Early intermodal NYC and Milw Flexi-Van now out

[randgust]

OK, who wants to be the guy that can explain the 'phases' of these cars you're talking about?

[Philip H]

OK, who wants to be the guy that can explain the 'phases' of these cars you're talking about?

+1

[TrainCat2]

Flexi-Van Mark 1 was distinguished by having a center turntable between the end and the kingpin latch where the special 36ft container was placed on and rotated into position. These started in 1958 and only lasted 2 years.

Flexi-Van Mark 2 was introduced in 1960 and carried 1ea 36ft trailer & 1ea 40ft trailer on center turntables and was 84ft-6in. The Mark 2's were phased out as 36ft dropped off rapidly in favor of the 40ft trailers.

Flexi-Van Mark 3 was introduced in 1961 with 36ft trailer usage rapidly declining. The Mark 3's only carried 40ft trailers on end turntables and was 86ft-9in. These were the most proliferate with the following roads/reporting marks:
     AW, CERX, MARX, MFVX, MILW, NIFX, NYC, PRR, PC, RFCX, SAL, SOU, STEX, USAX, USFX, WP

Flexi-Van Mark 4 was introduced in 1964 and only carried 40ft trailers on end turntables and was 87ft-3in and had higher capacity trucks. These were the following roads/reporting marks:
    ATSF, CB&Q, MFVX, NYC, PRR, PC

Edit: Mark 4's were identifiable as their trucks were inset from the ends and Mark 3's had the trucks directly under the end turntables.

[TrainCat2]

Mark3 and Mark4 loading pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jnos363/5082146415/in/photostream/

[Philip H]

I may have missed it up- thread, but did any of the Mark 4s make out of the 1960's?

[TrainCat2]

http://www.qstation.org/SFTU_204378/

The link Randy provided discussed the 87ft-3in Flexi-Van which would indeed be the Mark 4.

Mark 4's did last longer than any since they were modified to haul standard containers too.

Randy, do you have any images of Mark 2's in ATSF? I have (what I thought) was a complete roster of Flexi-Vans and I have ATSF owning only Mark 4's.

[nickelplate759]

I'm interested in doing one of these as an IC car, but can't find any good pictures that show the car well enough to figure out the lettering.  All the pictures I've found are in trains (mostly the Seminole or Land o' Corn), and mostly the usual 3/4 shot of the entire train.  You can see the cars and containers, but no detail.

I've figured out that the IC containers are the ones with the side doors (both sides).  I suspect they are 36' and not 40', but can't really tell from the pictures.   Anyone have pointers to a good side view of the IC cars?

George

[TrainCat2]

Maybe this:

http://www.walthers.com/prodimage/0932/09320000041054.gif

[Sokramiketes]

Flexi-Van Mark 1 was distinguished by having a center turntable between the end and the kingpin latch where the special 36ft container was placed on and rotated into position. These started in 1958 and only lasted 2 years.

Flexi-Van Mark 2 was introduced in 1960 and carried 1ea 36ft trailer & 1ea 40ft trailer on center turntables and was 84ft-6in. The Mark 2's were phased out as 36ft dropped off rapidly in favor of the 40ft trailers.

Flexi-Van Mark 3 was introduced in 1961 with 36ft trailer usage rapidly declining. The Mark 3's only carried 40ft trailers on end turntables and was 86ft-9in. These were the most proliferate with the following roads/reporting marks:
     AW, CERX, MARX, MFVX, MILW, NIFX, NYC, PRR, PC, RFCX, SAL, SOU, STEX, USAX, USFX, WP

Flexi-Van Mark 4 was introduced in 1964 and only carried 40ft trailers on end turntables and was 87ft-3in and had higher capacity trucks. These were the following roads/reporting marks:
    ATSF, CB&Q, MFVX, NYC, PRR, PC

Edit: Mark 4's were identifiable as their trucks were inset from the ends and Mark 3's had the trucks directly under the end turntables.

There was a center turntable car that held two 40' containers. That's why I like to ignore the experimental one container short car and start Mark I as the 36'/40' center turntable car and Mark II as 40'/40'.

[Sokramiketes]

Maybe this:

http://www.walthers.com/prodimage/0932/09320000041054.gif

I can't share the proto photos used to develop artwork for the Walthers car, but I can confirm that it is ok to use the model for reference. 

[TrainCat2]

There was a center turntable car that held two 40' containers. That's why I like to ignore the experimental one container short car and start Mark I as the 36'/40' center turntable car and Mark II as 40'/40'.

Mike, there was the experimental that was developed in 56-57 and the Mark 1 was the production variant. I ignored the experimental as well.

What Peter is producing and calling a Mark 2 is consistent with historical classifications.

[Big4Man]

Not sure if this helps....

http://members.surfbest.net/intermodal@surfbest.net/FLEXIVAN.HTM

Nor can I vouch for it's accuracy.

It does show ATSF owning a total of 30 Mark IV's. Class Ft-65

Bob, When can we start placing orders? 

[randgust]

The link Randy provided discussed the 87ft-3in Flexi-Van which would indeed be the Mark 4.

Mark 4's did last longer than any since they were modified to haul standard containers too.

Randy, do you have any images of Mark 2's in ATSF? I have (what I thought) was a complete roster of Flexi-Vans and I have ATSF owning only Mark 4's.

I didn't even know the flexivan flats I'm seeing were owned by ATSF until this week, let alone there were phases of them!   Other than finding those four online photos by searching for the class (Ft-65), I've never seen anything of them except the conclusion that some kind of flexi-van type flat kept showing up in Super C photos with containers on them, but otherwise unidentifiable. 

Given the number series of them -  291000-291029, they show up in my 1975 ORER intact as 82'11" cars AAR type FC, 30 cars.

[Sokramiketes]

Mike, there was the experimental that was developed in 56-57 and the Mark 1 was the production variant. I ignored the experimental as well.

What Peter is producing and calling a Mark 2 is consistent with historical classifications.

Sorry, when I read your original post I thought it was referring to a singular 36' trailer body.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Mark 4's did last longer than any since they were modified to haul standard containers too.

Bob, so it was Mark 4s that were the VTTX flats I posted earlier?