Railcar experts...best model for Golden West Service 89' flat

[ryan_wilkerson]

I'd like to model this Golden West Service flat car CRLE 830006 and am looking for the best N scale flatcar for the project. Here are a couple prototype photos:




Doing some research, Eric Neubauer's excellent GWS resource shows that the original number was SP 515565 in series SP 515550-515649. Class F-70-67 built by ACF in 1973.
It then entered the Golden West Service rebuild program (1991) and became CRLE 830006 and seems to be one of the few that were repainted blue (most were red).

Would the Atlas car be the closest prototype?
http://www.atlasrr.com/NFreight/n89flatcar.html

[James Costello]

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-67.htm

Apparently built 8/73, so it would appear to be a good match for the Atlas documentation. Sill details etc would be the same - I'm not sure whether the TOFC deck (rub rails in particular) would be very different from the auto rack deck....but there's probably a photo of an 'rack deck somewhere.

As this photo is also on my must-model list, I'd love to see photos of the deck...but GWS photos of that era are as hard to find of good photos of Espee 89' flats in TOFC or general service photos.

Have you seen any photos of the red versions Ryan?

Most documentation I've read suggests that the jacking pads are the best (and only) way to differentiate between the PS/Bethlehem/ACF 89' flats, I wouldn't get too hung up on Atlas VS MTL (both ACF flats) and use whats on hand (or easiest to strip, clear the deck of, or attach your risers to).   

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Go with the MTL car, much easier to remove the rub rails as I think they are cast into the metal deck of the Atlas model.

[cv_acr]

Interesting, looks like they've added stake pockets near the ends of the car as well when rebuilt.

[tehachapifan]

The lifting/jacking points appear to be a dead-on match to the Atlas car.

[sp org div]

You puttin together a Napa Pipe unit train Ryan?   

Jeff
http://espeeoregondivision.blogspot.com/

[ryan_wilkerson]

Thanks for the help guys. I have an undec Atlas flat and at least one undec of the MTL 89' flats. I'll dig them out and see what it'll take on each. I'd love to build a Napa pipe train but this will be a smaller project for now. It started while looking through photos of Golden West Service equipment and I realized that we have new manufacturers in the market since I last looked at the project. Just trying to add more GWS blue. Based on the usage, it looks like the pipe loading hardware from BLMA might be appropriate.

I think I've seen photos of the red CRLE flats...I'll see what I find to post here.