Operations Question...Insulated Boxcar Freight

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

As I mentioned last week, I’m working on fleshing out my waybills for use in my semi-regular operating sessions. I’ve done reasonably well loading my hoppers, covered hoppers and box cars and moving them about the Northeast.

But one area has me stumped. Insulated boxcars. I’m figuring the obvious stuff like food stuffs moving from processor to distributor, but what other kinds of materials require and insulated box? If you can suggest some food processors in the Northeast that I could send my traffic guy out to, that would be helpful, too. BTW, my modeling era is 1968 to 72.

And if you have any helpful information about types of traffic that would run from the northeast to the midwest and south (and vice versa).

I guess one of the problems I’m having, is I don’t have any industries on my layout that require these, yet I have about 20 or 30 of them in the fleet, a mix of 40’ and 50’ cars. I also have a fair number of mechanical reefers, but nowhere for them to stop on the layout.

So far, a typical movement would be to start at Campbell’s Soups in Camden, NJ, move a load of canned soups westward to Pittsburgh via the Alphabet Route (Reading to Western Maryland (and thence across my layout) to Connellsville, where it would be handed off to the P&LE to be delivered to the distribution warehouse of Giant Eagle or Kroger. The second move might see a load of Ketchup and pickles depart from H.J. Heinz, and head back east to Montvale, NJ to a warehouse for the A&P. Third move, maybe an empty running back across the WM to Hendricks, West Va to be loaded with local apples, and finally, back east to Philly, to unload, then start the cycle over.

Okay, that takes care of one car. Any suggestions on what else I can move in a Coleman Cooler, and where it can go? Thanks.

Lee

2

Here’s some thoughts.Beer,wine,whiskey,tobacco products,bananas and other like products.

BTW…Can type foods and cereal can be shipped in regular boxcars.

3

MMMM… Beer![:)]

Lee

4

wm:

Consider what might be produced in your area. I was looking up milk canneries a while back and found out that canned condensed milk was shipped in RBL cars from canneries in western NY state and PA.

Other ideas:

Beer, wine, mineral water, produce, vinegar. Maybe you could open up a bottled water plant.

5

A good source for this and many other questions regarding industries is the free Industry Database offered on the Operations SIG site.
http://opsig.org/industrydb/

You may look at these 40,000 real life industries in a number of ways. They are also the database for commercial Shenware Waybills program, which I find very useful and pretty inexpensive. But you don’t have to buy the program, its developer has also placed a free viewer on the OpSIG page linked to above.

While I am on the topic, an OpSIG membership has to be the best (cheap) investment anyone interested in operations could make. If you choose to download your quarterly magazine, membership only costs $5 a year. (If you prefer paper, $15 per year US, $25 International).

Byron
Model RR Blog

6

What goes into an insulated box car? Anything that might freeze, or would get actively unhappy if it got overheated.

If you have a grocery distributor on your layout, you have a destination. Almost any food product containing water (ie., most canned goods) being shipped in the winter months would be a likely candidate. So would any candy containing chocolate, looking at the high temperature end.

That’s off the top of my head. I’m sure that a little research would come up with a lot more.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in Sptember, 1964 - with insulated box cars)

7

The RBl, Refrigerator, bunkerless, with load restraining devices like belts etc. In addition to the good ideas talked about they can be used for any clean lading. Paper from a paper manufacturer to a paper wholesaler to a publishing company. Newsprint is handled this way for example. This also to prevent water from leaking in as well.

Ice reefers or mechanical reefers are also used for clean lading as well,without refrigeration of course.

8

The company I worked for used insulated boxcars exclusively all the time. We had a leased fleet of cars to insure we had cars available. Products in aerosal cans, once frozen they may not spray a fine pattern, but spit instead, liquid emulsified products, ingrediants may separate. Air freshner solids, will liquify when thawed out. Most anything water based, will have problems if frozen.

9

Obviously foodstuffs like fruit, vegetables, and canned food but also just about any kinds of products that don’t need freezing but do need protection from extreme temperatures. Conrail(a major northeast railroad) also carried products like paint, liquid detergent, and floor wax in them as well.