Does anyone have a list of freight car commodities? I would like a detailed list of goods carried by rail around the 50’s and also around the 70’s. I’m modeling the Wilmington area, but it will have several interchanges.
Very simple.
Just get a list of everything that is made or sold and that’s your list of commodities.
There are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of commodities shipped by rail.
Pick whatever you like.
Dave H.
ttt,
The Operation SIG has been compiling an all time list of rail served industries by region, with types of cars/volumes of traffic information. Go out to this URL:
http://www.opsig.org/industrydb/
Jim Bernier
I just remembered somebody had asked a similar question and I found some info for them. Send me a PM with your email address and I will send you a Excel spreadsheet. The time frame is current, but the commodities are typical.
Dave H.
Go to the Keystone crossings website and download the PRR CT1000 PDF file. It lists every industry with a siding and its milepost on the PRR from New York to DC. Then you will have accurate potential customers for your crews to switch.
Back in the 1950’s truck transportation was not anything like we know it today. Most goods did travel by train. However rail service was not as speedy as we know it today either. There was a lot of transferring of goods shipped from one railroad to another. This took time (less than carload shipments) and slowed down the shipping time. Which eventually lead to more shippers using truck as trucking improved their service.
We bought a Statolounger recliner and it shipped via rail from their plant to Cleveland, Ohio. Seemed like it took forever (weeks) to get there.
The standard tag line for mail order products into the 1970’s was “allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery”.
Dave H.
Thanks Dave. The spreadsheet gave me a lot of ideas. It will really help me on my layout.
Actually railroads never did like the short haul and still don’t.
What kills rail transit time is 1)Terminal dwell time.2)Time spent on a interchange track and 3) standing still while in a train due to red blocks and the crew going dead on the hour of service law.
Today truck lines is suffering in transit time lost as well for many reasons.