I am reworking some Bachmann Big Haulers flat cars. They work out to roughly 31 feet long in 1:24th scale, the scale I choose to model in. So what would be a believable car weight and capacity for a truss rod, wood flatcar, of about that size?
I dunno what you are talking about but wanted to just let you know that Paul from chat just got signed up. Had a few problems but all is well. I can see you are busy doing stuff. Got a busy night tonight. It is supposed to be -19 below by around 7 AM in the morning the winds are up and the wind chill factor is suppose to exceed -45 below zero. Wind is over 30 mph right now. The barn cats will make it but the flock may not. Rail henge is about a foot of snow. Later
David
According to Sloan in ‘A Century and Ten of D&RGW Narrow Guage Cars’, Class 11, 12 &13 cars built in 1880 had a gross weight of 10 tons, Class 14 & 15, built 1881 were also 10 tons. Class 16, 17 & 18, built 1881 and 1887 were rated at 15 tons. Class 19, built 1887 were rated 20 ton. All of these were 30 foot wooden cars with truss rods. Class 20, built in 1918 were 25 ton, rebuilt in 1937 to 30 ton. Class 21, also built 1918, were 20 ton, rebuilt in 1937 to 30 ton. These two classes were 34 foot cars.
Tare weights for class 11, 12 &13 were 9500 lbs. 14 & 15 also 9500 lbs. 16, 17 & 18 10,500 lbs, 19 13,500 lbs. Class 20 & 21 were both 16,800 lbs.
Hope this helps
Ron
The primary differences between the weight limits, were the trucks they used under the cars. The basic car construction remained about the same. There were minor things here and there that was strengthened, but you would need to know what you’r looking for.
Dave, would I assume correctly that the primary differences in the trucks would be the diameter/length of the journals, sizing of the flat bars making up the side frames and the springs?
Thanks Ron, that gives me something to work with. I am not doing a model of a particular car, I just want weights that would be believable. The Pittsburgh and Castle Shannon will soon have a fleet of 4 flat cars (ok, maybe its a batch and not a fleet). Just as soon as I get off my dead end and finish fitting them out and lettering them.
Paul, I hope your flock survives. Even with all the ribbing we have done in the past, I know how precious pets become. I get to go walk around downtown Pittsburgh tomorrow in -2 with a wind chill of “loose body parts”.
I am not sure why, but the pictures I took tonight are a bit fuzzy. I will have to try again another day when my mind is more clear, and my hands more steady. Anyway I am going from this (stock Bachmann)
To this (more details to be added of course)
Looking nice . . . . 
I like the pockets, David.
nice decking…
Thanks Guys. I was writing an article as I went, for LSOL. Now that LSOL is TU, I will, eventually, finish the cars and artcile and post the whole shebang here on LSC.
Their loss, our gain!
Hey Lou,
Contact me at Ricgolding at yahoo dot com
This is code so rooster doesn’t figure it out.
Andy Clarke said:
nice decking…
You say that to all the guys!
Ric Golding said:
Hey Lou,
Contact me at Ricgolding at yahoo dot com
This is code so rooster doesn’t figure it out.
I told you once Ric and I will say it again…come hell or high water I will have that code figured out before the end of the year!
David Russell said:
Ric Golding said:
Hey Lou,
Contact me at Ricgolding at yahoo dot com
This is code so rooster doesn’t figure it out.
I told you once Ric and I will say it again…come hell or high water I will have that code figured out before the end of the year!
Rooster,
I will give you a hint. dot = . May only take 6 months now.
I like flatcars ! Nice work.
Thanks Mike. I need to get them finished soon, so my work surface will be a bit less cluttered for the build challenge.