Saw new freight cars from Prairie Shadow/Rapido

[mike in bc]

I tried to find that also on the site . glad it just wasnt me.

[JSL]

I just spoke to Jeff; he is just waiting for the JPEGs from the artwork and then they are going up.  If you prefer you can email him instead.

[lock4244]

One concern I have is looking at the pre-production sample shots, it looks as if the couplers do not protrude out far enough. Based on my experience with the Exactrail HS 65' gon, where the truck mounted couplers are too short and when coupling a pair of them together, the end of the cars touch when slack is taken in and on curves. It appears to me, based on the shots of the bulkhead flats, that there is a significant chance this will occur with these cars, too. This the Exactrail cars, it's a minor issue if one plans to bodymount the couplers, but with the bulkhead that option is already off the table.

Hope I'm wrong, and if not, that this will be corrected.

[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.

I have been in touch with Jeff, Bill and Jason and as it turns out the artwork for the BC Rail version was done quickly for the press release.  I have pointed out the problems and provided information and reference photographs for them to work with, and have offered my assistance in reviewing their artwork as it matures.  I can confirm that the model is based on the cars built by Hawker Siddeley in 1974 for CN.  The BCR cars built by HSC in 1973 and 1974 appear almost identical except that the ladder on the side of the right bulkhead is a short one rather than a full one.  Hopefully they can adjust their tooling for this.

I wish them well with this car as it will be another great addition to the growing availability of Canadian freight cars in N Scale.  Intermountain has produced the NSC cylindrical hoppers, True-Line Trains has produced the NSC newsprint boxcars and has announced a Minibox and the exterior post newsprint cars, Prairie Shadows has announced the CN caboose, 52'-6" gondola and bulkhead flatcar, and NARC has produced the HSC cylindrical hoppers and rotary gondolas with new releases planned.  Add in the various resin kits from Briggs, Gooderham and Kaslo and we are doing alright.

I would love to see Intermountain do the pressure flow car in N Scale . . . . .


Tim

[Puddington]

I second the motion for a pressure flow hopper; CP, CN and the PGE all had these.

[NARmike]

If your talking about the same ones Intermountain makes in HO, then I'll make it a 3rd... I need at least a half dozen Procor/Halliburton cars!

[lock4244]

I second the motion for a pressure flow hopper; CP, CN and the PGE all had these.

Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme...

[craigolio1]

Tim, does the 52'6" gondola match any BCR prototypes?

Craig

[cv_acr]

Tim, does the 52'6" gondola match any BCR prototypes?

Craig

Close, sorta, almost.

There were a few variations here over time.

The ealier cars had ribs made from Z-shaped structural angle. There were fixed end cars (PGE, CN, CP, THB) and drop end cars (CN, CP).

Later cars had pressed steel ribs in a hat-shaped section like most American gons of the time. (PGE, CN, CP, AC*)

The model represents the drop end cars with the Z-ribs.

* The AC cars had the added bonus of being 6" taller and larger capacity. CN also had some cars matching the same dimensions.

In the late 1960s into the 1970s cars were built with all-welded construction with ends and ribs from fabricated square tube and channel (CN, CP, ONT, PGE-BCOL) still with the same rib count and spacing.

[BCR 570]

Tim, does the 52'6" gondola match any BCR prototypes?

No.  The model will depict the drop end version and the PGE cars were all fixed end.  I suspect that there will be differences in the corner post arrangement, but I have yet to see the model and compare it with photographs.

Tim

[JSL]

All the artwork for new freight cars is on the Rapido website and Jeff has listed all the cars for preorder on his PS website. Also they have a ad in the MRH that is out today.

[lock4244]

Ordered the heck outta them. Anyone looking for help shoveling snow? All of the sudden I'm broke