O Scale Freight Car Guide: Bulkhead, Skeleton and Heavy Duty Flat Cars

Ted,

GREAT!!!

Thank you,

Ralph

Being I had my SAL folders open I figured I'd go ahead and add some photos here too:

Thanks Bob,

Beautiful photos.

Ralph

Very informative, Ted.

A word of caution, though, on the MTH Schnabel car. It should not be at the head of a long train as the weight of the train will stress the hooks that attach the transformer (they're plastic). It's better to keep it prototypical where the train consists of an engine or two, the Schnabel, a couple of support cars, and the caboose.

Very interesting and informative, Matt,

I hadn't realized the stress and strain factors.

Thank you,

Ralph

I'm not sure how far back you go, but Lionel produced an I beam flatcar with lumber load. I remember getting mine around the 1998 time frame. As I recall, it came in multiple road names. Could've been during the end of the MPC era.

Here's two drawings of Seaboard's class WS-6 and W-5 class bulkhead flats:

I'm not sure how far back you go, but Lionel produced an I beam flatcar with lumber load. I remember getting mine around the 1998 time frame. As I recall, it came in multiple road names. Could've been during the end of the MPC era.

Stewart

The Lionel center beam car was a traditional size model.  While one would look big next to a 6464 box car it would be quite undersized next to modern O scale equipment.

Matt

Thanks for the heads up to Schnabel car operators.  I recall discussions on that some time back.  Does the warning only apply to older cars or across the board for all Schnabels?

Bob

Thanks for sharing the photos and drawings.  How many of the Atlas cars do you have? 

As far as I've seen from more recent releases, the same precaution would still apply since the materials haven't changed.

Ted, I only have 1 of the Atlas cars, lettered for ACL.  I have a MTH car like it, but removed the bulkhead planking so it's open (like SAL 45622 in my 1st post, 2nd photo).

Here's a photo of some woodrack action at Union Camp in Franklin Va with a Franklin & Carolina Whitcomb diesel (not sure what RR the cars are from):

The F&C was bought by the ACL, here's the engine in ACL paint:

Today I picked up one of the Atlas Trainman flat cars decorated in BC Rail as part of a special run for the Public Delivery track.  These are very nicely built  cars with a diecast underframe and injection molded plastic deck, side sills and bulkheads. The trucks have rotating bearing caps (nice in a Trainman car) and the three rail versions have articulating coupler arms.  A single screw secures the tinplate couplers and a conversion to 3RS with Kadees looks very straight forward.

The comments in the original post have been updated with the car weight and curve requirements.  This is a good addition to the rolling stock choices for modern era modelers.  

You keep posting this stuff and Atlas should have many new customers!

Great looking car to me. Now, I have to buy it! Urrrggg.

Atlas will be posting there new catalog for the next 6 months on the 17th at the big show in Cleveland maybe there will be a new car announcement.

Have four of the Trainman Bulkhead flats -- 2 TTX/2 ATSF. They did a great job on these and the price is good. Still pondering what kind of loads to put on them but they track very well and have good weight, even empty.

You keep posting this stuff and Atlas should have many new customers!

Great looking car to me. Now, I have to buy it! Urrrggg.

Joe

You should try doing the "research" for this project.  Talk about dangerous to the pocket book! 

There are some really nice O scale freight car models out there from Atlas, Lionel, MTH and Weaver that cover from WW I to the modern era.  If modelers can find out what is available, see photos and comments from other operators and decide what fits their desires I think we are all contributing something to the hobby and having a good time along the way. 

maybe there will be a new car announcement.

If so then it will be time for an update! 

Still pondering what kind of loads to put on them but they track very well and have good weight, even empty.

Matt

Coming out of BC you could go with packages lumber or utility poles.  Aluminum ingots would be a good load too, especially for a low bulkhead car. Have a look below for views of the Milwaukee car barge service from BC Rail at North Vancouver unloading in Seattle at Pier 27.  Be warned, if you look you may decide you need some Atlas 6507 or MTH 20-93484 box cars to go with them.  Like all the new PS-1s the MTH 20-93508 is a great looking car and they even come in 6 packs!  

http://www.mrcd.org/puget_sound_barges.html

I don't model the Pacific Northwest, but the BC Rail cars intrigued me as I went to Vancouver, BC a few years back and really enjoyed it. Thought I saw a couple on the BNSF lines up near Seattle. Might add them to the roster just for variety.

Here's a couple....

USH car

Quality Craft kit car

Wiseman Models kit car

 and a pair of my own cars from Athearn parts......

For an in depth review of the MTH Solid Rocket Booster set take a look at this thread by Lee Willis.

https://ogrforum.com/t...could-never-find-out

MTH centerbeam cars can be converted to a useful 2 rail car....DaveB

I make my own  flats 64ft. and 85 ft.

Dave

Nice lumber load and a nice conversion of what I am guessing is one of the early MTH cars.  Can you tell us or show us more photos of how you modified that car?

Schratch builder

Great work.  I especially like the pipe loads.  The steel pipe looks awsome.  What did you use to model the blue brute?

 "a nice conversion of what I am guessing is one of the early MTH cars.  Can you tell us or show us more photos of how you modified that car?"

  Hi Ted, Yes it's one of the older MTH cars. I chopped off and angled the end of the under frame and moved the bolster to the correct spot then replaced the trucks with Weaver trucks and added Kadee couplers and brass steps and grab irons. The lumber load is the original MTH plastic parts with some added smaller wood stacks along the top. I drilled holes in the cast on winches and the car body so I could add stretchy string load restraining cables. The cables stretch enough to allow the lumber stacks to be removed so the car can run empty. Here's a couple of under construction shots. 

Here is a scratch built of an 86 ft flat , most likely shop built by N&W to haul logs or telephone poles . It is constructed of brass , resin and styrene .

This photo was used as a reference guide sent to me .Hardest part was trying to get the log color close to the reference and making the logs.

I remember that conversion. I think you did an article in O Scale News. Liked it so much I bought a couple of the cars to convert over. Did you notch the end sill for the coupler?

"I remember that conversion. I think you did an article in O Scale News. Liked it so much I bought a couple of the cars to convert over. Did you notch the end sill for the coupler?"

  Hi Matt, I don't recall positing it in O scale news, but I've seen other folks articles on conversion of these cars in the past. Looking at my photo a couple of posts up above it appears I used the original MTH end of frame molding and chopped it off and mounted Kadees on it? I recall cutting and beveling the under frame to allow me to mount the trucks in the correct position( aligned with the molded on jacking pads.)  I can't give a better answer since I don't have the car any more as I've been selling off my O stuff as I transition to S scale in anticipation of a move to a smaller house and train room.....Regards  DaveB  

Daveb and Scratchbuilder

Thanks for posting the photos of your beautiful work.  I love the utility pole load.  plenty of those originate in the pacific northwest.

I received the MTH 20-98849 for my birthday.  What a monster!  Fortunately MTH has improved the underframe with correctly placed trucks and Kadee mounting pads.  I hope that MTH will update the catalog illustrations to reflect their current products.

I am kinda nuts about wheels.  All brass except the wheels, which are carbon steel:

I am kinda nuts about wheels.

All 24 of them!  What is the prototype?  The capacity would have to be 150 - 200 tons.  It must have hauled some heavy transformers.

Here are some really big flatcar versions. All are based on prototypes. All have been featured on the Forum.

Here's load on weaver flat car.

That is a premier correct?

Seem to recall that they were a PRR prototype when assembled w/o the the stake pockets castings.