i am working on an early 1970s freight train to go with an Atlas Southern GP35. I know the black data box started about this time on freight cars. How long would a car not stenciled with these boxes last into the 70s? I ask because I am interested in using some 60s weigh dated cars in the train, but not sure how appropriate they would be. Does anyone here model the early 70s?
Thanks,
Replies sorted oldest to newest
When the rule 80 stencil was introduced, the AB brake valve had a 4 year maintenance cycle. As I recall ABD and ABDW had a longer maintenance cycle, might have been 8 years. Re packs were running 24 to 30 months on plain bearing cars. There was also something about inspection of high mileage cars. Most cars would have had them with in four years, but a few would have gone up to 8 years. Do not forget the stupid yellow dot. By 1980 I would bet every car had the 8 inch yellow dot, most which had faded to white by then.
I think I may have found the answer. The consolidated stencil, as it is known, was first used in 1972 for new or rebuilt cars only. After 1974, all freight cars were required to have this stencil. I believe some cars continued to exist without the stencil into the 1980s, but that was rare.
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
