I’m modeling Eastern, KY. in 1975-1979. What rolling stock was still in service between those years?
Don
Well that time frame narrows it down to about 300-400,000 cars. If you want that broad of a time range I would suggest getting a ORER for 1978, 1979 and studying it.
Well, a lot of new rolling stock around that era is still around, but the older stuff from the 1950s/early 1960s is gone.
You could get away w/ such 1960 oddities such as Pregnant Whale 6-axle tank-cars and huge Tobacco boxcars with skylights.
Also keep in mind is what the rolling stock may or may not have in that era (putting aside livery) :
ACI plate existed (those plates w/ colored bars - an early attempt to track rolling stock)
consequently, no AEI tags (small grey transponders)
Consolidated Stencils (‘FRA Lube plates’) existed on most cars.
In 1978, problems w/ certain types of wheelset lead to a general inspection - rail cars that didn’t have the suspect wheelset had a yellow dot painted on, while those w/ the problem wheelset had a white dot, and needed to have their wheelsets replaced.
And of course, cabooses were still very common in that era, so if you like them…
Don,
I’ll go with Dave on getting a copy of the appropriately dated ORER (Official Railway Equipment Register). They come out quarterly. E-bay is one way. Railpub (railpub.com) has a 1974 for $35 and a 1984 for $25 right now. You can look around and find ones closer to your dates. You might at first be repelled by so many numbers, but I think you’ll soon warm up to the book. I’ve got LOTS of them, and I use them all the time.
Also, there’s an occasionally published book called “Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia” Find a copy close to your dates of interest. Railpub has a 1974 and a 1980 for $135 each (I don’t know if they did one in between–I suspect not). No, that is not inexpensive.
Probably the most cost effective answer to your question would be to find a Walthers catalog for your years. You’ll see pictures of lots of models, and NONE of them will be models of anything later than your time period. Railpub’s got them for $5.
Might I mention that part of the fun is the hunt?
Ed