Let's talk about: FLATCARS Part One

[Eastern Roads]

If ever there was a RR car that was plain and simple, yet could haul the most interesting loads, it would have to be, hands down, the lowly Flatcar. These babies haul unconventional, inconvenient, over-size, over-width, odd-shaped, even rare loads of things you'd never think of. Here's a few examples, (warning: this thread will be photo heavy)..We start with a forty foot car with a wrapped lumber load. It was an experiment I did to see if the load parts would land as advertised.


Flatcars haul other RR cars:



They haul odd loads as well:


And they haul the common commodities also.


And one more load pic of new tractors:


Flatcars look great with something on them, and they really catch the viewers eyes when they're around. But what about when they have nothing on them?? They're not much to look at.


So what is to be done with this dilemma?? We have come to the point of our discussion here and some things I've done with my flats. You may have seen my MOW flat I use with a Burro Crane, it hauls the extra rail, and the electro-magnet for the crane when it's out on the line working:



Here's a closer look at the deck, with and without the load:



You can see the decking has been worked over, and it looks like something you'd see on a real flatcar, since it's wood, it takes a beating more than steel. It's missing some of the stakes, and it looks like it's been forgotten out in the rottenest weather imaginable! (Kind of like Canada! Sorry CP, CN! )

Here's another example on a regular revenue car:



Since this thread is going to be a killer for our dialup friends, I'm going to make a second thread, and it will be on what I did to achieve the results you see here. The Western Maryland car I already showed will be our "victim". Stay tuned!!

[Daryl]

very nice work

[LiveSteamer]

Fantastic Work Mike.

[thogan3]

Mmm.....any problem with ...um shorts?????? Otherwise....fantastic work!

[Eastern Roads]

When I have a problem with shorts, all I do is tie a second Control Master 20 on, and whatever thought it was shorting the rails seems to go away with a little spark and smoke.... That way I find the problem QUICK!!

Another rule of thumb I learned at an electric motor shop: All motors are packed with smoke. Once the smoke gets out, the motor doesn't work anymore!

Thanks guys for the attaboys!!

[thogan3]

I know that all too well....got a couple decoders that the smoke leaked out of....must of been a slow leak....could smell it....never figured out where it leaked out of........

[domiluk]

First off I really like the idea of showing what you did for your loads .I got one question the lumber loads did you make your own paper covers or did you buy them . I been trying to do some on my computer but not getting what i wanted an I like yours so please let us know.
I didn't know that there is a smoke rule with electric I'm glade you let us know (I'm going to stop letting my smoke out)

[stevechurch2222]

nice looking loads,guys.keep the photos coming.

[Trainman1965]

Heres one i did up with a load of poles.

[Eastern Roads]

I was curious when you originally did the thread for the pole load, and now with the second car; What did you use to tie the loads down with?? Thanks!