Does anybody know if theres any commercial kits to modify any cars into MOW tie service cars. If so, or if not and scratchbuilding is the only option, what would be the best cars to start off from.
Heres some links, photos not mine, of the cars in question. The first one is older obviously and the latter two being newer. Thanks, Tom
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=308028
UP14972 looks like an old 53 ft flat car of the sort that Proto 2000 and Tichy offer in HO. (Model power has a 51’ flat that is also similar). The other two cars in the UP 915XXX number series resemble the Intermountain 60 ft flatcar. MTH has s similar car.
American Model Builders makes a laser cut flat car load bolster that somewhat resembles portions of the fabrications shown in the photos, and their dunnage kit to hold a crate also resembles what you see in these photos but both would only be a start and an approximation. I’d think the fabrication to hold the concrete ties would be a simple matter to fabricate from styrene structural shapes.
Take a page from the great Dean Freytag – if the workmanship is neat and clean, it looks superdetailed even if it is not.
Dave Nelson
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=308028
Just for information, those aren’t just “MOW tie service” cars they are cars specifically designed to support the high production tracklaying machines such as the TRT909. They would only be used to supply ties to that machine. Not the rails on the deck edges and the low bulkheads. A straddle crane travels along the rails and shuttles layers of ties back along the strig of tie cars to the TRT909 who automatically places the ties in the track.
i think a lot has to do with the era you are modeling. i have no experience with concrete ties like the cars in your photos are showing. as best i can remember, ties were almost always handled in gondola cars. at least back when i was on the railroad. they were unloaded with a back hoe but maybe concrete ties require special handling compared to treated wooden ties.
if you are trying to model the UP cars shown, i would think it an easy and fun project to cobble something together from styrene.
grizlump
Thanks, I was aware that they operate with the track renewal train. When I build a layout I want to have it go atleast from Kearney to Grand Island Nebraska along UPs main corridor. I am planning on having LB Fosters / CXT tie plant which would require a few of these cars for emptys in / loads out.
In the photo below you can see several of these cars circled in red outside of the plant circled in yellow
Looks like scratchbuilding is the only option. Ill probably just start off with an Athearn/MDC 60’ flat as a start and make the brackets and tracks from styrene.
HERE IS THE ONE I BUILT BASED ON AN L&N PROTOTYPE . THE L&N USED 40 FT PULPWOOD RACKS .