I am considering a model of the Pennsylvania 40 single dome car by Mantua.This car has dark red paint scheme on black frame and trucks with white lettering numbering .The Mantua cat. n.is 732520
Is this car correct ?
In what time period would one find this chemical tank in service ?
I would also very much appreciate a comment on the quality and accuracy of the Mantua range that i have seen here for the first time
Thanks very much for your much appreciated reply opinion and informations
Most railroads did not own any revenue service tank cars. Tank cars are very specific to the commodity being carried (either by specific design or by the inherent nature of liquid commodities leaving residue contamination behind and requiring thorough cleaning at a maintenance shop before loading with a different commodity.)
Most tank cars are privately owned and controlled by the shipper (or by a large fleet leasing company and leased to the shipper - either way, it’s the same thing to the railroad).
Generally the only railway owned tank cars are company service fuel, oil and water tank cars for work train service and distribution of fuel to company facilities.
Furthermore, you would generally see the company service tank car ONLY on its owner railroad, not in interchange setvice halfway across the country.
I recall you were considering modeling Kansas City/ Argentine. You would find HUNDREDS of PRR boxcars, and could expect to find PRR flatcars with machinery loads and “Mill gondolas” with structural steel. But PRR drop-bottom gondolas and open top hoppers would be rarely seen. Coal and crushed rock were not usually transported that far west. (But present-day unit coal trains have some long runs, mostly from the west…) You would not see many PRR stock cars or reefers moving very far offline west. PRR company service tankcars only if moving to and from a refinery with a company supply contract-- and railroads usually preferred online customers.
It is totaly fictitious. You might want to check the PRRPRO group on Yahoo that just finished tank cars as one of their projects. I think it was a T8 car but never in Tuscan red. You will find several pictures of cars the group built in the photos section.
Thank you very much indeed for your reply but especially for your guidance.I am trying hard to work prototopically but unfortunately here were i live the option are few so i have to rely on the experience of members and theyr guidance which appreciate very much
Stefano,salve, you should probally stear clear of forty-foot tank cars. They’re not to typical a car to model. Most cars are shorter in length. Check out Atlas, Intermountain and Walthers for a more prototypical tank car.
You should keep fallenflags railroad pictures in your favorites, all the railroads are in there with lots of pictures from everyera. You’ll see some cars in the era you’re intending to model.
Mantua freight cars, were originally produced by Mantua Metal Products in Mantua, New Jersey. The cars were mostly modeled on cars seen on railroads in the northeastern US. I believe some of the cars are still being made by Model Power.
The thing to watch for with these cars is that some of them appear to have been designed for OO Scale (4mm/foot, or 1:76). US HO scale uses 3.5mm/foot, or 1:87.1. The size difference between the two scales is very visible with the center-cupola caboose, and the 4-6-0 (ten-wheeler).
The differences may or may not be big enough to bother you.
Thanks again for your much appreciated guidance i can see better everyday were i am going with this project and i can start to orient towards more accuracy.The difficoulty is to find the right stuff as this products are limited here thanks again
ciao
Hi Dan
thanks very much for your tip and advice it means a lot to me to be able to chose according to products that are indeed representative to my project
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