On Jan 7, 2010, at 1:40 PM, finkfam98055 wrote:

There was discussion in this group over the past nine years about
how refrigerator cars with GARX reporting marks were leased to Rock
Island (#67500-69011), MKT, NKP, and others (Kingan & Co. and WIMP
were mentioned). Is there any way of knowing (or an educated
guess) if GARX 61916 and GARX 67378 paint schemes included the
names or heralds of their lessees in 1947, or were they just
lettered as generic GARX cars?

These two particular cars were transporting Pacific Northwest pears
in the same U. P. train (90% of the cars reefers and no empty cars)
through eastern Oregon in 1947. A post to this group on 2/15/08
mentions GARX 67337 loaded with Meat in Fairfax, MN on the M&StL in
about the same time period.

Larry Fink
Renton, Washington

Larry, 61916 is almost certainly a misprint or recording error, as
the ORERs show no GARX car with that number in 1947. I have a hunch
that car was actually 67916, a 40' wood sheathed reefer. In any
case, 67378 was definitely a 40' wood sheathed reefer. At that time,
the only GARX cars which carried stenciling for shippers would have
been RSM cars in assigned service on a long term lease basis to meat
packers. Those cars would certainly not have been used for pear
loading. I think you can safely assume that the cars in question
carried only reporting marks, numbers, and data.


Richard Hendrickson

Jeff Aley notes that he attended 10 clinics at Cocoa Beach. Ten!? I attended 3 in addition to giving 2. How did Jeff manage to see 10? Sounds like he had more free time than I thought. Hmmm.

Speaking of presentations, we tried something a bit different this yr and it appears to have been well attended and appreciated. At 10PM on Sat in addition to 3 panel sessions, we showed a video of Dan Zugelter's beautiful C&O layout depicting the Hinton, WV, area in 1938. We had a DVD with the video and ran it through a projector normally used for clinics. The results were quite good and, of course, we were able to project a rather large image on the screen. Dan's HO scale H-7 2-8-8-2 engines became about 1 1/2" scale models. I shot the video [ blush ] last April and completed editing just a week ago.

I think we'll be doing more of this...perhaps featuring more than one layout. Dan's video lasted 35 minutes. We might do several layouts...each lasting for, say, 15 minutes. There will be several requirements. First, the layout must be of a prototype. Second, it must be completely sceniced. Now, of course, "completely" is a relative term but I think you know what I mean. The object is to produce a visual effect that is as close to real life as possible. IOW, we're not looking for layout construction views. Era does not matter. The layout owner will be called upon to tell what's going on. Unfortunately, while sound does work, it is not very loud. OTOH, some speakers might help that. I'll run that by Jeff...if he can spare a moment from watching clinics. I am thinking right now that those wishing to "Show and Tell" should send me a DVD with the video on it about a month before the event and we might have a selection committee pick those to be shown.

It will be interesting to see how this works. Even if no one responds, we have at least 4 local layouts aleady video taped and we'll use them. So, be thinking about it.

At some point, those interested might want to inquire about cameras useful for layout video. It is fairly clear that a low light camera is needed in order to get good depth of field. Second, a digital camera will be needed so that edited copies will be of adequate fidelity.

Mike Brock
Prototype Rails Boss

Schuyler Larrabee wrote:

Thanks for the interest. STMFCers may be interested to know that the specific combination of ends, sides, roof and doors has not been previously offered by Intermountain. The ELHS approached IM with the project, which combines those parts from other IM products, except for the door, which is an aftermarket part produced by someone else - I regret that I don't recall who that is/was.

Having bought one of the 1950-built cars, I can testify that it's a really nice product. The prototype was Magor-built if I recall, thus the need for all the "mixed" parts. I'd say "good job, ELHS."

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@signaturepress.com
Publishers of books on railroad history

I will enquire. While I will take some credit for pulling the model guys back from the brink and
making them rework the lettering for another dozen attempts to get it right, somehow the color
itself never became a question. Mike Del Vecchio may want to put his fingers on the keys on this
question - he's on the list when he has the time - but I will ask the other guys who were involved
about the color and any matching that they're aware of.

Somehow, Mont Switzer was not aware at Cocoa that he had only one of the two runs we did of these
cars. The first one was the later car, with the large LACKAWANNA" billboard lettering to the left
of the doors. The second run was the first scheme (Hey, I was not in charge of this project!!) and
has a smaller "LACKAWANNA" to the right of the doors over "The Route of Phoebe Snow." For the
date-obsessed, IIRC, the early scheme is from the build date 2-50; the later, billboard scheme
carries an 8-55 date.

Thanks for the interest. STMFCers may be interested to know that the specific combination of ends,
sides, roof and doors has not been previously offered by Intermountain. The ELHS approached IM with
the project, which combines those parts from other IM products, except for the door, which is an
aftermarket part produced by someone else - I regret that I don't recall who that is/was.

SGL

For Schuyler or anyone else that knows--What is a model paint mix that matches the DL&W boxcars in

the as-built

scheme offered at http://www.erielack.org/? <http://www.erielack.org/?> Lacking any other info, I

am assuming that it

is a good match to the prototype.

Thanks!

Steve Hoxie
Pensacola FL








E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.508)
Database version: 6.14100
http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor-antivirus/

<http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/>






E-mail message checked by Spyware Doctor (7.0.0.508)
Database version: 6.14110
http://www.pctools.com/en/spyware-doctor-antivirus/

Prototype Rails 2010 was a great place to enjoy frozen orange juice - straight from the tree!

Weather aside, I think PR'2010 went pretty well. There were a few hiccups, most notably that the Horizons room was bitterly cold. That's because the space heaters kept tripping the circuit breaker, so we had to unplug them. We also learned that we should reduce the size of the clinic schedule so that it can be printed on a 3x5" card. (Just kidding; next year they'll be printed with a larger font so that they are more legible).

I managed to attend a few clinics, and here are my comments, in chronological order:

Mike Brock: Scratchbuilding a Steel Water Tank with Archer Rivets. Mike showed how Archer rivets are now the "way to go" when it comes to adding rivet details. He also gave some good tips on working with them (e.g. don't apply them over a black surface - you won't be able to see them!).

Bill Darnaby: Easy Scenery Techniques. Bill makes everything look so easy. He also emphasized state-of-the-art techniques like photo backdrops, and the use of the Noch GrasMaster for grasses. I will definitely put these techniques to use - first on somebody else's layout! (Watch out, Denny!!)

Mark Amfahr: An Analysis of Steam Era Operations (UP WY 1941). This was a fascinating look at how the Union Pacific ACTUALLY moved trains in 1941. The way they dealt with motive power, the way they (didn't) block the trains, and the types of reefer icing service were all very interesting to me and will have a direct effect on how my friends and I operate our layouts.

Jared Harper: Modeling Small Midwestern Grain Elevators. Jared showed a lot of photos of elevators, highlighting just how unique they are. He then showed how he modeled two of the elevators on his AT&SF Alma Branch.

Jon Cagle: Working with Resin Kits and Parts. I didn't actually get to attend this one, but I wanted to point out that this was the first time we used a video camera to show a closeup of the modeling techniques and broadcast it onto the "big screen" so that folks in the back could see what was going on. I think the technology was a big success (and I heard that the clinic was a big success, too).

Doug Harding: Livestock Shipping Facilities in the Corn Belt. This was an updated version of Doug's clinic, and contains a lot of great info for those of us who are modeling the midwest.

Mark Vaughan: Agricultural Processing and RR Traffic. Mark showed how corn, wheat, and soybeans are processed, and the associated railroad traffic for each one. I learned that the Forbes Brothers Mill in Topeka must have been a corn "dry mill" and would have received an occasional tank car of sulfuric acid (about 3% of the inbound; the other 97% is corn), and shipped about 3% as corn oil (the rest being corn of various grinds.)

Tony Koester: TT&TO Operation and Realistic Waybills. Tony gave a good overview of TT&TO. Most interesting was his description of the jobs on his model RR. The last third of the presentation was on a more prototypical type of waybill that he and Ted Pamprin developed.

Tony Thompson: Improved Prototype Waybill Operation. Tony Thompson continued the waybill theme and described how he developed his condensed version of a prototype waybill. He also showed how he generates traffic (i.e. how he knows how many waybills he needs) for his layout.

Mark Amfahr: C&NW Dispatcher's Office in Iowa, 1980. Mark's presentation was mostly about the work environment and the job of dispatching. He showed a lot of photos of the DS's offices and showed the REAL work these men did every day. It's not the sanitized stuff I've seen on model railroads. He even had audio recordings of Dispatchers dictating orders - it was rapid-fire work!

Mike Rose: Grainzilla - the Planning, Building, and Completion of a Large Industry. Mike built an incredible grain elevator complex, and he showed us how he did it. It was a combination of kitbashing and scratchbuilding, and the results are awesome!

Discussion: Shake-n-Take Show-n-Tell. Several of us sat around and compared notes on how we built the 2009 Shake-n-take model (a UP S-40-10 stock car).

Regards,

-Jeff


From: STMFC@yahoogroups.com [mailto:STMFC@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mike Brock
Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 3:00 PM
To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [STMFC] Re: Cocoa Beach 2010



Tony Thompson writes:

I note from the Weather Service that it'll be 75 degrees this
weekend in Cocoa. Did you book the weather for the wrong weekend, Mike?

I have reviewed my contract with the Weather Bureau and find that they asked for my place of birth. It turns out that they use that place to direct the weather to. And, as it turns out, I am...prepare for this...an Okie from Muskogee [ Oklahoma]...so we got their normal weather for this time of yr. I have no idea where ours went...perhaps to Sydney, Aus.

Actually, I don't know why people are complaining...although I will admit that wearing 3 shirts and my "Wyoming Coat" in the unheated areas was a bit annoying....couldn't figure out which of the 12 pockets I had stuff in. Anyway, I told Jeff Aley that since he was having to work 6 simultaneous clinics this yr [ increase his salary? Why? ] and because...no, better term is...since...his wife Connie was with him I supplied them witrh an ocean view room. I further noted...preimarily to watch the Tsunami when it rushes in. I now see that a large earthquake [ 7.5 ] has struck Haiti and a Tsunami warning for the Carribean has been issued. Presumably the ice flow off our coast and associated ice burgs will reduce the effects up here but the timing is a bit unrerving.

Mike Brock

Gary Roe wrote:

The March 28, 1955 issue of Railway Age has an article in it about a new development by the Waukesha Motor Company. Basically, it is a retro fit for an ice-bunker reefer to turn it into a mechanical reefer without having to
perform structural modifications.

Was this system ever used much, or was it experimental only? I can't say I've ever seen any other photos of cars so equipped.

Both PFE and FGE tried this conversion (there are photos in the PFE book), and I think others such as MDT tried it out also, but AFAIK everyone determined that the small, older ice cars, with narrow doors, were not going to be as acceptable to shippers as the big new mechanical cars, thus the conversions were not worth the cost.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@signaturepress.com
Publishers of books on railroad history

The March 28, 1955 issue of Railway Age has an article in it about a new
development by the Waukesha Motor Company. Basically, it is a retro fit for
an ice-bunker reefer to turn it into a mechanical reefer without having to
perform structural modifications.

The existing ice bunkers are removed, resulting in a gain of useable space.
The power unit and fuel tank are mounted under the car. A power conduit is
installed from the power unit along the underframe of the car, up the end,
and along the roof adjacent to the running board. This supplies the
electricity needed to run the packaged cooling units, which look a whole lot
like big window air conditioning units. They appear to be about 3' square
and about 1.5' tall. The roof units are designed to fit into standard hatch
frames after the hatch cover and plug are removed. An evaporator and air
circulating fan extend down into the car.

The car pictured in the magazine is Fruit Growers Express FHIX 41127.

Was this system ever used much, or was it experimental only? I can't say
I've ever seen any other photos of cars so equipped.

This might be a question for Stan Rydarowicz who seems to be suffering with
a case of "Reefer Madness" lately.

gary roe
quincy, illinois

Tony Thompson writes:

I note from the Weather Service that it'll be 75 degrees this
weekend in Cocoa. Did you book the weather for the wrong weekend, Mike?

I have reviewed my contract with the Weather Bureau and find that they asked for my place of birth. It turns out that they use that place to direct the weather to. And, as it turns out, I am...prepare for this...an Okie from Muskogee [ Oklahoma]...so we got their normal weather for this time of yr. I have no idea where ours went...perhaps to Sydney, Aus.

Actually, I don't know why people are complaining...although I will admit that wearing 3 shirts and my "Wyoming Coat" in the unheated areas was a bit annoying....couldn't figure out which of the 12 pockets I had stuff in. Anyway, I told Jeff Aley that since he was having to work 6 simultaneous clinics this yr [ increase his salary? Why? ] and because...no, better term is...since...his wife Connie was with him I supplied them witrh an ocean view room. I further noted...preimarily to watch the Tsunami when it rushes in. I now see that a large earthquake [ 7.5 ] has struck Haiti and a Tsunami warning for the Carribean has been issued. Presumably the ice flow off our coast and associated ice burgs will reduce the effects up here but the timing is a bit unrerving.

Mike Brock

http://www.trainweb.org/jssand/Foreign/Erie/ErieExpBx.htm
______________
J. Stephen (Steve) Sandifer
mailto:steve.sandifer@sbcglobal.net
Home: 12027 Mulholland Drive, Meadows Place, TX 77477, 281-568-9918
Office: Southwest Central Church of Christ, 4011 W. Bellfort, Houston, TX 77025, 713-667-9417

I note from the Weather Service that it'll be 75 degrees this weekend in Cocoa. Did you book the weather for the wrong weekend, Mike?

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@signaturepress.com
Publishers of books on railroad history

All the waycars (cabooses) were listed as such in one all-inclusive number series block which included the conversions.
Charlie Vlk

Were those 14800-14890 cars listed simplay as "Caboose" in the ORER, or some variation of "Caboose, (Box Car)?"

I finally got thawed out enough to edit and post my photos from this years fine Prototype Rails RPM Meet in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Thanks to Mike Brock and his crew for a fine time, abet a little chilly.

The Images are at:
http://www.pbase.com/dh30973/cocoa2010&;page=all

Please feel free to pass the link along. Any Corrections are welcome.

Dave Hussey

There is an auction on eBay right now that might be of interest to some list
members -- 20 HO scale steam era freight car *kits*, all high quality
items from the looks of them. Some resin. The auction listing is
<<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&;item=190364453496&ssPageName
=ADME:B:SS:US:1123>>

I don't know the seller and am passing this on to the list as a heads-up
courtesy.

Dave Nelson

--- In STMFC@yahoogroups.com, "David C. Wilson" <davidchriswilson@...> asked

Can anyone point me to some prototype photos of these cars?

Go to the fallen flags web site, go to the E-L section, then freight cars, then box cars. Cars are desigated BM6600 & BM6655.

Ed

Yesterday, to keep everything straight, I went to Harbor Freight and got one of those 40 bin organizers (sku 94375). They hang on the wall. I spent some time labeling and now I have a truck cabinet.
Guess who takes up the top two rows (Grin)

Jon Miller
AT&SF
For me time has stopped in 1941
Digitrax, Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI user
NMRA Life member #2623
Member SFRH&MS

Charlie Vlk wrote:

The OER carries the entire waycar series which includes the
War Emergency Waycars WWII 14800-14890. These cars, while
rebuilt from 40 FT boxcars of various builders, were all
equipped with regular people doors on sides and none had
doors intended for lcl or loading passengers.
I didn't check on the WWI cars but they didn't have side
doors either IIRC as they had platforms.

Were those 14800-14890 cars listed simplay as "Caboose" in the ORER, or some variation of "Caboose, (Box Car)?"
____
Mark Mathu
Whitefish Bay, Wis.

When the rising ocean levels flood the freight car tracks of Florida, will I then be reminded that we are not facing global warming, but rather global cooling?
-Andy Carlson, still picking roses in January, looking forward to Jail.....
Ojai CA




________________________________
From: Mike Brock <brockm@brevard.net>
To: STMFC@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, January 12, 2010 8:32:04 AM
Subject: Re: [STMFC] Re: I Second That Motion!



Tom Madden writes:

"The rear window was completely iced over. Mike, aren't there any zoning
laws against this??"

Ice!? This is indeed puzzling. Surely Tom Madden from Boulder, CO, knows
what ice looks like. Perhaps it was merely a plastic covering. I could ask
the hotel I suppose. Certainly I'm not going to go over and check it out.
Heck, the high today is still below freezing...about 57°. But, to answer
Tom...I would not be surprised if there was one today.

I will say that on Friday morning when I was home to get models, cameras,
projectors etc I checked a bird bath and found a circular ice flow/ice berg
about 1/4" thick floating in it...Now, to give everyone a warm...uh... a
feeling of security and well being with regard to climate change in the
warmer direction... this has not happened in the last 40 yrs...although in
the great Christmas freeze of 1989 it would have if I had been stupid enough
to venture outside to put water in one.

As everyone knows, political comments on the STMFC are not permitted and so
the following is not one and I warn everyone to avoid such. Nevertheless, on
one morning when I went to the car, parked way out in the parking lot, wind
blowing right into me from the NW, God alone knows what the wind chill was,
only the grace of God kept someone from stopping me to warn me about "global
warming".

And, now back to frt cars.

Mike Brock




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tom Madden writes:

"The rear window was completely iced over. Mike, aren't there any zoning laws against this??"

Ice!? This is indeed puzzling. Surely Tom Madden from Boulder, CO, knows what ice looks like. Perhaps it was merely a plastic covering. I could ask the hotel I suppose. Certainly I'm not going to go over and check it out. Heck, the high today is still below freezing...about 57�. But, to answer Tom...I would not be surprised if there was one today.

I will say that on Friday morning when I was home to get models, cameras, projectors etc I checked a bird bath and found a circular ice flow/ice berg about 1/4" thick floating in it...Now, to give everyone a warm...uh...a feeling of security and well being with regard to climate change in the warmer direction...this has not happened in the last 40 yrs...although in the great Christmas freeze of 1989 it would have if I had been stupid enough to venture outside to put water in one.

As everyone knows, political comments on the STMFC are not permitted and so the following is not one and I warn everyone to avoid such. Nevertheless, on one morning when I went to the car, parked way out in the parking lot, wind blowing right into me from the NW, God alone knows what the wind chill was, only the grace of God kept someone from stopping me to warn me about "global warming".

And, now back to frt cars.

Mike Brock

Not a web link but Railway Prototype Cyclopedia 19 has a 10 page article on these cars. It's worth the price.
Brian carlson

Group

Can anyone point me to some prototype photos of these cars? Preferably a web-link.

Thanks!!

Dave Wilson