Hi all,
I’m custom painting and decaling some N scale SP boxcars, I model the early 1970s and I’m about to finish my models.
I’ve downloaded a lot of pictures to use as reference and I noticed that while many cars have door markings like “CLOSE AND LOCK DOOR, ETC…”, some they don’t have basically anything on doors.
Is there any point in RR history where door marking were introduced? and most of all, were door markings in use in the early 1970s?
thank you in advance.
I think this command is for plug doors. It is not necessary for sliding doors.
Door markings were introduced in the 1800’s.
It depends on the type of door, and the railroad. Some had more markings than others. Some were painted over when the cars were repainted, some were added later. You just have to look at pictures for the era you want.
Dave H.
Eric, Dave,
thank you for your answers. I will look at pictures more accurately and try to find out what I need.
Boy could I be off base here but here goes. I think it is on cars where the door adds to the structural integrity of the car. You might also look for some cars right before Railbox say about 1970 that had dedicated service instructions on them. It might say something like, “Return to agent Dayton Ohio” or, “Return to GM Lordstown Ohio”. Cars particularly box cars were in such demand that shippers were paying for dedicated cars so they could ship their products. In addition the railroads had specially marked cars for hauling appliances and other commodities
Most of the cars we unloaded were plug door cars. The railroad (Conrail) would not move the car if we left the doors open. If we had a car with a door problem, we called in for repair. Conrail sent a man out to fix the door.
Regarding markings for return routing. We had quite a few long term leased cars and they all had a routing stenciled on the side of the car next to the left side of the door.
A large hole in the side of a structure rarely adds structural integrity. That’s why many boxcars have large side sills under the doors. Sliding doors definitely don’t add strength.
Pooled cars existed decades before Railbox. By the way Railbox cars would never have a pool assignment on them, that would defeat the purpose, plus they were general service cars and only specially equipped boxcars (cushion underframes, DF or load divider equipment, auto mobile racks, or special loading devices or outlets) can be assigned to pools.
Dave H.
First of all I said, “right before railbox” to give a time frame. I did not say, “Check out Railbox cars”. Secondly a door in an opening of that size can add structural integrity since it is a plug door. Don’t read the second statement as absolutely positively only as an engineering prinicple.
If the door is load bearing, you’ll never get it open or the car will be weakened when you open it. Just because the door fits snugly in the opening doesn’t mean its structural. It supports weight if the load shifts side to side, but contributes nothing to supporting the vertical loads of the car and its contents. All of the load of the car is supported by the superstructure is supported by the door frames.
Dave H.
markings on doors-on the doors should be lettering noting forklift pockets for opening the doors, or noting not to use forklifts, door pull brackets on each side, door manufacturer letter and markings, closing guides(stripes), and hasp and seal markings.