I am attempting to model my own version of a railroad operating in the 1920’s era. So I need general info on what types/versions of different types of rolling stock would be appropriate for that time frame. So I am wondering if there is a source that I can refer to (book, web site, etc) that wold give me info on rolling stock thru the years. I have found that most of the items available in local hobby shops is for a later era. And sometimes I can find items that date back to the 1890’s. So, rather than having to find a build date on every item I consider, it would be great if I had a general idea of what I should be looking for. I will be needing boxcars, stock cars, flats, gondolas, ore cars, tank cars, reefers, etc. What ever info or tips anyone can provide me would be greatly appreciated.
USRA standard cars came into use in the early 1920s.
If you can find them, Train Shed Cyclopedias for cars of the era would be a good resource. These books contain drawings, photos and articles from the Car Builder’s Cyclopedias published for shop crews at that time. You should be able to find used copies, and some hobby shops may even have unused copies. Original Car Builders Cyclopedias and similar literature can be found in, or borrowed from, the libraries of universities that had mechanical engineering programs during the steam era. (University of Illinois, Champaigne-Urbana comes to mind. My public library was able to obtain Locomotive Cyclopedias from there via interlibrary loan.)
Do some Google searches. You will find a lot of info and links you can store in Favorites. There is a mountain of rolling stock data that is available on the Internet. Include books in the searches for rolling stock. Google books will show many. There are some on line used railroad magazine and book sellers on the 'Net, including ebay.
River City Railroad sells HO rolling stock kits suitable for this era that are not expensive. I have bought from them.
They have what they call Project kits, a selection of five un-decorated cars for about $15.00.
Single decorated cars are about $7.00.
The only passenger cars they have had are a four car Overton un-decorated set but they are not listed right now.
Their stock is the old MDC/Roundhouse stuff they bought up quite a few years ago when the Roundhouse company was sold to Athearn.
Westerfield was oriented towards the 1920’s so that will give you an idea on what types of cars were out there.
For the 1920’s there will be all the USRA cars (and their clones). The USRA had a steel boxcar and the PRR version was the X29 so any X29 car would be appropriate. composite side single sheathed boxcars OK. Most wood sided reefers will be appropriate. 50-55 ton twin hoppers, especially ribbed hoppers will be appropriate. Composite 50 ton hoppers (wood sides with steel side stacks) are probably NOT appropriate (1940’s cars). 40 and 46 ft steel gons, 52 ft and 65 ft probably not. Steel underframe gons with wood sides and steel side stakes probably yes. The Athearn boxcar, no (1930’s era) as well as any 10 ft 6 in IH boxcar (PS-1), no. The 50 ft composite boxcars yes. 70 ton quad hoppers (Bowser H21, Athearn quad) yes, the 70 ton triples maybe. 90 or 100 ton cars no.
These are real generalities filled with lots of exceptions. Just a rough rule of thumb.
Ordinarily it is a good idea to look into still older Car Builder Cycs than your era since not every car is brand new. For exampl for my 1968 era layout I have Cycs from 1970, 1966 and should probably look into those from the 1940s and 50s since cars had useful lives of 40 years or so. Dramatic changes took place in freight cars in the early 1900s so going earlier than 1900 does not seem useful. A 1922 Cyc should give you just about everything you need, althopugh the 1919 Car Builder’s Dictionary would be great if you can find one. I am not sure the 1903 Cyc would be all that useful for example, although I am sure it would be interesting, since by the mid 1920s many 1903 cars would likely not be common.
Be aware that actual paper Cyc’s can sell for fabulous prices and you could spend close to $1000 for all the Cycs that have the cars that ran in your era. So reproductions even if pricey are very attractive alternatives!
It’s unfortunate that Walthers no longer makes their boxcars and reefers from that era. They made 40’ boxcars with both double-sheathed and single-sheathed sides, and with wood or steel roofs and ends; they also made an all-steel “X-29” boxcar. These were 40’ cars with 8’ height (or 8’-6"??) so were lower than the 10’ “high cars” that became common in the 40’s-60’s. I’m sure you can still find them at RR flea markets or online.
Otherwise, any “USRA” car (like Accurail’s 40’ USRA boxcar) would date back in design to 1917-19 and would be appropriate.
However, be aware that the Build Date may not mean it’s a correct model for your period. Freight cars last a long time, so you might find a car built in 1920 being offered in a 1950’s paint/lettering scheme. You’ll need to do a little research on paint schemes, not just car types.
www.steamfreightcars.com is a nice site. Go to the ‘Prototype’ section and lots of the cars pictured have a note of when they were built (to give you a general idea of what types of cars were around in this era).