I just took a look through “UP Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment” by Stagner and Yanosey. The earliest flat car I found that was yellow and had the “CUSHIONED LOAD” was from 1965. From the book, it looks like UP started with the yellow paint on freight cars generally about 1962-63. That, of course, does not mean yellow exclusively; because they still were doing red/brown paint for the “lower class” cars.
Thanks Ed. The reason I asked in the first place is because I’ve got two World War Two Sherman tanks that I’d like to mount to a flat car, and the UP CUSHIONED LOAD was the only one I have that something’s not already mounted to… The car doesn’t have a built date, so I had my fingers crossed that it might have come out during the war so I could use it. Oh well. If I have to go out and buy another car then that’s just what I’ll have to do, but I want it to be right. Again, I really appreciate the info…
If the mid '60’s isn’t out of era for the rest of your modeling, two possibilities suggest themselves:
Some film or TV production company is moving the Shermans from storage to Caliente, NV, to be used in yet another North African war movie. (Rommel Rides Again!!! Coming soon to a theater or TV screen near you.) In that case, they should look dusty and battle-weary.
The diametric opposite. Having been lovingly restored, including battle ribbons and historical data placards, the Shermans are on their way to a permanent home in somebody’s museum or commorative park (there to be allowed to corrode away unmaintained, while vandals steal the brass placards and desecrate the decorations with gang tags.)
Actually, there is such a commemorative park alongside the C&A tracks in Bouse, AZ. Since it’s WAY off the beaten track, there has been remarkably little vandalism.