Question on MTL Bulkhead Flats

[dmidkiff]

Should these have wood decks and bulkheads? Is it just a matter of preference from the railroad in how they were delivered? The painted deck same as the car on the model has always just looked off to me.

Thanks, Doug

[johnb]

Should these have wood decks and bulkheads? Is it just a matter of preference from the railroad in how they were delivered? The painted deck same as the car on the model has always just looked off to me.

Thanks, Doug

yes, they should be wood

[nkalanaga]

The BN's cars had wood decks.  On the other hand, both the GN and BN painted the wood decks on at least some of their flatcars, so the colors may be correct for new cars.  I have no idea what other roads did.

[central.vermont]

While on the subject of MTL Bulkhead flats does anyone know what the earliest built date for these may be. Would they have been around in 1967?

Jon

[nkalanaga]

They could be.  The GN had similar cars then, with the same inside length.  Most of the GN's cars had a different bulkhead, closer to the old Con-Cor model, but I imagine that was because they came from a different builder.  The GN 161000-161299 series, later BN 618400-618599, built in 1965, were "close enough", as were the BN 621100-621199 series, built in 1970.

So, yes, I would say they could have been in service in 1967, although you'd have to find the exact prototype to be sure.  I'm comfortable using two of them on my early 70s BN, and also have one painted GN Big Sky Blue. 

[dmidkiff]

Thanks for the info fellas. I'll likely weather most of them with bare wood decks and a few with paint peeling off wooden decks.

Doug