My situation may differ from your needs; But…
I have about 20 B’mann log cars; not the flats. I wanted to readily remove or replace log loads on them, as we operate and need loads and empties.
I contemplated ways to secure the loads, and the way Bruce did it is the most realistic. I almost went that way…
The only problem was the need for time to actually apply the chain, and not all the logs are the same size, so chain length varied.
So…one of the guys in our gang, quickly made up a simple jig, which represented the log car , and started building log loads, using hot glue to attach the logs to each other. After gluing the load together, he took chain, and used small (Very small) flat head nails to attach the chains at each end of the load. The nails were hidden under the load.
Now, when I need to load a car, I just place the load on it, and gravity holds it there very well, and the chains at first glance look like they are holding theload in place.
If you are using flat cars, you could use the same method, and the stake pockets can have stakes in them to secure the load without the bother of chains.
Having each load glued together make each loading operation a very fast chore.
I don’t use the plastic logs. I use “Logs” cut from the trimmings from a Cedar hedge that was cut down. I simply trimmed the folage and chop sawed the branch into appropriate lengths. The Cedar wiil eventually loose it’s bark, and the loads will fall apart, but it cost me next to nothing, and solved the problem of log loads.
