03-07-2008, 11:15 AM
03-07-2008, 11:54 PM
Cool. Can we see what it looks like all set up?
03-09-2008, 08:51 AM
All set up? That's all of it right there, at the moment -- one flatcar. Sorry if the "more stuff" button is misleading. As I build more cars, I'll post them, too. I don't plan to build a track layout -- takes up too much room. That one section of track is just to check if the wheel gauge and coupler height is correct.
Sorry to disappoint.
Sorry to disappoint.
03-09-2008, 06:28 PM
oh - I was wondering what a foot flat car was - what is the point of it on a train?
03-10-2008, 03:26 AM
A 40 foot flatcar is 40 feet long. This is usually written "40' flatcar" but that risks trouble when used as the title for an HTML page.
Flatcars aren't as common as, say, boxcars but they have been used in considerable variety. Nonstandard and oversize loads are the domain of a flatcar. The downside is that the load is completely exposed. Flatcars may haul generators, transformers, logs, pulpwood, lumber, marine parts, and vehicles -- to name a few.
A wooden bed flatcar such as SP #540028 might have seen service at any time during the late steam era; many survive today. Some are converted to other forms, such as the work caboose or the gondola; some continue largely as built, used in yards by maintenance crews.
Some would say flatcars are now making a comeback with the domination of all freight by the intermodal shipping container. I disagree. Although intermodals are classed as flats, they might just as well be thought of as boxcars with interchangable boxes. Truly, the intermodal is a new class of car, designed specifically and only to carry containers.
But while boxcars are fast disappearing in favor of intermodal containers, there will always be room for flatcars. A true flatcar is general purpose, able to carry loads that just won't fit into any container. There will never be very many of them but they will roll as long as there are rails.
Flatcars aren't as common as, say, boxcars but they have been used in considerable variety. Nonstandard and oversize loads are the domain of a flatcar. The downside is that the load is completely exposed. Flatcars may haul generators, transformers, logs, pulpwood, lumber, marine parts, and vehicles -- to name a few.
A wooden bed flatcar such as SP #540028 might have seen service at any time during the late steam era; many survive today. Some are converted to other forms, such as the work caboose or the gondola; some continue largely as built, used in yards by maintenance crews.
Some would say flatcars are now making a comeback with the domination of all freight by the intermodal shipping container. I disagree. Although intermodals are classed as flats, they might just as well be thought of as boxcars with interchangable boxes. Truly, the intermodal is a new class of car, designed specifically and only to carry containers.
But while boxcars are fast disappearing in favor of intermodal containers, there will always be room for flatcars. A true flatcar is general purpose, able to carry loads that just won't fit into any container. There will never be very many of them but they will roll as long as there are rails.
03-10-2008, 10:34 AM
Ah I see. Thanks for the explanation.
03-10-2008, 11:37 AM
Xiong Wrote:
A 40 foot flatcar is 40 feet long. This is usually written "40' flatcar" but that risks trouble when used as the title for an HTML page.
Flatcars aren't as common as, say, boxcars but they have been used in considerable variety. Nonstandard and oversize loads are the domain of a flatcar. The downside is that the load is completely exposed. Flatcars may haul generators, transformers, logs, pulpwood, lumber, marine parts, and vehicles -- to name a few.
A wooden bed flatcar such as SP #540028 might have seen service at any time during the late steam era; many survive today. Some are converted to other forms, such as the work caboose or the gondola; some continue largely as built, used in yards by maintenance crews.
Some would say flatcars are now making a comeback with the domination of all freight by the intermodal shipping container. I disagree. Although intermodals are classed as flats, they might just as well be thought of as boxcars with interchangable boxes. Truly, the intermodal is a new class of car, designed specifically and only to carry containers.
But while boxcars are fast disappearing in favor of intermodal containers, there will always be room for flatcars. A true flatcar is general purpose, able to carry loads that just won't fit into any container. There will never be very many of them but they will roll as long as there are rails.
Flatcars aren't as common as, say, boxcars but they have been used in considerable variety. Nonstandard and oversize loads are the domain of a flatcar. The downside is that the load is completely exposed. Flatcars may haul generators, transformers, logs, pulpwood, lumber, marine parts, and vehicles -- to name a few.
A wooden bed flatcar such as SP #540028 might have seen service at any time during the late steam era; many survive today. Some are converted to other forms, such as the work caboose or the gondola; some continue largely as built, used in yards by maintenance crews.
Some would say flatcars are now making a comeback with the domination of all freight by the intermodal shipping container. I disagree. Although intermodals are classed as flats, they might just as well be thought of as boxcars with interchangable boxes. Truly, the intermodal is a new class of car, designed specifically and only to carry containers.
But while boxcars are fast disappearing in favor of intermodal containers, there will always be room for flatcars. A true flatcar is general purpose, able to carry loads that just won't fit into any container. There will never be very many of them but they will roll as long as there are rails.
We get a lot of long ore trains where I live. My place is only a block away from the train lines but I have got used to the noise. Most of the trains have open wagons and at times there are up to 144 wagons on the trains.
Otherwise, the regular shipping or cargo container is the most common freight. I haven't seen any cattle or pig trains for a long time. It's kind of sad seeing them as the poor beasts are very crowded.