Reading through the link I posted earlier:

https://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/ware/fasern/seide/seide-htm/#informationen

there is no indication that raw silk is perishable.  Thus there is no consequent need for speed.  

The end product of the process we are looking at is to place raw silk in the warehouses of sellers of same.  In my very brief education in silk production, I don't see any indication that silk was shipped with live silk worms included.  Labor costs for converting the live cocoons would almost surely be lower at the point of origin, and shipping would be cheaper and safer for the product.

The point about the insurance is interesting.  I wonder if the railroads self-insured instead.


Ed

Edward Sutorik

I believe one of the reasons for speed was that insurance was paid per day. The trains were sometimes carrying a cargo worth over $1M. A lot of money then. Articles I have read also indicated the cargo was perishable. If they shipped it with live silk worms I could see that. I haven’t been able to track down exactly why raw silk was perishable yet. Raw silk is coated in a gummy substance that has to be removed by boiling in water before the silk is usable.

On Jun 9, 2020, at 9:49 PM, main@RealSTMFC.groups.io wrote:

1c. Re: Paint color for New Haven orange boxcars
From: Bill Welch <fgexbill@tampabay.rr.com>
Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2020 20:02:26 EDT

Yes, on one of the Facebook Airbrushing pages I follow, several people rave about Mr. Color's qualities. I admit I have not sprayed with it and will test before I do my almost ready to paint model.

Bill Welch

While I can't say as I've tried the Mr Self Leveling Thinner on Tamiya paints, I can attest to the stuff's goodness. I use it to thin the Mr Color lacquers and it's great stuff. I've bodged a paint job or three by getting a bit heavy on application; with that thinner runs or thick spots self level and it's visible while it's happening. It's otherworldly. I've been told, but have not tried, that it works as well with Tru Color.


Craig Zeni
Cary NC

Yes, on one of the Facebook Airbrushing pages I follow, several people rave about Mr. Color's qualities. I admit I have not sprayed with it and will test before I do my almost ready to paint model.

Bill Welch

Working on my presentation for Saturday's June 13th 20/20 Hindsight Virtual RPM. Hope you will be there.

Model on ya'll
Bill Welch

Eastern Seaboard Models is working on these in HO scale. They did N scale several years ago. 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/EasternSeaboardModels/photos/?tab=album&album_id=3112573915421786&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAMK9b_1BcA0I__arZiGP3kg_vxO3f-OcV_dTuQ8fM1-SZlVxgCPjKE7UBbo2oFnE9PK2EAiKCm-QLiaLafXf7zm5HqeGVvaNQPzonAqXvEJabkVX9AxHc0vtsQFxLLUXPen0xPrbNSqv3SI2YXZpHLHfprrY5EkH9vLjYNBxUEXHsq0lWP5WcjvFbUr3ynYkbafcwbn8SD5__P7NEV53GcSXKH-E1kL2vkyBSHqXCL4Zln8Ja7vrKjnQgjWAqU9hvgtM4jLpllMcjQPcGs8m3p3Pyr_2xaGyHwhGyjzNOuIRTn98XWCpnW_DBw8_cDDcEigbteh-SheSP6y9rIJwmtVDn6dxKNYCnSU_RdKs1Z37gayFC6hdiEeQyqrmscHczgiHdZGG8SF5v4XLRBS6olTjXS9D4i0ZewA3gdJIM7PPToPUjfFta8gcsIJBfcar4hF9N27VMmYSQ&__tn__=-UC-R

On June 9, 2020 at 2:04 PM Tony Thompson <tony@...> wrote:  po

Marty Cooper wrote:hi: yep. I wanted one, I got one. It makes a nice static display, but it is too heavy to run without pulling the rest of the cars off the track. Marty Cooper 

Hi: it also makes a nice brass car, but very heavy. Marty Cooper 

     There was at least one brass version which had turned aluminum tanks.

Tony Thompson

tony@...

I am using Tamiya's Orange reduced w/Mr. Color's Leveling thinner, decals by Smoke Box Graphics

Bill Welch

The Silk Road was established hundreds of years ahead of steam powered trains, and I strongly suspect the travel time for the product was quite lengthy, compared to the latter.

Here is some commentary on current raw silk transport:

https://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/ware/fasern/seide/seide-htm/#informationen

Note that there is no comment about time sensitivity FOR THE PRODUCT.  Note also that it can be transported in containers or on airplanes.  Again with no apparent time sensitivity.  Aside from rats or water, it's pretty stable.

I believe the reason for the emphasis on high-speed transport of silk was to get it to market first, because that drew higher prices.  Silk production is seasonal, so whoever delivered the first batch got the big bucks.  For that matter, the last trainload might be almost worthless IF demand was low for silk.  Of course, to then boost demand, prices could be lowered.  Not something most capitalists yearn for.

Also, because of the high value of silk at the time these trains were running, the added cost of moving it at high speed was proportionally less.  


Ed

Edward Sutorik

Can anyone on the list suggest a good paint match for the orange the New Haven used on some of its boxcars?

On Tue, Jun 9, 2020 at 10:56 AM, gastro42000 wrote:

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Hi: it also makes a nice brass car, but very heavy. Marty Cooper 

 

 I do not find brass cars that interesting Marty, often fine detail is overdone. A lot depends on the manufacturer's/importer's standards and demands in terms of quality.

welchWith a resin kit I am in charge of accuracy and fineness.

Bill Welch