I model the Southwest US in TWO different eras with the same layout: ATSF (1972) and BNSF (2019/now). My layout supports operations, but I don't have full compliments of specific cars, so I substitute. For example, I'm lacking modern cement cars, so I use the 1972 models in the meantime. I'm lacking less of the 1972 equipment, but have subbed modern stuff so the operations can go on. Same with vehicles and trucks.
I was corresponding with the Trainworx folks a few years ago, and he sent me a picture of a new Rio Grande dump gondola he was readying to sell. Well, that evening Micro Trains announces their UP dump gondola, a similar but very different car. He said he was going to scrap the run, but I said, “give me a few days”. I posted everywhere, and by the day after that he had plenty of orders from Rio Grande fans who knew that this was the only chance to get the exact car for our coal trains. I ordered 75 of them. Very nice!
That is a great example of how to get something needed right there Tony. When KCS did their NAFTA rack, I really wanted to represent that scheme in my autorack train. None of the available racks match the prototype and it was way more kitbashing than I was ready to do so this was another "A stand in works just fine" cars. Was very happy with the result. Still one of my favorites. I am still surprised that scheme hasn't been done by M/T.
This isn't like me to say this. I heard that, Okay so it is just like me. The terminology "Stand in Car" is theatrical in essence or perhaps origin. It allows us model railroaders to look at the obvious. After all isn't model railroading a form of theatrics. When it comes to freight cars it was clear early on... to me and by that I mean the late 50's. I wasn't going to get authentic freight cars. No one seemed to be at all that concerned and were buying-up whatever freight cars they could find, to run in their freight trains. I did the same. So, most of my freight cars whether in HO or N scale you could call stand in cars. Except they weren't stand in cars, they were the only $#!+ we could get. Athearn came close in HO Scale but more often then not they missed the mark. Still we bought them up. Price was right and what the heck. A lot has changed with my stock of freight cars. Kadee and MTL have put out some good/excellent replications and my freights are finally starting to resemble the 1:1 foot scale. MTL, isn't alone. A number of companies now provide prototype train equipment. A shout out of thanks. The same is true of my Passenger cars and the various name trains they make up. Never mind those N scale, Rivarossi heavy weights that didn't come with steps. I can hear the Conductors and Pullman Porters, yelling jump! I have a fleet of them and find myself scratching my head as I try to figure out a way, that's acceptable to me, to put steps on them. For the longest time everything we bought was, as you put it, a "Stand In Car." Prompting me to wonder out loud...SO? As in "So What?" It wasn't so long ago we were calling them "Generic Train Cars." And they've been called worse not only by myself but others. It was, what it was and honestly I didn't think it would ever change. It has but at what cost? Oh yes, my coal trains. The "Stand In Coal Train." I don't think there is an authentic or acceptable (to me) coal car in the bunch of them BUT I still run them. As I grit my teeth. Stay!
I must be a product of habit. I had my teeth pulled recently in preparation for false teeth. I can't grit my teeth right now. Aiiyiiyii !!
