I use a computerized switch list program to generate switch lists for our operating sessions. Recently the computer that it was loaded on crashed, loosing the rolling stock registry file. While recreating them I came to the startling conclusion that I had 120+ freight cars for my little layout!
My freight car roster consists of plastic and resin cars from a number of manufacturers. Most are equipped with .088 tread wheels and Kadee #58 "scale" couplers which is my current standard fro all new equipment (yes, I'm still building more....).
One of my rolling stock projects has been to duplicate cars that actually appeared in Livingston Manor during the time I model. This project was spurred on by a set of waybill copies sent to me by Wayne Levitt and a car movement record sheet donated by Jeff Otto of the O&W society. Several cars have been based on these documents, while most of the others are chosen because they (or simiar cars) appear in photos of the O&W.
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Selected Freight Cars
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GATX #1638 - A new addition, and one that I'm ashamed to say sat in my closet too long! Jon Cagle's Southern Car & Foundry is a relatively new manufacturer of resin cars, and this was one of his first freight cars. I had opened the box several times, and frankly been intimidated. I should not have been. The kit went together wonderfully, and the brass photo-etched steps (somebody likened them to metal origami) and details worked wonderfully. |
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ERIE #76500 - An out of the box Atlas '32 ARA boxcar with weathering and the usual coupler and wheel additions. I had to have one of these after seeing one prominently in a color O&W photo. |
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A Couple Culotta Cits....err... Kits - Ted Culotta's Speedwitch Models makes some of the nicest resin freight car kits on the market. Here are a couple of his efforts - a Wabash 40' auto car and a GM&O 40' auto car. The later is a kitbash-in-a-box. It consists of resin parts to convert a Branchline plastic boxcar (also included). |
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CB&Q 14813 - Another of Ted's Speedwitch Models resin kits. |
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DL&W #76051 - A Westerfield resin kit. This car would have been very close to retirment by 1951 and is weathered to represent this.
Al Westerfield announced his impending retirement a couple of years ago, so I try to buy a new kit to add the collection every time I see him. Of course, its getting a bit like the rolling Stones' retirment tours that keep coming back...!
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MEC #4499 - An Atlas 1932 ARA boxcar. I now have a few of these - more than I need probably - but they're just a neat car to have available. This car was modified slightly with the addition of new three board tack boars (to match the MEC prototype), new cut levers and A-Line wire stirrup steps.
It also illustrates a few other changes that I often make to freight cars - reweigh changes and chalk marks. Note how the data below the car number has been freshly repainted, as would be the case every few years that the car was in service, and the chalk scribbles placed there by brakemen to help with the car routing. |
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MDT #979-A Sunshine resin kit. Just had to have one of these red, white and blue cars.....
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PRR #81468 - This all started because I didn't like the factory lettering. It got out of hand....
A kitbashing project based on a Bowser X-31f "Turtle Roof". The cast on ladders and grabs were carved off and replaced with Red Caboose and Branchline parts, brake piping was added to the underframe, and the car was decorated with home made decals printed on my ALPS printer.
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NYC #880866 - Walsh & Perrine cement in Livingston Manor used to receive regular shipments of cement in NYC covered hoppers. According to the waybills I have this car was one of them. I built a few Eastern Car Works kits (almost) stock with homemade decals just to get something close. I've got to replace those thick steps and ladder rungs.... |
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DL&W #45900 - Never one to pass up a bargain I picked up a couple of the Ertl freight cars when they were being closed out. A few minutes adding weathering and its not too bad.... This quickie weathering job on an otherwise stock kit won first place in freight car models at the 2004 O&W society banquet. Go figure!
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WAB #13047 - An current Funaro & Camerlengo resin kit. Typical of many model gons, this car is chronically light. It really needs a load.... I use it to torment operators.
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NC&STL #16294 - Nashville, Chatanooga & St Louis 36' Fowler design boxcar #16294 was delivered to the freight house (which was by 1951 was being used by a feed dealer) with a load of used fertilizer bags. Apparently these were treated much like deposit soda bottles and returned for re-use. My model of this car is a Westerfield resin kit.
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ATSF #212439 - A Westerfield kit of one of Santa Fe's unique raised-roof boxcars. I saw a photo of one of these on an O&W train and had to have one...
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PFE #52428 - A Pacific Freight Enterprises kit given to me some time ago by Ted Cullotta. A neat kit from an almost unknown manufacturer... Now available built up from Intermountain.
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Wadell Coal #101 - As one of the few modelers in the country who can really use one of these -Waddell Coal operated oput of Scranton, Pa and its doubtful that these cars ever got off of the O&W - I just had to have one! This car is one of the most popular Branchline ever did, custom printed on an Accurail kit. |
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Allegheny Midland #37717 - Prototype Police Alert!!!!! -As mentioned in the Track section, Tony Koester gave me a hopper lettered for his old (fictitious) Allegheny Midland after he tore down that layout, so it remains the only non-prototype based car on the layout - without apology.
Come on guys, at least it has wire grabs! |
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LV #63542 - A stock Branchline Trains 40' boxcar kit - the price was right! |
