I nearly have a time period nailed down in which to model and will probably settle on the early 1970’s. I have a GP-35 which was first manufactured from 1963 to 1966, a HI-Cube boxcar which should pass the time period specific test, and 40’ boxcars with running boards and journal trucks (or rather non-roller bearing). I need further information though. I know that running boards (roof walks) were removed or no longer installed on equipment by this time. Ladders were shortened because of this as well. Roller bearing trucks were almost mandatory (?). Bankruptcy’s and mergers were taking place. But what else?
I would be willing to part with my rolling stock as trying to convert them to no running boards would leave holes (that would need filling) and painting that would need to be done. Possibly fun projects but possibly a headache too. Ladders would have to be shortened (these are Atlas blue box models by the way). Trucks would need to be replaced. It might be easier to trade in my current rolling stock and purchase more modern 40’ boxcars (already converted as per regulations during that time). Opinions are welcome here.
Does anyone have any further information, links, or otherwise on 1970s railroading that they would be willing to share?
What else? I don’t have all my precise date info handy, but here are some ideas:
ACI labels (the multi-colored bar code things) roughly 1967-1977. Consolidated stencils (“COTS”), with varying panel designs depending on the year. Yellow-dot U-1 inspection symbols from early 1978. This link has info on all three: http://www.hosam.com/mod/rsdet.html , but the last one is most likely beyond your era.
Also note that there’s more to the safety appliance revisions than just changing the ladders. The ladders at the A end (opposite the brakewheel) were to be shortened to four rungs, while those at the B end could remain at full height provided the brakewheel remained in its original high position. A warning label stating “keep off roof no running board” would normally be found adjacent to the side ladder on the B end, and an L-shaped grab iron was typically applied to the roof, approximating the grab that would have been on the running board. At least one road (SOO) often left the short platform containing the original grab when the rest of the running board was removed.
You can still get away with quite a few cars with solid bearing trucks. These didn’t completely disappear, and many received retrofit roller bearings (although often with the journal lids removed). Running boards remained on many older cars up to about 1983, which was a supposed deadline for their final removal. Start looking on some sites with good period photos of freight cars, like the George Elwood “Fallen Flags” site http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/. You’ll find a lot of good research photos showing details like those I’ve described.
I’m modeling the late 60s thru early 70s and have a fleet of just under 50 freight cars, including boxcars. A good portion are Athearn and Roundhouse Blue Box units with the molded on ladders. Although I’m now buying better detailed cars one piece at a time, I’m going to keep most of my older units as I’m on a budget and so operate in the “work with what you got mode”. Plus, I like the sliding door features of the Athearn BB SL Boxcars, even though the door guides are oversized.
I’m removing the roofwalks on most of my cars, filing down the raised hole posts and then filling them in body filler, putty, or CA. Then I airbrush paint blend the roofs. It’s not difficult and colors in the red and brown families don’t have to match exactly since the roofs will be weathered with grime and earth colors anyway. The thick stirrup rungs that brakemen ride on will be cutoff and replaced with the metal rungs from Detail Associates.
I’ve kept the stock trucks and replaced the wheels/axles with Proto 2000 33" wheels. Some will get Kadee semi-scale wheels. IMHO, overall with a little work and weathering, the BBs look decent.
The numbers of 40ft boxes declined rapidly in the 1970s with 50 footers being dominant for a long stretch before the number of 60 footers expanded on to the scene. So you’ll want to have a number of 50ft boxcars in service, especially the RailBox series if you’re modeling the late 70s. I remember seeing Railbox units EVERYWHERE!
Piggyback service was very popular and most semi-truck box trailers were either 28 footers, 35 footers or 40 footers with 40ft being dominant. Box trailers came in a variety of styles ( ribbed, corrugated, and smooth sided). Athearn made some nice ones like this corrugated unit:
Since you said early seventies, removing all roof-walks wouldn’t be necessary, maybe one or two, and a lot cars, just had roof-walks removed and did not have ladders lowered. ACI labels were on cars by then, I think micro scale makes decals. Use Western Pacific’s time line guide for reference, also fallen flags rr pictures for cars dated to your era.
I’m trying to model late fall - 1976. I was a kid during the Bicentennial, and remember all the hooplah surrounding the Nation’s 200th (heck, still have all of my commemorative postage stamps).
The Mid-Atlantic region (specifically my Chessie System), was just getting back on its feet after Hurricane Agnes.
The Godfather, JAWS, and STAR WARS were the big movies of the time.
The caboose was still on the scene. Annnnnnd, this was the time of the Steam specials, in which a lot of railroads took active participation in.
1974 SET AS TARGET DATE FOR REMOVAL OF ALL ROOF WALKS AND HIGH HAND BRAKES.
I think that date was extended because when I started working on the C&O(Chessie) in ‘78 there was still lots of 40’ and older 50’ boxcars with high mounted brakewheels with low side ladders in service.I almost slipped from from the icy brakewheel stand of a SP boxcar.I was lucky and caught the brakewheel as I started to fall.