Wanted: Load ideas for flat cars

[VonRyan]

That's a bit different though, since the NS MP15 is still an active NS unit. I think Ed is thinking more of older retired units, like you might see being shipped to a museum or tourist operation. These may not be as recently maintained, or, horrors, might actually have plain bearings instead of roller bearings, in which case the railroad won't touch it on its own wheels.

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=qttx131039_2&o=ttx

But friction bearing is the only trucks out there, who ever heard of such things as roller bearings?!     

I do get what your saying though. Either way it makes more sense to me to just put it on its wheels and let it roll.
Sometimes roll your own needs to be kept in the realm of smoking. 

-Cody F.

[cv_acr]

The problem is, friction or roller bearing, the railroad isn't going to take a change of moving something that may not have had any maintenance or inspection of the bearings. If they pull that thing out that hasn't been used in ten years and put it in a mainline freight and the bearings fail at speed and cause a huge wreck.... Well let's just say the railroad will stay on the safe side and required it to be shipped on a flatcar like cargo.

Now, serviceable engines moving from one yard to another, or back and forth from rebuild, or from one railroad to another for delivery are routinely moved in trains on their own wheels.

It's historic equipment that the railroads won't touch.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Not only historic stuff, but a lot of the "third world" switchers that end up at grain elevators and industrial plants are persona-non-grata on a lot of class 1s because, aside from deferred maintenance and non-roller bearing trucks (which is an instant red flag), there are other mechanical issues (air brake types, alignment control couplers, etc...) that often make it prohibitive. The alignment control coupler requirement is still relatively new and causing a bunch of headaches for old locomotive owners.

Some roads are better than others, but even so, often, flat cars or even flatbed trailers are the tool of choice.

I really can't even blame them though. All it takes is one colossal screw up to ruin someone's career, and so nobody wants to put their livelihood on the line.

[Lemosteam]

Pudding ton, does anyone make a resin casting of stacked pickup truc frames?  See buttloads of the f150 frames come into Dearborn assembly daily!  Usually they are on the really long flats.  Pretty sure they did the same thing in your era too.

[Flagler]

What type of Industries are serviced from the yard?

[Kisatchie]

I remember way back in the 60s when New Orleans started phasing out most of its streetcars (stupidest thing our transit authority ever did, if you ask me). Some were shipped to museums around the country. I clearly remember seeing a couple of streetcars being shipped on flatcars in the Southern Railway yard in New Orleans.


Hmm... too early for me...

[PAL_Houston]

Chooch makes boiler shells that make for interesting loads, particularly if you have any coal-fired industries on your layout.

Tractors were delivered just about anywhere rural in the US or Canada, and I've seen Deere, International Harvester and Farm All on flats....

Somewhere I used to have Santa on his sleigh with 8 tiny reindeer....on a flat!! 

[GaryHinshaw]

Not sure if you're looking for typical or atypical, but I'll toss out some work-a-day examples that are close to your modeled space-time coordinates:  construction equipment (my favorite); pipe loads.  Don't forget your gons too, you need some heavy lead/zinc ore loads.  (Would love to have heard that sound!)

Doug Wingfield has some real gems in his RP.net postings.

[sirenwerks]

Pudding ton, does anyone make a resin casting of stacked pickup truc frames?  See buttloads of the f150 frames come into Dearborn assembly daily!  Usually they are on the really long flats.  Pretty sure they did the same thing in your era too.

There are these on Shapeways by StonySmith - http://www.shapeways.com/model/272260/automobile-frames-n-scale.html/?material=61

[sirenwerks]

Puddington,

I found these loads while perusing the Walter Strong collection of 50s Alaska RR ops -

http://www.alaskarails.org/historical/Strong/WRS0213.jpg

On this one I am particularly fond of the generator series of cars, and the graders -

 http://www.alaskarails.org/historical/Strong/index4.html

[wcfn100]

I think my favorite loads for 50' flat is a couple of vehicles that wouldn't normally ship in large quantities like this:

http://jimsands2.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=79752

I've seen REA trucks and street sweepers as well.

Jason

[up1950s]

Look at my Picasa , I have loads of loads .

[Lemosteam]

Sirenworks, Thanks!  I now remember seeing that image while perusing shapeways a while ago.

[randgust]

Here's my inspiration for the 70-tonner load, just so you know I didn't make this up:

http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2009/4/unload.jpg

[Chris333]

This was down the street from me: