I have lots of different rolling stock. My favorites in order are (modern) (1) tank cars, (2)intermodal cars with containers, (3)covered centerflow hoppers(4)coil cars(5) coal porter hoppers(6) auto carriers and (7) gondolas . My least favorite are boxcars, cabooses and (non modern) old tank cars.
I have been fascinated by tank cars ever since I was young.
The reason I like tank cars is that here on the gulf coast there are many to see. The same goes for the covered centerflow hoppers and coil cars. I also see a lot of intermodal traffic running here. Box cars are few here and the ones I have seen have all been old and beat up. As for cabooses it has been many years 20 maybe since I have seen one running on the tracks.
These are my reasons for why I like the rolling stock I do. Just wanted to know what everyone else likes. What types of (real world)railcars do you see in your area?
Boxcars. When I was growing up there were lots and lots of them that came to the warehouse, and we used to play a kind of “faraway” game. There was a yard boss somewhere in East Texas who used a chalk sombrero made out of a figure eight topped with a simi-circle (two lines) to indicate that he had cleared the car and it was properly loaded and sealed. Saw lots of those sombreros when I was young, I guess we were between him and civilization. I suppose that piece of rail trivia is lost to history. I was very young, and had no idea where he was, I just know what my daddy told me.
Up here in MA its mostly box cars. Almost never see a hopper. Flat cars are even more rare than hoppers. A tanker? Once in a while. I see more passenger trains here than freight by a large percentage. The closest RR tack to me is approx. 5 miles away, but on a clear day I can hear the horns quite clearly when the trains go through a crossing.
In New Hampshire, there are a lot of scenic railroads throughout the White Mountain region. Almost one in every other town for Pete’s sake. Lots of old steam and diesels to take in. Gotta love it.
Here in the Bay Area, we have an enormous intermodal hub in the Port of Oakland, and get lots of BNSF and UP consists pulling nothing but container stacks. At the same time, as a major freight interchange, we also have tons of auto carriers (with screens, not the old open kind), boxcars, and centerflow hoppers. The vast majority of the cars represent only a handful of roadnames: UP, BNSF/BN, Golden West, BC Rail, and even some older Southern Pacific.
On Monday, I was over in Oakland at the Home Depot and decided to check out some of the rail scenery on the way home. I came across a 4-loco lash-up consisting of what appeared to be 3 UP Dash-8s and, oddly, a Norfolk Southern Dash-8. Made me think I had stumbled into Chief Eagles’ living room. Anyone ever seen this kind of lash up before?
I get to see all sorts of stuff being that locally there’s a mainline for the Norfolk Southern running though town with a yard also. It is obvious that with real trains, the cars are getting larger and longer because that’s how the real railroads make money. In the early years, Conrail did away with many of the short 2-bay hoppers and shorter 40 foot box cars. Locomotives too are also getting larger and longer.
Being a “traditionally” sized operator, this creates problems. But I’ve learned that it is possible to make representations of the real thing without following precise scale dimensions. For example, the S-2 switchers were gone a very long time ago, except for shortlines here and there who still may have one. But the retired K-Line S-2 is a perfect size and length for a small layout. So I repaint mine and add many more so-called modern details. I have S-2’s in CSX, Conrail and Norfolk Southern. I even have one in the current modern all blue/yellow trim/white roof CSX scheme. I’ve made my own modern looking diesels by chopping down shells of larger more modern locos to fit on to the chassis of a K-Line MP-15 with excellent results. And in my thinking, the K-Line S-2 looks everybit as toy-like going around 027 curves as does a more scale like model going around 031 curves.
I’ve learned to make my own “impression” of spine car for intermodal transport, as well as my own built coil cars and my own kitbashed coal porter gon hoppers. I know the hobby has gone “scale tally ho” lately leaving us guys with smaller layouts out of the loop. I just refuse to be forced to having to only model the by-gone poastwar era as far as roadnames and car types.
As far as prototype goes, one one hand I’ve thrown that word prototype out the window. But I also remember the Lehigh Valley RR very well. They made a habit out of recycling long before that word became so common. The real railroads are in the business of making money: which means cutting costs and making due with what is available. T
I just found a new favorite, but I don’t own it–yet. I followed Dennis Brennan’s email address to his website, then from there to to Chooch, where I found a model of a 1913 built box car for a mere $100.oo. Even at that price you have to build it yourself and put trucks on it. The site is not clear, but it looks like you might have to paint it too. But lord what a beauty. As I have said elsewhere, I grew up looking at cars like this every day.
Neat website, Doug. Great question, macaste. My personal favorite on the layout is boxcars with doors that slide open - I have ones that range from the 1920s to a few years ago. I see mostly bi-level passenger cars and F40s…I also see CN newsprint cars, beat-up gons and Big John hoppers.
Passenger cars are long gone from this stretch of Frisco main; we see almost all types of freight cars, though. BNSF “M” trains (mixed freight) are common; “Q” trains (tofc/cofc) are, too.
My prototype favorites are MOW equipment–especially older heavy cranes–and cabooses. Naturally enough, we see few of either.
On the layout, I like varnish–heavyweight passenger equipment (though some of the prettier streamlined stuff is awfully nice, too). The mix of freight/passenger stock I own is dictated by availability: I own all the passenger equipment Lionel has made in Frisco (none), MoPac (5), and T&P (6), but the freight cars outnumber them by 5 or 6 to 1. I have 'bashed a local, drover-type caboose out of a baby madison combine that once ran on the Frisco. I need to get decals for it the next time i order from Oddball’s.
I love 'em all, but my favourite types of rolling stock are passenger cars and cabooses. I’ve been a caboose nut ever since I was a little kid and saw some of the last ones in regular use and I’ve always had a fascination with passenger trains.
Unfortunately, I seldom see either where I live. Of course I do see freight cars of all types, but hopper cars are by far the most common. Most are Canadian Wheat Board cars and potash hopper cars. I live on the prairies where farming is really big and there’s lots of potash mines (my dad works at one). The ratio of hopper cars to other freight cars is probably at least 3:1 here.
tgovebaker: as to your NS lash-up with the UP power, I’ve probably seen them (as well as many other combos) because I’m in the SF Bay Area as well (Fremont). I see the screened auto carriers heading to and from Milpitas all the time. Along with boxcars, tank cars and the myriad of TTUX cars. I like them all! I’ve seen Rio Grande/SP/UP lash-ups aroung here. Since I’m also near the US Gypsum plant, I see a lot of the i-beam flat load carriers full of sheetrock.
Hello All: You name it I think I see it, I live within 100 miles of Ford, G.M., Chrysler, Toyota, Honda,Cami,Two major steel mills, National Steel Car(make new & rebuild train car’s), & live 45min. from the U.S. border at Niagara & as an I.B.E.W. member I have had the privledge to work in these plants. Living in southern Ontario does have it’s advantages. Regards Steve
Now that I think on it, I’m pretty fortunate - get to park every day less than 6 ft from an MP15 AC and usally a bay-window MoW (ex-C&NW) caboose, huge crane, and all sorts of bizarre looking MoW equipment in the UP lay bang next to the Metra parking lot. My favorite MoW piece of equipment is a genuine CGW caboose I can usually spot somewhere along this line during the summer. The UP runs only a few freights but there are usually awesomely long autoracks …
in Ohio we see lots of the corrugated auto carriers. I have begun collecting some of them. pulled by what I also see around here a lot… Norfolk southern. Ijust learned how toi send pictures so here goes.
I like those autocarrier cars trainmaster7209. I can’t seem to find those model cars anywhere.
Around here where I live, we have alot of coal hopper cars that goes through town each day. And there’s usually a long line of them too, only to go pretty slow while going through town. And of course I have seen all the other freight cars as well.
I love tank cars…in fact theres a new tank car set I was looking at in the 2006 catalog that I plan to order soon. I do like the flatcar and spine set cars too with the containers. Boxcars are always a favorite. I know I am going to try to build as much rolling stock as I can. It’s so awesome just watching them go around the tracks.
On rare occasions I have seen semi-like trucks fitted with rail-trucks that have been on the rails too…but those have been a rare sight so far. I did see one about a week ago though during one of my stops. I sure hate I didnt bring a camera with me that day.
