06-20-2016, 11:58 PM
A thread in another forum trying to identify this car caught my interest and I filed away the following for a “to do” project.
A link to the original photo.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/losalamosnatlab/7597514026">https://www.flickr.com/photos/losalamos ... 7597514026</a><!-- m -->
The direct link to the answer....
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://southern.railfan.net/flat/cars/cisx/cisx500.html">http://southern.railfan.net/flat/cars/cisx/cisx500.html</a><!-- m -->
......and following the crumbs.......
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/cisx500alb.jpg">http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/cisx500alb.jpg</a><!-- m -->
The link to Tom Daspits very informative site which includes the section on Large Flat Cars.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.garlic.com/~tomd/">http://www.garlic.com/~tomd/</a><!-- m -->
So with the above sources along with the help of another modeller who came up with further information from the January 1942 O.R.E.R, I decided the following was enough to try a build.
“Breaking all records for size, this monster well car 90 ft long over the coupler pulling faces, has a load capacity of over 250 tons. Designed for use in carrying ingot molds between two Carnegie-Illinois plants, it is fitted for regular interchange movements. To carry this enormous load safely and economically, the two six wheeled trucks under each of the auxiliary bodies are provided with U.S.S Wrought Steel Wheels, 36 in. in diameter.
Pertinent Facts. Total weight of the car is 313,900 lb, of which 107,920 lb is in the four trucks, 49,000 lbs in the two auxiliary bodies, and 156,980 lbs in the well body proper. Payload capacity, at a rail load limit of 70,000 lbs, per axle, is 526,100 lbs. The total rail load is 840,000 lbs.
The well-platform is made up of seven long H-Beams, jigs assembled and are welded longitudinally. Each H-Beam in turn is made up in 5 sections- the central platform piece, two reverse curve transition pieces and two end pieces which terminate at the main bolster......”
Outside length 87'6"
Width @ eaves or top of sides or platform 9'8"
Extreme width 9'8"
Capacity 526100 lb.
Flat car, Depressed, steel, Note A: Car No. 500: height from rail to top of depressed platform 2 ft. 8-3/4 inch, to top of car body 6 ft. 9-1/2 inches; length of depressed center 18 .”
Armed with the above information I first sourced some affordable and more importantly available Buckeye trucks, Athearn ATH90407 and quickly knocked up a test car see if my requirements for overall heights, correct coupler height, and ability to run through my 15 inch radius test track.
As the trucks ticked all the boxes I then proceeded with an accurate (?) HO scale drawing.
One of my self imposed limits was that I used only hand tools that I would expect most modellers to have.
Thanks for looking, Cheers, the Bear.
A link to the original photo.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/losalamosnatlab/7597514026">https://www.flickr.com/photos/losalamos ... 7597514026</a><!-- m -->
The direct link to the answer....
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://southern.railfan.net/flat/cars/cisx/cisx500.html">http://southern.railfan.net/flat/cars/cisx/cisx500.html</a><!-- m -->
......and following the crumbs.......
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/cisx500alb.jpg">http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-frt/cisx500alb.jpg</a><!-- m -->
The link to Tom Daspits very informative site which includes the section on Large Flat Cars.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.garlic.com/~tomd/">http://www.garlic.com/~tomd/</a><!-- m -->
So with the above sources along with the help of another modeller who came up with further information from the January 1942 O.R.E.R, I decided the following was enough to try a build.
“Breaking all records for size, this monster well car 90 ft long over the coupler pulling faces, has a load capacity of over 250 tons. Designed for use in carrying ingot molds between two Carnegie-Illinois plants, it is fitted for regular interchange movements. To carry this enormous load safely and economically, the two six wheeled trucks under each of the auxiliary bodies are provided with U.S.S Wrought Steel Wheels, 36 in. in diameter.
Pertinent Facts. Total weight of the car is 313,900 lb, of which 107,920 lb is in the four trucks, 49,000 lbs in the two auxiliary bodies, and 156,980 lbs in the well body proper. Payload capacity, at a rail load limit of 70,000 lbs, per axle, is 526,100 lbs. The total rail load is 840,000 lbs.
The well-platform is made up of seven long H-Beams, jigs assembled and are welded longitudinally. Each H-Beam in turn is made up in 5 sections- the central platform piece, two reverse curve transition pieces and two end pieces which terminate at the main bolster......”
Outside length 87'6"
Width @ eaves or top of sides or platform 9'8"
Extreme width 9'8"
Capacity 526100 lb.
Flat car, Depressed, steel, Note A: Car No. 500: height from rail to top of depressed platform 2 ft. 8-3/4 inch, to top of car body 6 ft. 9-1/2 inches; length of depressed center 18 .”
Armed with the above information I first sourced some affordable and more importantly available Buckeye trucks, Athearn ATH90407 and quickly knocked up a test car see if my requirements for overall heights, correct coupler height, and ability to run through my 15 inch radius test track.
As the trucks ticked all the boxes I then proceeded with an accurate (?) HO scale drawing.
One of my self imposed limits was that I used only hand tools that I would expect most modellers to have.
Thanks for looking, Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."