Im worried that the bumpers Im using were not used in the forties. please tell me if they were. Heres a link http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/Track/Trackphotos/843.gif
I don't know of bumpers that are specific to any time period, but it is probable that the more simple they are the earlier they were in use. Here are some of my "anytime" bumpers made from railroad ties, dirt, old rail, and, for N scale, weeds. N scale weeds will stop an N scale car. :yes9rq: Hope this will help.
Blimey. Never seen one like that before. It looks like it might be a really posh 'shock-absorber' type that you might use in a passenger terminal. I can't believe it's a general purpose freight siding thing on most RR. Where are you using them?
I don't know about period, but I like the bumpers that are made out of rails. I've seen some made out of plastic. I like the ones I found at Greenway. Here's a link: http://www.greenwayproducts.com/a_clutter.shtml Scroll down near the bottom and you'll see a picture with three bumper styles. I have several of the ones pictured in the top left of the picture.
ATSFrio - The track bumpers you show are very definitely of the type found in only a very few, large passenger terminals. Most companies will use the cheapest, most readily available materials to end a spur track. That is, dirt. On previous layouts I used a "clump" of wet plaster, painted a earth or other dark colored brown, possibly a little green paint, sprinkled on brown and/or green foam, and - if I thought about it in time, use some twigs or short broomstraws to make it look a little bit more "disrespected/unremarkable." This time I'm using Sculptamold 'cause thats what I've got, it just sets slower than plaster. I've explored dozens of industrial sidings from those of very prosperous to not-long-for this-life industries, and all but one used a pile of dirt. The one exception was in a paved parking lot with those half-moon type wheel stops painted a bilious yellow color.
