I need to figure out what era I want to focus on for model railroading. As I am now 40 years old I was thinking of the era of between 1971 newer.
My questions are about the types of engines, car styles and cabooses used from 1971 and forward.
Before I go any further let me say I love I love time lines. As a history buff and researcher time lines provide a solid historical point of when something happened in the past.
Can anyone provide a time line as to what engine, car styles and cabooses where used in 1971 to today? I know cabooses were no longer used after the mid 1980’s. But when exactly did that happen? I also know that SD-40’s were no longer being built as of the 1970’s but exaclty when did that happen and what engine replaced it? Have there been engines since that are even newer? What about car styles? Have tanker cars changed over hte past 4 decades? What about box and reefer cars? I know there are other car styles out there as well. But I do not know what they are called. Is there a glossary of car styles with a picture and description of cars up to this decade? For tht matter what about an index or glossary of information for engines and even caboose styles?
The SD-40’s were built from the mid '60’s into the very early '70’s, replaced by the very-similar SD40-2’s. Outwardly they looked a lot alike, the differences being mostly internal. Also in production in the late 60’s and early 70’s was its larger cousin, the SD45, with a larger engine and length to match. The SD45’s were known as fuel hogs, most were retired as more efficient units became available. Don’t forget GE was also a locomotive builder and offered models intended to compete with EMD’s models.
Caboose usage and retirement varied with each railroad, and portions of each railroad. Cabooses had been retired for the most part by the mid 80’s, though a handful still exist and see service.
As noted in your post, tank cars have changed over the years. In the early 70’s, perhaps a few of the old three dome versions of the late 40’s and 50’s might be seen. Boxcars were common in the 50 and 60 foot lengths, all the way up to 80+ foot high-cube versions for hauling auto parts. Reefers were generally mechanically refrigerated, during that era, most had a small diesel powered cooling system and had to be fueled every few days. Covered hoppers were introduced in the 40’s, but became popular in the late 50’s and 60’s, replacing boxcars for hauling grain.
Intermodal cars and operations were developed in the 50’s and perhaps even earlier, but again the 60’s and 70’s were times these began to grow, mostly trailer-on-flat-car (TOFC). Containers became popular in the 80’s (COFC) and well cars (also known as double-stacks) were designed to carry them, sometimes in 3 or 5 piece articulated sets.
Auto “racks” were introduced in the late 60’s, many were nothing more than 89 foot flatcars with racks welded onto them to carry automobiles. Vandalism was common in the late 60’s, and panels were added to help reduce vandalism. Eventually the enclosed auto rack was developed, and many are still in use to this day.
Something you might find usefull is an old Diesel Engine Roster guidebook like the one Kalmbach (I believe) still publishes every few years. I think they started publishing them in the seventies. I have one from 1982 that I still refer to when checking what engines were in use at that time. I’m sure many folks don’t realize that thirty years ago BN still had Alco RS-3s on their roster for example.