1. RealSTMFC | Main
  2. Topics

tank car placards for models

Anthony Thompson <thompson@...>
 

I've put together a pair of posts on tank car placards for my era of 1953, in my modeling blog. The first is about the prototype placards, the second covers some modeling applications. If you're interested, here are links to the two posts:

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-modeling.html

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

kmelvin1663 <melvinphotos@...>
 

Great stuff, Tony!
Thank you very much.
George Melvin
Readfield, Maine

--- In STMFC@..., Anthony Thompson <thompson@...> wrote:

I've put together a pair of posts on tank car placards for my
era of 1953, in my modeling blog. The first is about the prototype
placards, the second covers some modeling applications. If you're
interested, here are links to the two posts:

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-modeling.html

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Peter Ness
 

Jerry Glow has recently produced an HO scale decal "Dangerous" placard that may be useful as well. This is based on a Pennsy example, similar placard to that posted in the blog.

Regards,
Peter Ness

----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony Thompson
To: STMFC@... ; Espee List
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 3:08 AM
Subject: [STMFC] tank car placards for models



I've put together a pair of posts on tank car placards for my
era of 1953, in my modeling blog. The first is about the prototype
placards, the second covers some modeling applications. If you're
interested, here are links to the two posts:

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-modeling.html

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

atsfnut <michaelEGross@...>
 

Great stuff, Tony, and I thank you. Very informative and well-photographed.

I have several of those placards which I will share with the group when I have time to photograph them. In the meantime, I have uploaded one tank car photo to a new album titled Michael's Model Gallery. The photo is of a tank car with a placard reduced in size as you described and printed on an ink-jet printer. The photo is waiting for approval from the moderator, so may not be immediately available.

I've enjoyed reading your blog in the past, and I appreciate this new posting. Thanks!

Michael Gross
La Canada, CA

--- In STMFC@..., Anthony Thompson <thompson@...> wrote:

I've put together a pair of posts on tank car placards for my
era of 1953, in my modeling blog. The first is about the prototype
placards, the second covers some modeling applications. If you're
interested, here are links to the two posts:

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-modeling.html

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

jerryglow2
 

I will try to throw in a couple with any order placed if you ask.

Jerry Glow
http://home.comcast.net/~jerryglow/decals/

--- In STMFC@..., "Peter Ness" <prness@...> wrote:

Jerry Glow has recently produced an HO scale decal "Dangerous" placard that may be useful as well. This is based on a Pennsy example, similar placard to that posted in the blog.

Regards,
Peter Ness

----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony Thompson
To: STMFC@... ; Espee List
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2012 3:08 AM
Subject: [STMFC] tank car placards for models



I've put together a pair of posts on tank car placards for my
era of 1953, in my modeling blog. The first is about the prototype
placards, the second covers some modeling applications. If you're
interested, here are links to the two posts:

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html

http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-modeling.html

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history






Jim Betz
 

Tony,

===> THANKS !!! <===

As you know I model "the transition era" for about 95% or more
of what I do. The timing of your post and blog entries are 'spot on'
for my personal needs because I am in the process of adding "depth"
to my roster of tank car models. Both in terms of the number of cars
but also in terms of "adding details" (including placards).

So even in the transition era tank cars that required placarding
were, more or less and mostly more, in captive service ... in that
they tended to be hauled either loaded (or empty) over and over
for the same 'family' of products

===> correct?

So if you have some industries on your layout that are actually
using tank cars - you would want to have cars that have both the
loaded and unloaded placards ... and you would want to 'cycle'
the cars back and forth during your op sessions. Sheesh - one
more detail to add to the set up (aka "reset") for the layout! *G*

The placard you picked up at WinteRail was "produced by the SLSF".
Was that 'the practice' for placards in the steam era? I'm asking
"were the placards in the steam era usually printed by/for the RRs
and therefore would normally have a logo on them?".
I would guess that other than cars that are in "company service"
(such as diesel fuel for the RR itself) would not necessarily have
placards on them that are the same as the car. They might or might
not depending upon where the car had travelled recently.

Has anyone ever seen any kind of "post it note material" for
consumer use that can be run thru a printer? I would have to have
some kind of peel off covering for the sticky part. But would be
ideal for model use since you could even change out the placards
on your cars between/during ops ... oh damn, I think I just opened
up Pandora's box! But it would be nice to have placards and other
such items (waybills, etc.) that could be 'attached' to the model
but also be able to change them out!
- Jim

mt19a <LarrynLynnHanlon@...>
 

Hi Jim,

Avery makes self adhesive white and transparent labels in various sizes designed to be run through laser or inkjet printers. I use #8660 clear inkjet labels for Christmas letter addressing, and have never had a problem with jams in the printer. I would guess their labels are typically .002 - .004" in thickness.

I'll let you change out the placards, etc., though! :)

Larry Hanlon.
Bend, OR

--- In STMFC@..., Jim Betz <jimbetz@...> wrote:

Has anyone ever seen any kind of "post it note material" for
consumer use that can be run thru a printer? I would have to have
some kind of peel off covering for the sticky part. But would be
ideal for model use since you could even change out the placards
on your cars between/during ops ... oh damn, I think I just opened
up Pandora's box! But it would be nice to have placards and other
such items (waybills, etc.) that could be 'attached' to the model
but also be able to change them out!
- Jim

Douglas Harding
 

Jim I have an image of an "Explosives" card that is lettered for the
Minneapolis & St Louis. So it would appear some railroads had their own
cards printed. I also have an image of several cards that are lettered for
all four railroads owned by Ed Hawley, which dates the cards between 1900
and 1912.



I have create a photo album "Placards" where I have uploaded these and some
other MSTL cards that may also have been posted on freight cars. The photos
are awaiting approval by a moderator.



Doug Harding

www.iowacentralrr.org

Anthony Thompson <thompson@...>
 

Jim Betz wrote:
Tony,
===> THANKS !!! <===
So even in the transition era tank cars that required placarding were, more or less and mostly more, in captive service ... in that they tended to be hauled either loaded (or empty) over and over for the same 'family' of products
===> correct?
Yes, that was very common.

The placard you picked up at WinteRail was "produced by the SLSF". Was that 'the practice' for placards in the steam era? I'm asking "were the placards in the steam era usually printed by/for the RRs and therefore would normally have a logo on them?".
I have seen them with and without railroad emblems. I suspect there were commercial producers of placards, just as there are today, and many users may have opted for the commercial (no emblem) placards.

Has anyone ever seen any kind of "post it note material" for consumer use that can be run thru a printer? . . . would be ideal for model use since you could even change out the placards on your cars between/during ops . . . it would be nice to have placards and other such items (waybills, etc.) that could be 'attached' to the model but also be able to change them out!
Jim, I tried this with SP train indicators using Post-It material--it only remains sticky for a few uses. But the basic idea is nice -- if rather fiddly in practice. I don't really have a desire to fuss with little bits of Post-It which are losing their grip, especially with tank cars with vulnerable placard holders. But of course YMMV.

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Jim Betz
 

Hi guys,

I checked The Train Shop for the 87-975 decals. No joy.
(They did put them on their order list however.) Due to Tony's
comments about MicroScale not having them right now I checked
MicroScale's web site - "Not available". I doubt their website
is sophisticated enough to log people's visits as input to their
production schedules.
I suggest that if you want some of these decals that you
either get your supplier to order some - or send an email or
call MicroScale.

info@...

(714) 593-1422 (Main Number / General Information)

Tony,

If what I saw when I checked the website is true then the
placards included on 87-975 do -not- include the "empties"
decals ... I found their very poorly represented image and
saved it and used software to enlarge it ... didn't see any
thing that even closely resembled the "half black" style you
show on your blog.
- Jim

Anthony Thompson <thompson@...>
 

Jim Beetzwrote:
If what I saw when I checked the website is true then the placards included on 87-975 do -not- include the "empties" decals ... I found their very poorly represented image and saved it and used software to enlarge it ... didn't see any thing that even closely resembled the "half black" style you show on your blog.
You are right that their web image of this set is terrible, but in fact the second row of placards at the top of the decal are pretty nice "half black" empty placards. I could post a better image if people want to see it. And don't forget to send email to Microscale to request the reprinting of this set!! Here's the address to which I sent a request, and they answered me: railroad@...

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Stuart A. Forsyth <trainmail@...>
 

Jim -

The explosives placards that I have seen from the World War II era had the name of the railroad, but no logo, printed on them.

Best wishes,

Stuart


Stuart A. Forsyth
forsyth@...

On Mar 20, 2012, at 10:35 AM, Jim Betz wrote:

The placard you picked up at WinteRail was "produced by the SLSF".
Was that 'the practice' for placards in the steam era? I'm asking
"were the placards in the steam era usually printed by/for the RRs
and therefore would normally have a logo on them?".

Al Campbell
 

Not that I'm an English major but, I can speak the language. A question
that I have often wondered about, what is the difference between "Flammable"
and "Inflammable"? Seems like an oxymoron. What is the preferred use?
Regards, Al Campbell

Anthony Thompson <thompson@...>
 

Al Campbell wrote:
Not that I'm an English major but, I can speak the language. A question that I have often wondered about, what is the difference between "Flammable"
and "Inflammable"? Seems like an oxymoron. What is the preferred use?
By regulatory decision, "flammable." The two terms were essentially interchangeable in the 1950s, leading to obvious possibilities for misinterpretation of one or the other term. In a spill or fire crisis, you don't want people overthinking the problem, so one was chosen. Probably not an accident that they chose the shorter term.

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Bruce Smith
 

Al,

For most of the period of this list, "inflammable" was the preferred usage for something that could catch fire and burn. However, there was the problem that folks began to equate "in" with "not" and so usage shifted to the current "flammable".

Regards

Bruce


Bruce F. Smith

Auburn, AL

https://www5.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/


"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."

__

/ &#92;

__<+--+>________________&#92;__/___ ________________________________

|- ______/ O O &#92;_______ -| | __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ |

| / 4999 PENNSYLVANIA 4999 &#92; | ||__||__||__||__||__||__||__||__||

|/_____________________________&#92;|_|________________________________|

| O--O &#92;0 0 0 0/ O--O | 0-0-0 0-0-0

On Mar 21, 2012, at 1:39 PM, <madchemep2@...<mailto:madchemep2@...>>
wrote:

Not that I'm an English major but, I can speak the language. A question
that I have often wondered about, what is the difference between "Flammable"
and "Inflammable"? Seems like an oxymoron. What is the preferred use?
Regards, Al Campbell





------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

Tom Houle <thoule@...>
 

For many years at least through the fifties, the term "Inflammable" was used
to indicate combustionable material. It was and still is incorrect
English. Inflammable literally means non-flammable. The "in"prefix
comes from the Latin prefix for not. Today we correctly use the term
"Flammable". Preferred use would be Flammable, but it really depends on
the era you are modeling. Pre- 1960, I'd use the incorrect term
Inflammable.
Tom Houle

-----Original Message-----
From: STMFC@... [mailto:STMFC@...] On Behalf Of
madchemep2@...
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 1:39 PM
To: STMFC@...
Cc: MadChemEp2@...
Subject: [STMFC] Re: tank car placards for models

Not that I'm an English major but, I can speak the language. A question
that I have often wondered about, what is the difference between
"Flammable"
and "Inflammable"? Seems like an oxymoron. What is the preferred use?
Regards, Al Campbell





------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

Anthony Thompson <thompson@...>
 

Tom Houle wrote:
For many years at least through the fifties, the term "Inflammable" was used to indicate combustionable material. It was and still is incorrect
English. Inflammable literally means non-flammable. The "in"prefix comes from the Latin prefix for not.
Just two points, Tom. Incorrect Latin does not make incorrect English. Correct English is what is in use. Moreover, you apparently don't recall the word "inflame," which means to set on fire, and Latin has nothing to do with it. It's from an Old English word, enflamen.

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Anthony Thompson <thompson@...>
 

I wrote:
Latin has nothing to do with it. It's from an Old English word, enflamen.
Further checking shows I was wrong on this; the Old English word has a Latin root, inflammare. And to further contradict Mr. Houle, the Latin prefix in- can indeed mean "not," but its second meaning is "in, into, within," as in words like inbreed or induct. Clearly the second meaning is the one applicable to "inflammare."

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@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Bruce Smith
 

Tom,

Wrong! (Gosh, I miss the Gong Show) First "inflammable" is absolutely correct English. Check your dictionary. Second, the derivation is from Latin inflammare. The "in" is not the negative equivalent of "un" but rather the preposition "in".

You doctor doesn't say you have an "flamed knee", they say you have an "inflamed knee"... same root <G>

Regards

Bruce


Bruce F. Smith

Auburn, AL

https://www5.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/


"Some days you are the bug, some days you are the windshield."

__

/ &#92;

__<+--+>________________&#92;__/___ ________________________________

|- ______/ O O &#92;_______ -| | __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ |

| / 4999 PENNSYLVANIA 4999 &#92; | ||__||__||__||__||__||__||__||__||

|/_____________________________&#92;|_|________________________________|

| O--O &#92;0 0 0 0/ O--O | 0-0-0 0-0-0

On Mar 21, 2012, at 1:52 PM, Tom Houle wrote:

For many years at least through the fifties, the term "Inflammable" was used
to indicate combustionable material. It was and still is incorrect
English. Inflammable literally means non-flammable. The "in"prefix
comes from the Latin prefix for not. Today we correctly use the term
"Flammable". Preferred use would be Flammable, but it really depends on
the era you are modeling. Pre- 1960, I'd use the incorrect term
Inflammable.
Tom Houle

Richard Townsend
 

All of this attention to tank car placards begs some similar attention to placards for other cars. I have examples of placards used on the C&S for "Explosives," and for "Heated Car" (for reefers with heaters), "Uninspected Clean Cattle" and "Exposed Sheep for Slaughter" (for stock cars), and "Time Freight," "Red Ball Freight," and "Penalty" for cars of indeterminate type. Undoubtedly there are others (I lost a long time ago the "Do Not Hump" placard I prized so highly when I was in high school).


Richard Townsend
Lincoln City, Oregon

1 - 20 of 29