I model 1985-86 Chessie System. I’ve been searching photos (online, books, videos) of Chessie intermodal trains during this period. It appears to me that few, if any at all, of the brown Trailer Train flats were in use, having been repainted in the yellow scheme during the 70’s. How does this stand up to your knowledge of the fleet? Would they have all been repainted by the mid 80’s?
I am trying to determine if I should buy the forthcoming BLMA release of their F89Js in the “as delivered” 1966 brown scheme. BLMA just announced 10 numbers in the 70’s yellow repaint due early 2012, which will be an obvious addition. Likewise, I’ve reserved all 6 numbers for Trainworx’s 85’ PS flats in the 70’s yellow repaint.
Does anyone know the time frame of the Trainworx Union Pacific as delivered scheme for 1985-86? I would assume these to be sold or repainted by the mid 80’s as well. I have confirmation from another intermodal modeler that the TLCX painted cars do not show up in the 1985 ORER.
Not sure about TOFC cars, but I actually saw a brown FTTX automotive frame flatcar in fully untouched original lettering just a few months ago. Unfortunately I was not expecting that and so caught off guard that I didn’t manage a photo.
I did get one of this car in brown but patched out on another occasion:
I too am collecting TOFC flat cars for use in the same time period of 1985/86. I imagine it didn’t really matter where in the US, probably ALL of the Trailer Train TOFC flat cars were repaint in yellow by the late 1970’s, certainly by the early 1980’s. I can’t ever remember seeing a photo of brown original paint Trailer Train flat cars in the 1980’s. I actually model 70’s and 80’s so I will likely pick up a few brown TOFC flat cars but not many. For pure 1980’s Trailer Train flat cars, I suggest you only buy Trailer Train logo yellow flat cars. Of course the “speed TTX” logo didn’t come along until about 1991.
Also keep in mind that by 1985/86, the standard for trailer loading was now 45’ trailers, with 40’ trailers becoming much less common. Many/most of the TT TOFC flat cars were converted by 1985 to carry two 45’ trailers. As such, TT flat cars set up for two 45’ trailers would be labeled as: WTTX (TOFC only), TTWX (TOFC/COFC), KTTX (back to back 45’s), RTTX (2 45’s or 3 28’s) etc.
I do have some ORER data to show the approximate number of various TT flats in service in 82, 85, 88 and so on. TTX labeled flat ca
While not TOFC, I seems recall seeing a brown TTX bulkhead flatcar a few years ago, with the TTX logo. I thought I took a picture, but I cannot find it.
There were some original TTX Flat Car left here an there that did not get repainted until the 1990’s intermodal boom. There is one in Maintenance of Way service on the GTW today.