[:)]Does anyone know of reference material which will help me find the proper freight equipment for a B & M layout during the 1930 and 1940 period. I am confused as to the appropriate length of the cars. 40’, 50 ’ or what.
40’ cars mostly. Ralph Fisher’s book on the B&M (I think it’s back in print) will give you a good idea of what things were like in the 40’s; one of the things I recall in there was comments on freight cars, including the dreaded hide cars, which were discussed at length on another thread in this forum. Another book which I think is out of print but readily available in the used markets is called High Green and the Barkpeelers. This has some comments about 50’ cars being the exception. Bob Liljestrand (can never remember the right spelling) has done an excellent series of books (relatively inexpensive paperbacks) on New England freight and passenger equipment which have lots of B&M stuff. Also Friends of the Bedford Depot has a couple of DVDs out (in color yet) which have shots of equipment which would be helpful. They have a website. I really enjoyed their first DVD which had color footage of the Lexington Branch (with steam) as I remember it from when I was growing up. IIRC. Morning Sun has several B&M books, too. Visit Amazon and look around; you’ll be surprised what’s out there.
Hope this helps.
work safe
Coalminer3, thanks for the info and it can give me a good starting point for my research