US Standard River Barge Now Available in Z and N

Pete Nolan Nov 18, 2013

  1. Pete Nolan

    Pete Nolan TrainBoard Supporter

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    These are accurate waterline models of the standard barge for the Mississippi River system, measuring 195' long and 35' wide. I used engineering drawings to accurately model the dimensions and placement of the hold, and details such as the winches, bitts, ventilators, and exterior bracing around the coaming. Freeboard (height above water) is a scale 4.5'; coamings are a scale 3.5' high.

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    Z scale Standard Barge from the bow

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    N scale Standard Barge from the stern

    In N scale, the barge is 380 mm (15") long, and 68 mm (2.7") wide. In Z scale, the barge is 277 mm (10.9") long and 50 mm (1.9") wide. The Z scale barge could serve as a smaller N scale barge; in N scale it measures 142' long by 25.5' wide.

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    N & Z scale Standard Barges compared

    The N scale barge is primed in red chromate primer; the Z scale barge in gray primer. Unpainted models are available, as are models without mooring bitts attached. Availability in very limited until March 2014.

    Price is $60 each for N and Z. Discounts are available for multiple orders: 10% for three to nine; 15% for ten or more.

    Upcoming for river modelers is a "Jeffboat": a 145' towboat from Jeffersonville Shipyards, the second largest supplier of barges and inland waterway vessels, and a smaller towboat (they are actually pushers) of about 75' in length. Here's the feasibility model of the Jeffboat, without the smoothed corners or deck details.

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    Contact peterknolan@gmail.com to order or for more information.
     
  2. BurlingtonRoute

    BurlingtonRoute TrainBoard Member

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    These are great. My dream (it wont happen in this lifetime) is a swing bridge over the Mississippi, and these would go real good with that. Another cool thing someone told me about was a working railroad car ferry, that uses parts of a remote control car to move it over the "water". I also haul a lot of coal so a rotary dump into the barges would be nifty too.
     
  3. Rowan

    Rowan TrainBoard Member

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    Good one. They look very good and nicely casted.
     

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