Safety and Loading Instructions for Centerbeam Flatcars

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I am painting and decorating some N scale Burlington Northern Centerbeam Flatcars (Opera Window), I can’t find any photos good eneough to read or any other information on the wording for the LOADING AND UNLOADING INSTRUCTIONS or the SAFETY-FIRST WRITING.

I have come up with the following from a bit of guess work (and a strong magnifyer) that may be right (or not!).

SAFETY- FIRST

LACE END OF TIE-DOWN CHAINS

KEY SLOTS AND TENSION WINCH

If anyone can help would be great, I am in Down under land, so the prospect of seeing one go past on the Queensland Railways 3’6" gauge is pretty slim.

Also the number series that includes BN 624216

Teditor

2

You’re planning to hand paint on all the lettering? In N? [:O]

Seriously… if you can get a look at one and have a magnifying glass the Walthers H0 centre beams have legible writing for loads of instructions… including the graphics that tell people to unload/load alternate sides so that the weight change gets balanced and the car doesn’t fall over on its side.

Have you tried Microscale for decals?

Other than that hunt around for pics… I’ll try to suggest a link later.

3

Dave-the Train

Wish I had the ability to shrink to N scale and hand paint them, as it stands, I make my own decals on an ALPS and like to include as much of the itty bitty stuff as I can get my hands on.

I Know Microscale do decals, but that would defeat the purpose of my do-it-myself attitude to this aspect of modelling.

I know that R-T-R Decorated wagons in N and HO have the lettering on them, but I don’t have access to any, what I have is a half dozen undecorated Micro-Trains N scale models and a May 1983 copy of Mainline Modeler (hence the inspiration).

I know the size and placement of the lettering, just can’t read it in photos of either models or prototypes I have located.

Yours in model railroading

Teditor

4

Hundreds of cars on this site

http://www.railcarphotos.com/index.php

and here

http://www.railpictures.net/index.php

and here

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/

Sorry it’s not more specific

What decal making system are you using and do how do you find it please?

5

I use Corel Draw 11 on a dedicated computer and print using an ALPS MD-1000 on Tango Papa Decal Paper.

I have been making decals for a number of years now and supply many one offs and small local manufacturers in Queensland, with time and effort put into them, ALPS decals can be superb. Like anything, there are some restrictions and the ALPS is a very sensitive machine, but if treated properly and spoken to nicely, can give a good service life.

Thanks for your asistance.

6

My car is a CSX car painted red with black ends and white lettering. I don’t have a digital camera at the moment so I copied it off the car.

The Safety First lettering on mine says:

SAFETY FIRST

WHEN CAR IS EMPTY PLACE END OF TIEDOWN IN KEYSLOT AND TIGHTEN WRENCH

Loading and Unloading:

LOADING & UNLOADING

MAINTAIN EQUAL LOAD PATTERN ON BOTH SIDES DURING LOADING & UNLOADING

In the Upper left hand corner on the A and B ends it says:

CAUTION NO WALKING SURFACE ON TOP OF CAR

7

Thanks for taking the effort to jot that down, it really helps, as photos I have show the lettering, but its not readable, what you have supplied helps put the words in the right places.

Teditor