ian clasper wrote:

If you decide to model a partly unloaded flatcar, consider the
following
when building the model.

Tractors were loaded in pairs, each wired to one another, so I would
model a
50ft with two tractors missing.

But the Phillip Hastings' photo of the 40' Flat on the Bradford NH Local
on B&M's Claremont Branch in 1951 has only three "Farmall" tractors -
photos of this local was in both the March and April 2002 RMC's. I doubt
that Tractors were always loaded in pairs since each of the three
tractors on that flat were evenly dispersed. The consignee of the three
tractors was Cressy & Williams, a Bradford NH Farm Equipment dealer -
they could probably not afford to stock any more than three.

Item "G" of Figure 172-B of the 3/15/1942 Loading Rules for Tractors
weighing less than 5,000 pounds on Flat Cars refers to the interlocking
of No. 9 Gauge Wire between tractors concluded with the following: -
"When machines are located so that these items cannot be applied, use
Items "F" on all wheels - Item "F" was 8 strands, 4 wrappings of No. 9
Gauge Wire attached to rear wheels and stake pockets, and to rear wheels
and items "D" on inside (front?) wheels.

There was no requirement that tractors be loaded only in pairs because
of the last sentence in the description of Item "G."

A tractor loaded by itself would have to have additonal choking added
as it
could no longer rely on it's sibling.

The real tractors would most likely be unloaded at a loading platform,
and
probably would be driven off the side of the car onto the platform.
The crew
would only remove the choking that they needed to unload the tractors,
so
some of the choking would be left in place exactly were it was when
the car
was fully loaded. Other chokes would either be completely missing, or
randomly scatted on the deck. If a crane was used, the chokes would be
simply left in place on the deck and only the tie down wires would be
removed.

Old choking tended to be the problem of the next shipper to use the
car, so
should be part of the partly loaded model.

If the tractors on a flat had been partially off loaded previously at
another dealer, why would that dealer (or someone else) rip out the
load's chokings and install new ones as would appear to be the case for
the three tractor load to Cressy & Williams in Bradford NH?

Tim Gilbert