Re-stencilling freight cars

txronharris Dec 29, 2016

  1. txronharris

    txronharris TrainBoard Member

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    As I've been thinking about doing some resticilling as I weather some cars, I was wondering about some common practices in doing so.

    We've all seen cars with the reporting marks and car numbers painted over, but do railroads ever just paint over the reporting marks and leave the original car number? I was thinking on my short line, it would be easier to just put my reporting letters above the original car number and call it good. Since it's a short line with minimal cars, car numbers in a series isn't really important.

    So there's the question: can I just replace the reporting marks and use original car numbers and still be prototypical or do I need to just re-number as well? Do any of you have photos of cars doing that? If I repainted a car, I'd of course renumber and letter it--I'm just talking about the re-stencilling at this time.

    Thanks in advance for your help and comments!
     
  2. jpwisc

    jpwisc TrainBoard Member

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    I know some photos railroads just change the reporting marks, but do not remember. If it doesn't affect their numbering system, why waste the time and effort? Here are a couple examples I've photographed:
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  3. CraigN

    CraigN TrainBoard Supporter

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    What happens when a vandal tags a car and covers the car number ? Is there research done to make sure the car gets repainted with the same number?

    Craig
     
  4. rhensley_anderson

    rhensley_anderson TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes, the car is repainted with the same number.
     
  5. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    It appears that vandals respect reporting marks, as they know their "work" will be quickly painted over if they deface the reporting marks.
     
  6. dalebaker

    dalebaker TrainBoard Member

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    That's what I've read too. The "professional" taggers don't cover the numbers with their artwork. That's a sure ticket to getting it painted over.

    With regards to reporting marks and numbers, WATCO Holdings WAMX purchased a number of old CNW covered hoppers for grain service. The CNW reporting mark was covered over with WAMX and the CNW car numbers were used. I converted about 6 or 8 to the WAMX reporting Mark and used the CNW car numbers.

    It appears to be done all the time. So patch on!
     
  7. fordy744

    fordy744 TrainBoard Member

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    I concur, many times railroads and leasing companies just change the reporting mark and keep the original car number.

    I cannot lay my hands on any photos at present though.
     
  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    A fair amount of the time, the criminals seem to try not covering numbers. Although more often these days, they don't seem to care. If painted over on the side, there are the numbers up high on car ends.
     
  9. BnOEngrRick

    BnOEngrRick TrainBoard Member

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    Every car is (supposed to be) equipped with AEI tags, so if all the reporting marks on a car were obliterated, they could just scan the tag if needed to determine the reporting marks...in theory...
     

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