Author Topic: What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?  (Read 621 times)

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Ed Kapuscinski

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What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?
« on: July 04, 2024, 05:27:46 PM »
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I know Southern rebuilt some boxes to something similar, but I haven't found a bingo for the actual model.

Anyone know what the real prototype was for it?

chessie system fan

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Re: What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2024, 05:38:43 PM »
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ATSF. There are plans in an old MR from about 1987 or so.  It's a cut down bulkhead flat car.
Aaron Bearden

Mark5

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Re: What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?
« Reply #2 on: July 04, 2024, 06:04:29 PM »
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Yeah, according to UMTRR,  "Santa Fe Conversion of Bulkhead Flat Cars (see November 1984 Model Railroader)"

http://www.irwinsjournal.com/umtrr/index.htm?http://www.irwinsjournal.com/umtrr/mtbdst.htm#tablexxxx



James Costello

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Re: What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2024, 06:49:38 PM »
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ATSF series 293095-293235, from ATSF series 95800-95999 built by ATSF Topeka Shops, Job ____, Dec-64 to Apr-65, ATSF class Ft-32.
Rebuilt from bulkhead flatcars in Apr-Aug 1983; this car rebuilt 7-83. Fixed hitch, crane load only.

https://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=68525
James Costello
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Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2024, 07:12:32 PM »
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Neat.

Thanks guys.

Rivet Miscounter

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Re: What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2024, 11:34:17 PM »
+1
The Southern cars have been done by N-Scale Kits.  http://www.nscalekits.co.uk/NSToFC.html  I think I read they might be in "distracted mode" at the moment, but I don't know the current status.   I have been wanting to place an order with them but have held off until I get an all-clear.

MTL did foobie schemes on their cars for NS, CNW, and CP Rail that I know of, and there could be Southern and/or other schemes too.    There are/were a variety of CP Rail cars (that looked nothing like the MTL car) that are among the coolest TOFC cars ever made IMHO.   One is being done by Rapido in HO at the moment ( https://rapidotrains.com/ho-scale/freight-car/canadian-piggyback-flatcar.html ) but I feel like the chance of them doing those (or much else freightcar-wise) in N is pretty low from what I'm hearing.   

The CNW cars (and similar cars by MKT and others) are more-or-less straight "cutting the top off a boxcar" conversions.   I hope to try one of the MKT's eventually, and I did buy the most recent MTL release of the ATSF car back in March.  (one improvement with this run is they used white stirrups on the car instead black, just FYI)   The MR article is from the December 1984 Model Railroader (I'm starting at it right now) and it includes an article about the cars, plus another article on building one in HO from scratch!   :scared:
« Last Edit: July 05, 2024, 12:09:10 AM by Rivet Miscounter »
Doug

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Re: What's the prototype for the MTL 57' TOFC flat?
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2024, 10:54:00 AM »
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The Southern cars have been done by N-Scale Kits.  http://www.nscalekits.co.uk/NSToFC.html  I think I read they might be in "distracted mode" at the moment, but I don't know the current status.   I have been wanting to place an order with them but have held off until I get an all-clear.
Talked to Peter at the convention and he said "everything has been fixed and I'm back to sending out orders".
Rodney

My Feather River Canyon in N-scale
http://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31585.0