Hello, I'm researching the correct flat car to be used for an SPMW welded rail train. I've found only 2 photos wearing the silver SPMW: http://www.shastarails.com/images/SPMW_5375.jpg http://www.shastarails.com/images/SPMW_5396.jpg Does anyone know what length these would be? 50', 53', ? Also, since I'm doing a train, I'd like to know what numbers these should be. From online research, it looks like these flats are in the 5300 series but the flats that carry freight car wheels are mixed in. BTW, I'm modeling in N scale and have a 50' and a couple different 53' to choose from. Thanks for the help!
Also check out these SP cars. They're not the same type of flats but something that might give you more options... http://tomfassett.com/railroad/rollingstock/flatcars/flatcars.html Regarding your referenced photos, I have to agree...they look like standard 53'6" flats. Probably the DI/GHQ, Athearn, or Micro-Trains could be used. (or the Atlas, but they are WAY light and I wouldn't recommend it)
Ryan Those are in the F-70 series probabaly an F-70-2/5. If the deck has those plates over the bolster like our 50' Flat Cars have then they would be F-70-10's and above. My guess is the earlier series. The 70 series all 52-53 feet long to the ends of the car and are in the 56,0000 range. I believe the 4 digit on these are MOW or special purpose cars since they are probably non-revenue. If you go with the F70-2 (which would be my choice) then you have 125 numbers from 560001 to 560124...the -5 had 300 cars, 560125-560423. Mow cars are a bit tougher to nail down, I've checked my library and have one other book to check that may shed some light. At least we know the range may be between 5375 to 5396 ) Hope this helps. Joe Micro-Trains Line
The N&S line that runs through here has had these style cars as I have seen. They are MOW for weld rail, pretty ugly disposition as the spaghetti comes off those probably the reason for the danger signs.
Ryan, Nice shots! Interestingly, silver SPMW5397-5399 are included in the shots I took at Bakersfield in 2003. They don't have a class number, but have a 5-78 date on them. I'm not sure if this is when they were converted to SPMW service or their built date. The green SPMW rail bunk cars in the SPMW9000 series are marked as F-70-12, built 5-63 and IL 53'6. They are marked "UP 9-00" which makes me think these were Espee cars that were painted green by the UP. Here's some info on the F-70-12 cars: F-70-12 Flat Cars So I'm pretty confident they're a 53'6 car...
Thank you all, especially the class info on these Joe. Any additional info you find will be greatly appreciated. Here are a group of the SPMW flats with the AAR Type (M150) and AAR Class (MWF) Southern Pacific Maintenance of Way Rolling Stock Photographic Roster Joe are you looking through ORER of certain years for this data? I live within 30 minutes of the CA State RR Museum which should have a variety of resources but I haven't tried that route yet. If you have some research tips for what years I might look at, that would be great. For the classes you mentioned, I found these links with data just like you provided: From F-70-2 Flat Cars SP 79700-79824 (re #'d SP 560001-560124) "These 53'-6" flat cars were built 2-4/1941 by SP Equipment Co. (Sacremento) and featured fishbelly side sills, 16 stake pockets, Columbia Steel trucks, poling pockets, overhanging wood decks and riveted construction. An article on these cars by Allen Wood appeared in the November-December 1976 issue of Western Prototype Modeler incuding prototype and model photos." From F-70-5 Flat Cars SP 79955-80254 (re #'d SP 560125-560423) "These 53'-6" flat cars were built 4-5/1942 by Pacific Car & Foundry. They featured fishbelly side sills, riveted contruction, ASF or Bettendorf or Scullin trucks (100/100/100,) overhanging wood decks and poling pockets." What complicates the number series is that it looks like the wheel flats (for freight car wheels) are mixed in. My main goal is to find the closest N scale model for these, in production or not.
James, I missed your reply while I was typing up mine. Thanks for the additional info on your photos. The photo in your link to F-70-12 class looks a lot like the N Athearn 53' GSC. The angles look right, has 16 pockets and the surface overhang is there. Here's some photos for comparison: http://www.nscalesupply.com/ath/ATH-RS-Flatcars53.html Your photos of the specialty flats used for pulling and laying the rail will be a real trick!
No worries Ryan - I was just lucky and in the right place, at the right time. When the time comes, drop me a line and I'll send you the full size photos.
James, Thanks for the offer of full resolution photos, I will take you up on that. They will definitely come in handy. Vice versa, if you find any photos on my website that you're interested in, let me know. I have about 3000 photos posted and shoot a lot of SP when I see them: ShastaRails || Photo Index
