These bulkhead flatcar wrapped lumber loads were quick, cheap, and easy. https://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/kootenay-kwikie-making-lumber-loads/
Steel coils in a Con-Cor LV gon. I made small holders for them. I recall seeing steel loaded like this on the EJ&E in the early '70s before purpose-built coil cars were common. The loads were so heavy that the 'J' limited them to only one coil over each truck.
Steel girders in an old Atlas CNJ gon. The car was bought in NJ on a family vacation in the early '70s. I've always liked it and continue to operate it.
Regarding chains for loads (and other things): I can usually find chains as small as 42-links-per-inch, which scales to 3.8" per link in N scale. The 25-links-per-inch chain scales to a bit over 6", which is about right for safety chains on the ends of cars. To find smaller chain sizes, I am looking into etched simulations. Those would look good going across caboose and old open-platform passenger car railings if I could get some as small as 80 (simulated) links-per-inch. Steve
Well, these wrapped loads were individual packets, bound individually with thread, stickered, and just miserable to do. Worth it, but never to be repeated....
Try using the Upload a File button on the lower right of the reply screen. The middle one in this image.