one even photographed in Texas, in one of the towns I model.   But, this one had thick heavy metal stakes installed...are these the same cars just with the stakes added? http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=186159

Yes, that is the same type of car rebuilt to a centre beam style loading arrangement.

  (You'll also notice an adjacent DWC/BCOL color-scheme car next to it, I think)  And yes, the photo is a little out of my time period, but I would probably purchase based on that photo.

DWC.

4. Maybe either DWC or BCOL scheme bulkhead flat.

Either would be fine; some of the DWC and BCOL cars were also rebuilt with centre posts. BCOL was still independent at the beginning of your time frame, so BCOL cars would be coming down from British Columbia.

[Denver Road Doug]

Bummer, never realized those gons were that old.     Guess that's why I couldn't find anything.   I would easily justify a BN or ATSF gon of that age for MOW, but I suppose that would be pushing it for a interchange car and obviously Canadian MOW probably wouldn't work in Texas.   

I think I'm grasping at straws all around...probably will get the CN bulkhead and the CEFX LO if they're still available and call it a day.

[BCR 570]

Quote from: BCR 570 on Yesterday at 06:12:07 PM
I need to see a better copy of the artwork for the bulkhead flatcars - the green on the BCIT bulkheads looks way off.

Here is a higher resolution copy...

Thank you for posting this.  I can now see that the light green on the bulkheads of the BCOL car is way off - looks like BN green instead of BCR Light Green. 

Worse, the light green ends denoted the international service scheme which had BCIT reporting marks, but the paint diagram shows BCOL reporting marks.

Also not good is the decision to use the 19XXX road numbers which were a very late renumbering - 1995/1996 I think.

Most modellers will want these cars in their original 17XXX/18XXX numbers for the 1976-1996 time period.

I will have to get in touch with Jeff and see if this can be fixed.


Tim

[cv_acr]

Tim: as the cars are being produced by Rapido for Prairie Shadows, you might contact Jason or Bill as well with the info.

I have to send something else to Jason anyway, so I'll be sure to point out your comments at the same time and take a look at things myself as well. I didn't take a close look at the BCR artwork earlier myself, but you're definitely right on all points!

I'd definitely recommend that you contact either Jeff or Jason yourself as well; you're definitely the BCR expert, so Jason would probably value your input.

[GaryHinshaw]

I'm definitely interested in the Prairie Shadow special run CEFX grain hopper as well, so I'm hoping I can tie all this together for an order. (yes realizing it will be a little bit, no hurry here)   Anyone know what method of payment they accept?  PayPal?

I ordered a boatload of hoppers from Jeff a few months ago (including the CEFX patch) and paid with PayPal.  Very straightforward transaction, and the special runs were very well done.   I might get 1-2 flats from this set, but they're not really in my red zone.

-gfh

[bbussey]

Is the TH&B scheme prototypical for the model?

[BCR 570]

Tim: as the cars are being produced by Rapido for Prairie Shadows, you might contact Jason or Bill as well with the info.

I have to send something else to Jason anyway, so I'll be sure to point out your comments at the same time and take a look at things myself as well. I didn't take a close look at the BCR artwork earlier myself, but you're definitely right on all points!

I'd definitely recommend that you contact either Jeff or Jason yourself as well; you're definitely the BCR expert, so Jason would probably value your input.

Will do - I will have to get an email address for Jason as I have not corresponded with him in a few years.

Tim

[BCR 570]

I might get 1-2 flats from this set, but they're not really in my red zone.

Gary:

You would want the BCIT bulkhead flatcars in international service; Duane Karam's BC Rail Freight Car Pictorial shows BCIT 817526 on SP in July 1986 going around some loop in the desert.


Tim

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks Tim.  I'm counting on you to make sure they're correct too.

...some loop in the desert.

See what I have to put up with up here?  This is what the BC locals think of Tehachapi.   

(Just ribbing Tim - I know you might mean a different loop.)
-gfh

[lock4244]

Is the TH&B scheme prototypical for the model?

I'd say its close enough, but I've not much of a freight car detail eye:

http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=thb2358&o=thb
http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=thb2453&o=thb
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=50872

[cv_acr]

Is the TH&B scheme prototypical for the model?

Almost. The only difference is that THB went for the fixed end option. (actually CN, CP and PGE also had some early fixed end versions as well.) Otherwise it is the same car. (same dimensions, rib spacing and style.)

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=thb2453&o=thb

I asked Bill at the Copetown show if they had any plans to try doing the fixed end version eventually, and he wasn't sure. He wanted to, but the drop end vs. fixed end means different corner posts and a whole new side tooling as well. He didn't exactly rule it out completely, but it's not as simple as just making a new end piece.

[BCR 570]

See what I have to put up with up here?  This is what the BC locals think of Tehachapi.   

(Just ribbing Tim - I know you might mean a different loop.)

Not sure which loop but I can see a track going around in the background.  As Duane lives in California I am guessing it would be somewhere down there.

Almost. The only difference is that THB went for the fixed end option. (actually CN, CP and PGE also had some early fixed end versions as well.) Otherwise it is the same car. (same dimensions, rib spacing and style.)

They should have done the fixed end version - good for four railways instead of two.  Lots of paint scheme options for the PGE/BC/BC Rail cars but they had fixed ends too.


Tim

[bbussey]

Almost. The only difference is that THB went for the fixed end option. (actually CN, CP and PGE also had some early fixed end versions as well.) Otherwise it is the same car. (same dimensions, rib spacing and style.)

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=thb2453&o=thb

I asked Bill at the Copetown show if they had any plans to try doing the fixed end version eventually, and he wasn't sure. He wanted to, but the drop end vs. fixed end means different corner posts and a whole new side tooling as well. He didn't exactly rule it out completely, but it's not as simple as just making a new end piece.

Understood, thanks.  It will be easy enough to kitbash or RP new ends for the TH&B gon, which is the model I have my eye on.

[lock4244]

Anyone know when the international service PSC vans are going to be available for reservation on the Prairie Shadows site?