General

S.P. Flat Car Codes

1. Fx = plain (or straight) flat car (F4, F5 etc.)
   

2. FBx = bulkhead flat car. FB4, FB5, FB6, FB7.
   

3. FM = miscellaneous flat car - includes centerbeams.
   

AAR Car Designations

Class “F” – FLAT CAR TYPE

1. FA – Flat car specifically equipped with superstructure or containers for transporting set-up vehicles, not suitable for miscellaneous    
   

2.     commodities.
   

3. FB – Bulkhead flat cars. Equipped with fixed or permanently attached movable bulkheads or ends a minimum of three feet in
   

4.     height and flat floor for general commodity loading.
   

5. FBC – Flat car constructed with a center beam above the car deck from bulkhead to bulkhead.
   

6. FC – Flat cars specifically equipped to carry trucks, trailers, containers, chassis, or removable trailer bodies for the transportation of
   

7.     freight in
   

8. TOFC/COFC service.
   

9. FCA – Flat car, articulated multi-unit, specially equipped to carry trailers, containers, chassis, or removable trailer bodies for the
   

10.     transportation of freight in TOFC/COFC service.
    

11. FD – Depressed-center flat car of special construction having the portion of the floor extending between trucks depressed to provide
    

12.     necessary head room for certain commodities.
    

13. FL – Flat logging car or logging truck. This is either a straight-deck flat car, with or without bulkheads or load restraining devices,
    

14.     or car consisting of two trucks fitted with cross supports over truck bolsters; the trucks connected by a skeleton or flexible frame
    

15.     and logs loaded lengthwise on cross supports.
    

16. FM – Ordinary flat car for general service. This car has flooring laid over sills and without sides or ends.
    

17. FW – Flat car with hole to enable lading to be lowered due to clearance limits.
    

18. 
    

Blackburn Patent Sugar Beet Racks on Flats

1. The Blackburn Patent Sugar Beet Racks were mounted on available flat cars during the Sugar Beet Campaigns in Imperial Valley, San Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. Photos show the 34' racks mounted on a variety of Espee flat cars ranching from 34' flats in Dunsmuir in 1899 through 36' PE and Atlantic line cars into the 1940s on 40' flats. Plus all the photos of the LA River Yards with the dismounted racks covering all of the available trackside space after the Campaigns were finished.
   

2. Tom VanWormer
   

3. 
   

4. When the SP composite GS gons were delivered in 1948, it spelled the end for practically all the Blackburn racks.
   

5. Tony Thompson
   

Wood Decks For Flats

1. SP did pressure-treat flat car decking, but not with creosote. Decks looked pretty natural when new. You would never seen a clear indication of paint on any SP flat car deck, other than overspray.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Paint

1. Clyde King discussing the topic of deck color, recalls that flatcars wood decks in the 1950s, were pretty heavily treated with creosote, thus rendering them a dark almost black color, something they kept for a pretty long time.
   

2. 
   

3. Photos from T. Thompson's book SP Freight Cars Volume #3 should help.
   

4. 
   

5. 
   

6. Photographs at the Portola RR Museum of a very old flat car deck show no brown left, and it is about a medium gray overall. Individual boards vary from a medium-light gray to fairly dark in some areas. This deck has probably been exposed to the elements for 30+ years, so there would be a lot of sun bleaching that's taken a toll. If the deck was creosoted, it would have been considerably warmer in color "back in the day", and it would have been pretty dark.
   

7.     Look for the Espee file named                FlatDeck_0991.jpg.
   

8. 
   

Modeling Flat Cars

Wood Decks For Flats

1. Wholesale Pricing/FREE Shipping. Laser cut wood decks for HO scale flatcars. The decks are sold in 4 packs.
   

2.       Athearn 40' flat 4 pack   $9.95
   

3. Athearn 50' flat 4 pack   $9.95
   

4. ERTL flatcar 4 pack   $9.95
   

5. MDC bulkhead flat 4 pack $11.95
   

6. MDC 60' flatcar 4 pack $10.95
   

Red Caboose for 53'-6" SP Flatcar wood deck

1. They supply the 53' 6" wood flat car decks.
   

2. 1-4 of the decks, $5.95 a deck plus $5.00 shipping.
   

3. 5 or more decks in bulk, $3.50 a deck plus $5.00 shipping.
   

4. 
   

5. In order to place an order, I need to reservations for a minimum of 15 pieces.
   

6. Bill McClung
   

7. 
   

8. Send a check which includes the shipping to:
   

9. Red Caboose, PO Box 220, La Salle, Co. 80645
   

10. 
    

Attaching the Deck

1. There are four plastic guides that must be installed. 
   

2. 
   

3. Use Super RCZ56. I used 5 minute epoxy on my plastic decks. If I would do it again, I would simply go with 5 minute epoxy. The trick is to use something that will bond the wood to the frame and weight underneath and keep it on. Then hit your deck with burnt sienna oil with streaks going with the "grain".
   

4. D.A. Waggoner
   

5. 
   

6. Use a contact cement.  Since most modelers these days have a tube of Barge cement laying around, that would work fine. It can be thinned with solvent, stays flexible, and holds very well. 
   

7. Elizabeth
   

8. 
   

9. I've used Shoe Goo too. It can be spread thin on the back of the deck using a cube of ice. It doesn't stick to the ice so it works better than a putty knife. I've also used Shoe Goo for attaching Plano and Overland running boards.
   

10. http://www.amazinggoop.com/shoegoo.htm
    

11. Keith Thompson
    

12. 
    

Paint

1. Go with a dark brown color and add touch of black for your time period. It's doubtful the decks faded to a medium gray we often associate with more modern (i.e. 1970s) decks on bulkhead flatcars etc. 
   

Trucks

1. Prior to WW II, SP usually painted trucks black. After the war, they tended to paint everything body color, i.e. boxcar red on cars which had that color body. Numerous postwar builder photos show trucks the same color as the car body.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Underframes

1. Prior to WW II, SP usually painted underframes black. After the war, they tended to paint everything body color.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Flat Car Decks

1. SP did pressure-treat flat car decking, but not with creosote. Use brown and black shoe dye diluted with a bit of alcohol to stain wood decks. Try brushing and rebrushing to get variables among the planks. On wood it also helped to scrape or rough sand the deck to get a very used and splintered appearance. Spiking holes also were not unusual. If using on plastic rather than wood, first paint the plastic with a yellow or tan flat color (Floquil) then used the dye. Don't forget that spills were common and left additional stains.
   

2. 
   

3. If you want to lighten it up a bit, try just lightening the Model Master's Armor Sand base color.
   

4. 
   

5. Many years back the decking on the flat cars was fairly light in color, lighter than the Red Caboose decking is. There were of course stains and marks on the decking. The surface was quite beat up, nicks, splinters etc. but the decking was so thick that it looked quite solid with just a messed up surface.
   

6. 
   

7. This Bob Dengler photo of an F-70-7 from 1981, near the end of the car's service life, still shows the deck to be a relatively dark color given the years of exposure:      http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp560877.jpg
   

8. 
   

9. One good place to look today are large flatbed trailers, which often have wood decks, although probably no creosote.
   

10. 
    

11. See an uploaded file that shows what you can do with simple paint colors (Floquil) and india ink washes, plus a little bit of sandpaper. The top 2 are P2K grey plastic gondola floors, the short one is a Sunshine grey resin flat car deck, and the bottom three are red P2K gondola floors. There also is some black and brown dry paint pigment added to several of them.
    

12. 
    

13. For brand new light colored wood, mix yellow and white. To add highlights, put a thinned red or black paint on a stiff brush and "flick" the bristles to put tiny drops on the wood. Then wipe that with a finger. A wash of very thin India ink can bring out detail without making the boards look dark.  
    

14. 
    

Wood Deck vs. Styrene

1. Some modelers feel that real wood is the best medium to reproduce wood parts in HO scale. However, I don’t agree. If wood grain patterning is visible in your wood, it is way out of scale, and if you distress the deck, the splinters and gouges are likewise way out of scale to what would happen in the prototype. Lastly, a freshly decked flat car might look like raw wood (many railroads, including SP, did not use creosoted decking), but after a few years of hard use, along with sun, rain, and dirt, a car deck does not look remotely like new wood.
   

2. 
   

3. The starting point for Red Caboose decks is either styrene, which is delivered painted boxcar red (and SP did not in general paint its flat car decks), or natural wood. Either way, distress them before weathering. To view a prototype flat car will typically show considerable damage to the decking, more than is easy to represent on a model. Do gouge and scrape different areas, and also roughen with coarse sandpaper. If it’s a wood deck, go over it with fine sandpaper to remove fuzz and out-of-scale splinters. On a plastic deck, styrene debris should also be smoothed and cleaned up.
   

4. 
   

5. Once decks, whether wood or styrene, have been appropriately distressed, paint them with acrylics. Use a mixture of Ivory Black, Neutral Gray, and Burnt Umber. Partly blend these on a convenient piece of scrap cardboard, and paint the deck (all strokes crosswise to the car). Remix and re-blend to get color variation from place to place. Add a little “wet water” (water with a single drop of liquid detergent) to dilute and mix the colors. At the end of the process, often go back and add additional color to some areas.
   

6. Tony Thompson
   

7. 
   

8. Dullcote or otherwise seal the wood, then paint with acrylics (NOT a wash, just paint). You can do this with the decks you now have. This is what I described in my blog post about weathering flat car decks of this type. Here's a link if you want to look:
   

9.                                                                          http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2011/05/weathering-flat-car-decks.html
   

10. Tony Thompson
    

11. 
    

Lettering & Numbering

1. There was lettering on some 53'6" flat cars originating in 1917.
   

2. 
   

3. Concentrated Load Here
   

4. ------- 3 FT ---------
   

5. Must not exceed 80000 lbs
   

Reference

1. The 1917 flat car lettering diagram shown in vol. 3 has this loading instruction.
   

2. Charlie
   

3. 
   

4. 
   

Modeling 85' Flat Car Couplers

1. Both flat and the tri- level autoracks. Remove the factory coupler "tongue" and screw mounted a complete draft box and #5 coupler by Kadee. The screw was left loose enough for the draft box and coupler to swing free, but not floppy loose. Just so it can swig when the car is held up edgewise. To return the coupler system to the center position for coupling use a piece of fine music wire, bent to lay flat against the bottom of the car on one then and the up and along side of the draft box on the other. This was anchored in place with 5 min epoxy with the draft box off. After the epoxy is set (10 min or so) reinstall the draft box. The spring will return the coupler and draft box to the center position when uncoupled, but will allow it to turn the tighter corners.
   

2. 
   

3. The tightest radius is about 20" for a full 180º and there is no problem uncoupling. Be sure the couplers are set at the exact same and proper height especially if you are running up/down grades. The problem with these cars is not that the coupler needs to swing but that they are too light. A-line make a special weight/couple box just for the 86' flatcar. This fixes the weight problem so you can run these cars empty if you want. Walther's make a better type of swing coupler for there long cars and this is available separately. If you have fairly broad curves (30") you can permanently mount the couplers in KD boxes. Use 30 series couplers as they swing further in there boxes. You may be able to mount the Sargeant couplers in this box. No need to have them swing at all. The vast majority of the cars you buy are to light out of the box. If you use the NMRA standards they are heavier than necessary and put extra load on the locos that could be used for more cars.
   

4. 
   

5. The swing is preferable because of the looks of the long shank coupler between the cars. It places the cars to far apart. The further the coupling point from the center line of the front truck the greater the chance of unwanted uncoupling. Kadee probably has the best coupler and draft box for the money. One brand in 4 or 5 styles cover everything.
   

6. 
   

7. Depending on the builder of the car there are several ways to conceal weight to get it up to where it stays on the rails. Changing over to metal wheel sets also helps a lot, not only in tracking but free rolling.
   

8. 
   

Flat Car Loads

1. There are an infinite number of possible car loads. Check photographs to view types of ways of securing the loads to the flat car.
   

Flat Car & Military Loads

1. One of the major differences in chocking and securing US Army Tracked Vehicles in the CONUS and Europe was the AAR requires chock block at each roadwheel, while the Bundesbahn only required chock blocks at the front and rear slope of the tracks.
   

2. Tom VanWormer
   

Flat Car & Box Car Lumber Loads from the 40’s & 50’s

1. The most voluminous traffic on the SP for flat cars on the Coast Line in 1948 would have been lumber for the building boom in Southern California and elsewhere in the West. Most rough lumber should travel on flat cars. (Finished lumber mostly traveled in box cars, so flat cars cannot represent all lumber traffic).
   

Reference

1.                         (*see MR 6/92, pg. 79)
   

1. Volume 20 of the Railway Prototype Cyclopedia has an extensive article with diagrams and photos of flat car loads and the methods for securing them. The diagrams and associated rules are selections from the AAR rules. The securing is not trivial.
   

2. Ernie Fisch
   

3. 
   

4. Checks ebay on a regular basis for AAR Manuals, "Loading of Open Top Cars". There are a series of these books, some dealing specifically with certain car types (Gondolas, flat cars,etc), while there are some that seem to cover the entire range of open top cars. The four books are from the early to mid 1940s and touch on a quite interesting range of loads. These loads include everything from farm equipment through locomotive and stationary boilers, various structural shapes, and even turntable bridges. If one is looking to model loads accurately, these books are well worth the effort to find.
   

5. Pat LaTorres
   

6. 
   

7. Army Manuals, are also in the NMRA Kalmbach library.
   

8. Glenn Joesten  
   

Modeling Lumber Loads

1. To build flat-car lumber loads as they looked 50 years ago:
   

2.                         (*see MR 2/57, pg. 32)
   

Owl Mt Models

1. Owl Mt Models is currently producing modular lumber loads for the EspeeModels SP F-70-6, F-70-7, and upcoming F-70-10 flatcars. This new load kit is a modular injection molded load kit for "wide decked" flatcars. The load consists of 32 "panels" of lumber which can be stacked together to form units and stacks of lumber in MANY different arrangements to suit your fancy. All parts are cast in a light cream-tan color which is an excellent starting point to weather and put some wood grain effects on. The top of the lumber is about as tall as a 1937 AAR box car. More info at their website at    OwlMtModels - Home Page
   

   Jason Hill

1. These loads can also can be fitted to: Walthers/Proto2000's 53' AAR Standard Flat Car, Bowser's F30A, Tichy's 53' GSC, and on Athearn's old 40' and 50' flatcars.
   

2.            
   

Early Flat Cars

none

1. SP #59975-59999
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 154
   

CS-8

1. SP #55016-55708, 56435-56585
   

2. SP #56600-56676, 57125-57624
   

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 164-165
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 154, 166-167
   

CS-22

1. SP #79500-79749
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 154
   

CS-30

1. SP #79500-79749
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 169
   

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 168
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 154, 168
   

CS-35-A

1. SP #78900-79499
   

2. Blt. 1903
   

3. The CS-35A was 40' long and had fabricated pressed steel underframes.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 175
   

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 174
   

2.                                                                           The SP Freight Cars Book
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 154, 171-173
   

1904-1914 Harriman Era Flat Cars

   Most SP flats post-1920s were 50'+.

F-50-1

1. SP #49750-49999
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 180
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 178-179
   

2. 
   

F-50-2

1. SP #49690-59749
   

2. SP #48400-48899
   

3. The F-50-2 had a pressed-steel side sill of "fishbelly" shape.
   

4. 
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 180
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 178-182
   

F-50-3

1. SP #40000-40299
   

2. SP #40300-40419
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 180
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 178, 187, 192
   

F-50-4

1. SP #40420-40635
   

2. SP #40886-40985
   

3. F-50-4 onward side sills were narrower and straight.
   

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 194
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 178, 193, 199
   

1916-1937 Post-Harriman Era Flat Cars

F-40-6

1. SP #41520-41946
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 209
   

F-40-7

1. Ex-H&TC
   

2. Ex-GH&SA
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 211
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206
   

F-40-8

    SP #599900

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 459
   

F-50-3

1. #40000 - 48899
   

Modeling F-50-3

Athearn 50’ Kitbash

1.                                                                             Western PM May/Jun. 1977 - SP F-50-3 Flatcar  - Athearn 50ft Flat kitbash.
   

F-50-4

    SP #540003

1. This car came with the distinctive Bettendorf underframe.
   

Reference

1.                                                                            Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 455, 459
   

Modeling F-50-4

Red Caboose

1. RC makes a 42 ft. "fishbelly side sills" flatcar. It's lettered as an F-50-4 for the SP. Not at all close to ANY flat car of the SP. Suitable only as a vague stand-in.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

3. 
   

4. The only prototype for the RC flatcar is the NYC and a couple of subsidiary roads.
   

5. Paul Lyons
   

F-50-5

1. SP #40986-41458
   

2. SP #41459-41483
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 218
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206-207, 213
   

F-50-6

1. SP #41947-42042
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206
   

Modeling F-50-6

1. 
   

F-50-7 Flat Cars

1. SP #42080-42329
   

2. SP #42330-42479
   

3. SP #42480-42579
   

1. These SP 53'-6" prototype car were built in 1948.
   

F-50-7 Bulkhead Flat Cars

1. The prototype for these bulkheads were shop built at Los Angeles in 1949.
   

2. 
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 211
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 210-212
   

Modeling F-50-7

1. There is no model available.
   

F-50-8

1. #            Ex-GH&SA
   

2. #3653    Ex-PE            Blt. by Ralston
   

1. Many cars in this group of PE flat cars were equipped with 42-inch or higher side boards.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 218
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 213-214
   

                                                                             http://hdl.huntington.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p16003coll2/id/12062/rec/27

F-50-9

1. SP #42600-42899
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 218
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 216-217
   

F-50-10

1. SP #39520-39819
   

2. SP #42941-43090
   

3. These car were over 40’ long.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 218
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 217
   

Modeling F-50-10

Espee Models (Red Caboose SPHTS) Flat

1. This is an accurate SP model of an SP prototype car. The models were built for the SPH&TS members.
   

2. Contact the Business Manager at the Society office.
   

3. Paul C. Koehler
   

F-50-11

1. SP #43091-43190
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 223
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 221-222
   

F-50-12

1. SP #43191-43690
   

2. These car were over 40’ long.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 218
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 220
   

F-50-13

1. SP #43791-44090
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 223
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 221, 224
   

F-50-14

1. SP #49480-49678
   

2. SP #79500-79699
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 223
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206, 222-225
   

2. 
   

3. An interesting wartime load. Photo was taken at the Higgens shipyard in Louisiana circa 1942 of PT201 on flat car SP #79571.
   

4. See the photo at:                                              http://northbaylines.blogspot.com/2012/09/wartime-flat-car-loads-update_14.html#
   

5. KWH
   

F-50-16  Piggyback Service

1. 
   

2. 40' 10" long.
   

3. There are 12 stake pockets on the side of the F-50-16.
   

Reference

1.                                                                         http://soc-nrhs.org/rrpark/SPflat.htm
   

2.                                                                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f050-16.htm
   

3.                                                                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/tno/tno024655_acf_builder.jpg
   

Modeling F-50-16

Athearn

1. There are the usual errors with the Athearn flats. The Athearn car about 10" too short. There are 12 stake pockets on the side of the F-50-16. The Athearn model has 11. The hand brake gear needs to go. Install a vertical-staff brake. The decking needs to be extended beyond the car side to (roughly) the width of the stake pockets. Remove the molded on decking and replace with scribed styrene notched for the new stake pockets.
   

2. Arved G. Grass
   

1. The slope of the fishbelly side sill is wrong; and the Athearn stake pockets are so oversize they are practically O scale. Shortening a Red Caboose F-70-7 is a far better idea, since almost all the problems just described aren't present.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Reference

                                                                            http://www.trainweb.org/chessie/80542c&o.JPG

Red Caboose Kitbash

1. The best choice for you is to cut down a Red Caboose F-70-7 kit. Mostly straightforward except for changing the rivet spacing along the lower diagonal edge of the side. Also make more accurate steps. The RC 42-ft. car is a good representation of a NYC prototype.
   

2. Ken Roth
   

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

1. Decals are another tough one. You have to piece together all of the dimensional data. Also, the decals that come with the Red Caboose kit are not quite right. The numbers are slightly too small and the "Southern Pacific" slightly too large. This shows up more on this shorter car than on the F-70-7.
   

2. Ken Roth
   

3. 
   

Post-1940 General Service Flat Cars

F-50-16

1. SP #140004-140499     33 cars
   

2. SP #541198-541690     307 cars
   

3. SP #541700-541798     70 cars
   

4. 
   

5. These all were 41’ in length.
   

6. 
   

7. SPMW #701115           (later to be SPMW #5593)
   

8. At least 234 F-50-16s that went to SPMW service. There were wheel transport cars and cars for Burros and ditchers on both tractor
   

9. treads and deck-mounted rails. A Ken Harstine photo of SPMW 701115, an ex-T&NO P-50-1/2 flats, shows a very large air tank underneath the car and what looks like a piece of machinery slung underneath, possibly an air compressor.
   

1. SP #510209-510223 for piggyback service
   

2. TNO #24650-24749   100 blt in 1949 by AC&F, modified 1953-54   
   

3. 
   

4. The cars referenced must be the former T&NO cars, given new numbers after the 1961 absorption of T&NO into SP. They did not last long in TOFC service after the merger, so this number series was short-lived. There were only 11 of them by 1962 and in 1964 all were gone (returned to general service and renumbered into the 541000 series).
   

5. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 454
   

2. 
   

3. SP #510209-510223 for piggyback service
   

4. The T&NO cars don’t show up in either a 1959 or 1960 ORER. There was a LOT of re-numbering going on around that time.
   

5. Lee A. Gautreaux
   

1. A great many T&NO cars weren't renumbered into the six-digit system until after the 1961 merger.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246, 260-262
   

2.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f050-16.htm
   

Modeling F-50-16

Athearn

1. The kitbash version are not right. Use only as a stand in.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Red Caboose

1. Kitbash this car.
   

F-70-1

1. SP #49679
   

2. SP #560000
   

Reference

1.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 206
   

2.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 256
   

3. 
   

F-70-2

1. SP #79700-79824
   

2. 
   

3. These were used between 1940 and 1948 for flat cars. Class F-70-2 were 53 ft. 6 in. long. These cars were built in 1941. Earlier cars in 70,000 numbers were 52 ft. long. F-70--2 were at 53'-6" deck length.
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246-247
   

2.                                  http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-02.htm
   

Drawing

                                                                             Trainline, No. 115, pg. 32

Modeling F-70-2

Athearn 50’ Kitbash

1. Use only as a stand in.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

3.                                                                             Western PM Dec. 1976 - SP F-70-2 Flatcar - Athearn 50ft Flat kitbash.
   

4. 
   

F-70-3

1. SP #79825-79954
   

2. SP #506223-506227   Bulkhead Flat Car
   

3. SP #506538-506552   Bulkhead Flat Car
   

4. 
   

Reference

1.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246, 250-251, 322
   

2.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-03.htm
   

3. 
   

F-70-4 Depressed Center Flat Car

Reference

                                                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-04.htm

Modeling F-70-4

Exact Rail Depressed Center Flat Car

1. They have lettered it like F-70-4 but given numbers just above the actual range of SP 1956 renumbering of that class, which is a strong indication that it's a foobie. AFAIK it's bogus.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

F-70-5

1. SP #79955-80254
   

2. SP #506529-506537   Bulkhead Flat Car
   

3. 
   

4. These were 53 ft. 6 in. long and were used between 1940 and 1948 for flat cars. These cars were built in 1942.
   

5. Tony Thompson 
   

Reference

1.                                                                         Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246, 252, 322                                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-05.htm
   

Drawing

                                                                             Trainline, No. 115, pg. 32

Modeling F-70-5

Red Caboose

1. Use as a stand in.
   

F-70- 6 Bulkhead Flat Cars

1. SP #80255-80654
   

2. SP #506000-506029   Bulkhead Flat Car
   

3. SP #506030-506137   Bulkhead Flat Car
   

4. SP #506138-506222   Bulkhead Flat Car
   

5. 
   

6. F-70-61948AC&F#80255-80654SP         400
   

7. F-70-61948AC&F#24550-24649T&NO100
   

8. 
   

9. In September 1949, SP began to install these bulkheads on its own flat cars of Class F-70-6. They were converted specifically to carry plasterboard, which is why the bulkheads are not very tall. They were distinctive because of the fairly short bulkhead height (10-11’ above the rail). Loading to the top of these bulkheads would be a 70-ton load of plasterboard. There were 10 or 12 cars converted per month until the spring of 1950. Some additional cars were converted in subsequent years, likely as plasterboard service needs dictated.
   

10. Tony Thompson
    

11. 
    

12. New cars were received around 1951, 1952. They were distinctive because of the fairly short bulkhead height (10-11’ above the rail). They were 53’ 6” long and classified as F-70-6.
    

13. 
    

14. Some were leased to the T&NO for TOFC service in the 1950's even though the T&NO did not roster any as built. Then, it seems that a group of 500 cars were re-numbered as SP 570000-570499 between 1970 and 1973. Not sure if these were all F-70-7's, however.  Some also lasted into the 1980's and possibly beyond as SPMW cars doing everything from hauling burro cranes to serving in welded rail train service. Also, the classes F-70-6, -5 and -2 were very similar all at 53'-6" deck length.
    

1. The F-70-7 and the F-70-6 are the same car, just different years and production orders. Class F-70-6 were not as numerous as the F-70-7s.  
   

2. 
   

3. There were at least three versions of home-built bulkheads, and perhaps four, as can be seen in my Volume 3 on flat cars. Drawings what SP called "shop sketches," don’t exist anywhere. They definitely are not at CSRM.
   

4. Tony Thompson 
   

1. SP F-70-6 bulkhead flat, circa 1955 had a (6'-5" bulkhead).
   

Paint

1. The outside of the bulkhead was painted the same color as the rest of the car.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 268
   

2. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 454
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246, 253, 322
   

2. 
   

3. The January 2005 issue of Railmodel Journal (RMJ) contains a four page article by Tony Thompson on Southern Pacific F-70-6 and F-70-7 flatcars. Several really nice photos are included, many with loads that will provide some good modeling ideas. One photo includes two 24-foot trailers painted in Daylight-inspired colors for TOFC service.
   

4.                     (*see T72/7)
   

Modeling F-70-6 cars

Espee Models (SPHTS) Flat

1. This is an accurate SP model of an SP prototype car built in 1948?
   

2. The SPH&TS  purchased a very limited number of UNDECORATED RC SP F-70-6/7 KITS with F-70-7 decals. If you bought a flatcar kit and a bulkhead kit they threw in a F-70-6 decal set. They have Accurail trucks because it is the closest thing that matches the F-70-6 prototype. It is a 50 T truck, but the differences between a 50 T and 70 T HO truck is pretty subtle. They have Intermountain wheels and come with Kadee (#5) couplers. They need some added weight.
   

3. Paul Lyons
   

1. The parts are clean, cast into the sprues in the order in which they are to be assembled, and the detail is excellent. The plastic is good quality, and the grab irons are sharp.
   

Paint

1. They are a nice dark brown which will be a good contrast to the "Mineral Red" F-70-7's of the original Red Caboose models.
   

Paint bulkheads

1. The repainting I did is only of the deck and internal wood surfaces of the bulkheads. The model comes with those areas in body color, but in fact SP did not paint those parts of the car (they did paint the outer surface of the entire bulkhead). All this wood was pressure-treated but not with creosote, thus SP flat car decks were essentially wood color in appearance. Modelers need to darken  these wood surfaces with a grayish brown color, to a degree appropriate for the number of years the car would have been in service by the time they are modeling. The model is also a rather brown color, a factory error, but weathering it with a Burnt Sienna wash helps make it a bit more red. Burnt Sienna is a “terra cotta” color and as a wash atop the brown, does move the color in the right direction while also softening the stark white of new lettering.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

3. 
   

Red Caboose

1. The Red Caboose cars (with wood decks) apply the bulkhead deck instead of the wood deck. The Red Caboose wheel sets operate poorly. Replacing them with Intermountain wheel sets makes a smoothly operating car out of these fine models.
   

2. Pete Hall
   

1. The trucks are accurate renditions of their prototypes. So don't just toss out the whole RC truck -- except for the rotating bearing
   

2. cap trucks on the R-70-15's, those go into a scrap gondola load.
   

3. Tim O'Connor
   

Paint

1. Use Polly Scale Box Car Red, and it seems a very close match - not perfect, because the Red Caboose color as seen on the underside of the car is a little more of a "hearty red", but with weathering, the PS color is very close indeed.
   

2. Pete Hall
   

3. 
   

4. 
   

F-70- 7   (Flat, Anode, Bulkhead, Coil and Auto Parts Cars)  [Piggyback Service]

1. SP #140500-142549
   

1. These cars were built between October, 1949 and April, 1950 by American Car & Foundry. They featured a 53'-6" loading platform and were riveted in construction. The F-70-7 and the F-70-6 are the same car, just different years and production orders. Verification from the original class of the first 250 cars (F-70-6 and -3) from SP documents.
   

2. 
   

3. Over the years, they seemed to wind up in many different number series'. The series SP 560824- 562854 was reserved for them as part of the large scale SP freight car re-numbering program started in the mid 1950's. Some also got placed into the SP 506xxx series with bulkheads for wallboard.
   

F-70- 7   (Piggyback Service)

1. The very first SP TOFC's were the F-70-7's. They were designed for the 22' trailers.
   

1. Although SP initiated piggyback service in 1953 with converted F-70-7 cars, they soon decided the all-welded F-70-10 was better for that job. By mid-1955, all the -7 cars had gone back into general service, and the converted TOFC fleet was 100% -10 cars. And in mid-1957, of course, the Clejan cars began to be delivered, which were intended to replace, and soon did replace, the converted 53' 6" cars.
   

2. Tony Thompson 
   

F-70- 7   (Bulkhead)

1. The SP #506299 represents the 1956 version of Southern Pacific’s unique 53’ 6” F-70-7 bulkhead flat car with the 6’ 5” tall bulkhead. SP modified the prototype in Los Angeles from 1948-built AC&F riveted F-70-7 flat cars. SP used these cars primarily for wallboard, or “plasterboard,” service as well as lumber and equipment duty.
   

1. The F-70-7 bulkhead flat, circa 1961 had an (8'-5"bulkhead). They were used in a variety of service around the Golden Empire. Their assignment was most common in plaster board, lumber, and light equipment transfer duty.
   

1. SP #506478 was the 1962 version of Southern Pacific’s F-70-7 bulkhead flat car, measuring 53’ 6” long with an 8’ 6” tall bulkhead. SP also used these cars mainly for wallboard, or “plasterboard,” service, hauling lumber or equipment. These cars were retired by the mid 1980s.
   

Details

Trucks

1. Per Table 12-1 found on page 246 of "Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Automobile Cars and Flat Cars", the trucks delivered on Espee's F-70-7 class flat cars were AC&F Barber S-2-A0. Per the table's footnote, the first 1000 cars had Scullin trucks, the next 500 came with Buckeye trucks, and the last were Symington, all built to the Barber S-2-A0 design.
   

Paint

1. F-70-7 TOFC flats were all box car red.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 268
   

2. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 454
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg 246, 254-259, 322
   

2. Look at riveted F-70-7 141318 on pg. 266 and compare it to welded F-70-10 142629 on pg. 269 (Freight Cars, Vol 3).
   

3. 
   

4.                         (*see T72/7)
   

5.                         (RMJ 1/05)
   

6.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp506269_bob_dengler.jpg
   

7.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp506420.jpg
   

8.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp506439_bob_dengler.jpg
   

9.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp570101a_bob_dengler.jpg
   

10.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp570476_mike_palmieri.jpg
    

11.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/spmw5446_bob_dengler.jpg
    

12. 
    

13. (*see the Excel spreadsheet at the following):        http://makeashorterlink.com/?L2BF12339
    

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 462-463
   

Modeling F-70-7

SPHTS Espee Models (Red Caboose) Flat

1. This was an accurate SP model of an SP prototype car built in 1948.
   

2. The models were built for SPH&TS members.  www.espeemodels.com
   

3. 
   

4. The plastic extrusions associated with this effort will help assemble these parts into an undecorated "Bulkhead Kit". The kit makes two complete bulkheads for ONE CAR. This simple kit includes the plastic extrusions, pre-bent grab irons and an instruction sheet. They are designed to fit any Red Caboose SP F-70-6/7 flatcar model. If you already own one, they will "drop on" after being painted. There was no lettering on the original bulkheads so no decals are involved. These kit are $15 each, plus S&H.
   

SPH&TS Espee Models  (1956 version)

1. Espee Models has released both the latest ready-to-run HO scale bulkhead flatcars which represent the second and third version of American Car & Foundry F-70-7 Bulkhead Flatcars. SP 506299 represents the 1956 version. The cars come with Accurail's bogus "Bettendorf" trucks which do not resemble the Barber 70-ton trucks that Red Caboose tooled for the flat, and which are correct for SP.
   

SPH&TS Espee Models  (1962 version)

1. SP #506478 represents the 1962 version of Southern Pacific’s F-70-7 bulk- head flat car, measuring 53’ 6” long with an 8’ 6” tall bulkhead.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. They are appropriately lettered with twelve accurate road numbers for each version. (SP #506299, SP #506478, etc..)
   

2. 
   

Red Caboose

1. The Red Caboose HO version of the real early TOFC flat based on their F-70-7 53' 6" car are accurate.
   

1. The F-70-7's were certainly used as the basis for some of these cars. An accurate model, ready-to-run and kit versions of the F-70-7. Whistle Stop Trains of Portland, Oregon, has arranged to sell painted, lettered, RTR cars with the wood decks WITHOUT car numbers. This is to enable modelers who want more than just 12 numbers to number their own cars. Call Whistle Stop at (888) 700 4449. These kits are very, very accurate. Carefully done from SP blueprints by skilled tool guys. Lettering is also very good.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

3. 
   

4. Another run of the Red Caboose HO scale Southern Pacific F-70-7 flat cars has six different numbers, including the 1956 renumbering, also a 1970s era lettering scheme.    http://www.imrcmodels.com/flyer291.htm
   

5. Rob Sarberenyi
   

6. 
   

7. There was a kit to modify existing Red Caboose flat cars, from the SPH&TS for $15.00 each.
   

8. Contact the Business Manager at the Society office.
   

9. Paul C. Koehler
   

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

1. There are no such decal sheet expressly made for the F 70-7.
   

Microscale

1. You can use Microscale sheets (SP Freight Cars 87-3) with full Southern Pacific in 9" letters. This matches the letter size on the decal sheet in the Red Caboose kit. You will have to cut the numbers on your own. If that sheet is not available, try 87-270.
   

2. Steve Phillips
   

F-70-8 Bulkhead Flat Cars

1. New cars were received around 1951, 1952. They were distinctive because of the fairly short bulkhead height (10-11’ above the rail). They were 54’ long and classified as F-70-8. Numbered in 1956 around #506100.
   

2. 
   

F-70-10

1. SP #142550-143549        Converted #510000-510472
   

2.                                          Standard   #562855-563854
   

3. 
   

1. These were indeed the piggyback cars of the late 1950s. F-70-7 cars went back to general service as soon as the F-70-10 welded cars came along. By mid-1955, the piggyback fleet was all F-70-10. The car number for a STANDARD F-70-10 is series 562855-563854. SP had no 75-ft. flats, at least not before 1965.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

1. The converted F-70-10's were series 510000-510472, and lasted at least until 1963. F-70-10 flat cars were in TOFC service) prior to the arrival of Clejan cars and acquisition of 85- and 89-foot specialty flats. (All were reverted from TOFC service before 1965.)
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

1. F-70-10 TOFC used 25' trailers painted in Daylight colors.
   

1. Later classes F-70-10 and -12 were similar also, but were welded in construction, thus no rivets. An example would be
   

2. SP #570270. This particular car started life as an F-70-10, but it seems that SP renumbered this group in random order not taking into account the original class.
   

Paint

Paint Color for TOFC Converted F-70-10 Flat Cars

1. SP Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment by Thompson published by Morning Sun, appears to have a picture of the flat car on page 78 which looks black in color. The color of this flat car was while it was TOFC service was boxcar red. The other (F-70-7) cars were also BCR. The original transparencies for page 78 were quite seriously color-shifted. Whether or not one is happy with Morning Sun making somewhat arbitrary decisions about shifting them "back," the real point is don’t trust those images for specific color.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246, 269-273
   

2.                                                                           http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=73248
   

3.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/bynumber/flat/sp570000-570499.htm
   

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 462-463
   

Modeling F-70-10

1.     Modeling Flat Cars  Smaus   (*see RMC 2/95, pg. 92)
   

2.     How to loads for tractors.
   

Athearn

1.                                          

   

   
   

2. 
   

3. Concerning the Athearn flat cars; neither the trailers nor the flatcar are accurate representations of anything the SP ever owned. The Athearn number is for a Standard F-70-10 welded flat car that also doesn't look much like the prototype. 
   

SPH&TS

1. The SPH&TS has the F-70-10 TOFC Southern Pacific flat cars. These were indeed the piggyback cars of the late 1950s. This is a former Red Caboose model, the dies for which are now owned by SPH&TS. They are quite accurate to the SP car that it represents. Kits for the 2nd 1956 and 3rd 1962 piggyback flatcars are available through the business office or online.
   

2.                                                                        http://www.sphtsstore.org/servlet/the-348/Model-Department--dsh--Bulkhead/Detail
   

3. Future runs of F-70-10 series models will feature Tahoe Model Works ASF A-3 trucks.
   

4. Scott Inman
   

5. 
   

F-70-12

1. SP #563900-564299
   

2. SP #564300-564299
   

3. SP #564650-565049
   

1. Classes F-70-10 and -12 were similar also, but were welded in construction, thus no rivets. Class F-70-12 cars which received bulkheads sometime in 1963, clearly showing tie-downs. Photos of non-bulkhead F-70-12s seem to show the same tie-down spaces.
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246, 274-275
   

Modeling F-70-12

1. 
   

F-70-16 Flat Cars

1. SP #541193-541690
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 256, 260
   

2. 
   

F-70-20 Flat Cars   (Sky Box cars)

1. SP #598301-598310
   

2. SP #598311-598350
   

    Hydra-Cushion underframe.

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 346-348
   

LBF SP Skybox Car

1. Four classes used under the SkyBox containers is F-70-20 and -41 from the SP and F-70-49 from the SSW. There were also some 89' flats used. The flats used were 60'-0' cars with drop side sills.
   

2. 
   

3. Some cars appear to have a box shorter than the deck. The square-top Lockheed logo box was a real surprise.
   

4.     See the following:                                  http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/bytype/flat/skybox.htm
   

5. 
   

6. Since the aircraft parts cars are beyond his era of coverage, there is no mention of what class flatcars were used in this service.
   

7. 
   

8. Photos in service are few and far between. In fact, the LBF picture was the first and only seen.    
   

9.     See:               www.WesternPrototypeModelers.org
   

Paint

1. SP was very proud of their service in the very beginning, painting the cars and hoods bright red with large SP SkyBox lettering, but later settled on the mundane box car red with very minimal lettering.
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246
   

Modeling SP Skybox Car

Athearn

1. Even a stretched Athearn 50' would be better.
   

Red Caboose Kitbash

1. The Red Caboose HO scale SP F-70-7 is a riveted flatcar, wrong type for use under the SP Sky Box. The flat is no where near prototypical, but surely the hood can be put on something closer to prototypical. But sanding the rivets off of an RC F-70-7 makes a better version of a welded car. You would also need to add the bottom flange on the side sills. But certainly the overall dimensions otherwise would not be bad.
   

2. Tony Thompson 
   

3. 
   

4. Look particularly at riveted F-70-7 141318 on pg. 266 and compare it to welded F-70-10 142629 on pg. 269 (Freight Cars, Vol 3.?). Then compare these with the Skybox car on pg. 86 of the new Morning Sun color guide. Add some of those stabilizer ribs and it  looks like the same car to me, or at least close enough..
   

5. Using the Red Caboose flat would require lengthening. 
   

Walthers GSC

1. This flatcar may be a better starting point, and it's a welded car. It represented a cast steel underframe, a GSC flat. It probably would be a lot easier to scratchbuild the welded cars from strip styrene. Even a stretched Athearn 50' would be better. Using the  Walthers GSC flat would require lengthening. 
   

2. 
   

3. The whole GSC flat car is a steel casting. The only thing added was the wood decking, brakes and couplers. And the distinctive shape of the GSC fishbelly pretty much rules it out for modeling anything but a GSC flat. Probably would be a lot easier to scratchbuild the welded cars from strip styrene.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. Have an SP Snowball logo painted hood, because the hood otherwise looks OK. Microscale and no one else turn out decals for it.
   

2. 
   

F-70-25 Flat Cars

1. SP #514001-514015
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 348
   

2. 
   

F-70-26 Flat Cars

1. SP #508000-508399
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 348
   

2. 
   

F-70-30  PFF Flat Cars

1. SP #513650-513699
   

2. There is a photo of a PFF flat w/ 2 PFE trailers on SP Freight Car Specification Sheet #26 at the following:                        http://espee.railfan.net/sp_fcss/sp_fcss-26.html
   

3. 
   

4. It was a PFF 850xxx car and the class is visible. In a 4/ 82 ORER, there are 89'-4" flats for pipe service numbered SP 105300-105600 and 106700-105800. A total of 280 cars. They must have been purchased second hand. They did not go to SP. 513650-513699, as 48 are listed. Of the total, 31 are set up for TOFC and 17 for "trusses."
   

5. 
   

6. Tony is correct in that the PFF 830000-830049 cars went to SP 513650- 513699. (The cars in 515500-515549 were completely separate and not an issue here.) 
   

Reference

1. There is a photo of a PFF flat w/ 2 PFE trailers on SP Freight Car Specification Sheet #26.
   

1. For a view of a PFF flat (an F-70-30) see the following link to SP Freight Car Spec sheet #26:
   

2.                                   http://espee.railfan.net/sp_fcss/sp_fcss-26.html
   

3. 
   

4. 
   

F-70-41

1. Four classes used under the SkyBox containers is F-70-20 and -41 from the SP and F-70-49 from the SSW. There were also some 89' flats used. The flats used were 60'-0' cars with drop side sills.
   

2. 
   

F-70-43 Flat Cars

1. #509294        SPMOW
   

2. #509315
   

3. 
   

4. These cars were delivered from Gunderson Brothers Engineering Co. (GBEC) in 1966 with end bulkheads.
   

5. The bulkheads on SP 509315 were removed at some point.
   

6. Rob Sarberenyi
   

Reference

                                                                             http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=73391

                                                                             http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-43.htm

                                                                             http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp509294_rob_sarberenyi.jpg

                                                                             http://www.railcarphotos.com/Search.php?SearchRRClass=F-70-43&Search=Search

F-70-47 Auto Cars

    #515189

1. ESPEE had cars that had corrugated metal panels applied. AUTO PACK tri-level racks with screen/mesh sides that were retro-fitted in the ‘60s. The "Auto Pack" branding was retired prior to fully enclosing the auto rack.
   

Reference

1.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-28.htm
   

2.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-47.htm
   

3.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-56.htm
   

4.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-57.htm
   

5. Lee A. Gautreaux
   

Modeling F-70-47 Auto Cars

Intermountain

1. The IM car is a Bi-level. Here are photos of the SP from Intermountain:
   

2.                                                                           http://www.intermountain-railway.com/ho/html/45257.htm
   

F-70-50   SP 60' bulkhead flat cars

1. SP #509325-509574
   

2. 
   

3. Class F70-50 built by Gunderson Brothers Engineering Corporation of Portland (GBEC P) in 1968. All of the data on these cars indicate these are 70 ton cars and thus should have 33" wheels. Some other ORER specs for the 509325-509574 series are:
   

4. 
   

5.     inside (deck) length:  57' (as is the model)
   

6.     overall length:                66' 5"
   

7.     weight capacity: 136,000 lbs., or only 68 tons (significant difference from the info sheet of 100 tons.
   

Modeling F-70-50

Bruce's Train Shop Flatcar Kit Prototype   (now Mainline Models)

1. The resin kits are SP 60' bulkhead flat cars. These resin models seem to match. The kit instructions advise using 36" wheels. All of the data on these cars indicate these are 70 ton cars and thus should have 33" wheels. 33" wheels would be correct for these cars. Consider adding a stiffener to the underframe, as the finished model on display at Bruce's was sagging.
   

F-70-55 Flat cars

1. SP #
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 351
   

F-70-58

References

1. 1974 Car & Loco Cyc
   

2. Some photos and history on a web page relating to the Vert-a-Pac and Stac-Pac cars. 
   

3.     See the following:                                   http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-58a.htm
   

4. 
   

F-70-59 SP 60' bulkhead flat cars

1. SP #509575-509724, class F70-59 built by American Car and Foundry in St. Louis (ACF STL) in 1971. All of the data on these cars indicate these are 70 ton cars and thus should have 33" wheels.
   

2. 
   

3.    weight capacity: The ACF cars were only rated at 145,000 lbs. 
   

4. 
   

F-70-61 Bulkhead Flat Cars

1. According to Southern Pacific Freight Cars Today, SP #508571 is a part of series 508400-508899, class F-70-61, load limit 146000 lbs., AAR class FMS, built 1971-1972 by ACF in St. Louis, 57 ft. inside length, Plate C, a bulkhead flatcar.
   

2. 
   

3. These cars would be classed FB or FBS. Photos of these cars show they are indeed bulkhead flat cars.
   

4. 
   

5. 
   

F-70-62

References

1. 1974 Car & Loco Cyc
   

2. Some info on the Stac-Pac cars at the following:
   

3.                                             http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-62a.htm
   

4. 
   

F-70-63

References

1. 1974 Car & Loco Cyc
   

2. Some photos and history on a web page relating to the Vert-a-Pac and Stac-Pac cars. 
   

3. 
   

F-70-65

References

1. 1974 Car & Loco Cyc
   

2. Some info on the Stac-Pac cars at the following:
   

3.                                              http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-65a.htm
   

4. 
   

F-70-72

References

1. 1974 Car & Loco Cyc
   

2. Some info on the Stac-Pac cars at the following:
   

3.                                     http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-72.htm
   

4. 
   

F-70-74

1. SP class F-70-74 were Bethlehem 89' flush deck flat cars equipped for TOFC loading:
   

References

1. See                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-74.htm
   

2. 
   

F-70-81 Double Stack   Single Unit Container Cars

1. SP #513300
   

1. SP's first stack car (and only single-unit, stand-alone car) was an ACF product Classed F-70-81, it was a one-of-a-kind.
   

1. The doublestack concept came in the late 1970's. SP prototype dbl stack car - SP 513300, the F-70-81 double stack prototype from 1977. Containers were used, but not as commonly as today and double stacks were not developed by then. 
   

Reference

1. This car is now at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. There is a good picture of the car undergoing loading tests at West Oakland on page 69 of Tony Thompson's "Southern Pacific Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment"
   

2. In Tony Thompson's SP Color Guide V.1 there are publicity photos of SP #513300, SP's 1977 ACF-built prototype F-70-81 single unit double stack car.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-81.htm
   

3. It shows XTRA Fruehauf sheet & post containers lettered SOUTHERN PACIFIC, as do the ACF builder's photos:
   

4.                                                                               http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp513301b_acf_builder.jpg
   

1. Lee Gautreaux's site has a page on it here:              http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-81.htm
   

Modeling F-70-81

1. Build the Southern Pacific Double-Stack Model Railroader, October 1983 pg. 83.
   

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

Microscale

1. Microscale 87-687 is the set with SP, SSW and D&RGW enclosed auto racks. Microscale has apparently discontinued this set.
   

2. 
   

F-70-86   85' Flats

1. SP #513612 was a G-89, equipped for trailers or containers. SP #520384 also was an 89 foot car, equipped only for trailers according to the 1972 ORER, but shown with containers in the Color Guide! A 2003 photo of SP 520670 shows it painted black. It appears to have been equipped for containers, but was not on the roster until after 1972.
   

2. 
   

3. SP #520649 (blt 10/79) & 520650 in late 2002 was in all black. There was no class designation on either car. It is assumed that UP had repainted the cars.
   

4. They are both class F-70-86:                http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-86.htm
   

Paint

1. Southern Pacific Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment has some photos of 85 and 89 foot cars in black. Black was used for TOFC/COFC cars from the late '50s to the mid to late '60s. Many cars lasted a long time in their factory paint. Black cars were very rare by this time.
   

2. 
   

3. There are black Clejan flats.
   

4. 
   

5. That does exclude the conversion cars (F-70-7 and -10) which were 53'6". The stretched Clejans were kept in black, for some reason. None of the conversion cars were ever black AFAIK.
   

6. Tony Thompson
   

Modeling F-70-86   85’ Flat Cars

Athearn

1. Old blue box Athearn flat cars some say 85' and some say 86' but they appear to be the same length. There appears to be two different types of cars (one trailer train and one general purpose?). There are no classes of SP/PFE/SSW prototype cars that match these models. The Athearn "all purpose" flat has no prototype; it is a shortened version of that design. The other flat is an accurate model of a Pullman F85B 85' car, built from 1960 to 1963.
   

2. 
   

3. Here is a list of owners of the F85B and when cars were added to their rosters:
   

4. 
   

5. 1960: NATX 7 (North American Car)      SOO 15TTX 1397
   

6. 1961: NATX 322 (North American Car)   TLCX 11TTX 536
   

7. 1962: RI 50                   TTX 598
   

8. 1963: ACL 4 D&RGW 25 RI 50      SOO 10TTX 325
   

9. 1964:                             TTX 15
   

Walther’s

1. Walthers has announced a Bethlehem 89 foot flush deck (TOFC only) flat car. This will be only the third accurate HO scale "long flat", the others being the 75 foot F39 from Walthers, and the Athearn F85B. The others are defective in some respect or another. (Almost 12" too wide for the Accurail flats and auto racks, and the Walthers channel side TOFC flats.) But the Bethlehem flat is only good for the mid 1970's forward and SP didn't own any flush deck versions. (SP's had container pedestals.)
   

2. 
   

3. The lack of accurate models of TOFC flats is a real head scratcher.
   

4. 
   

F-70-92G  SP Flat Car

1. Flat Cars numbered in the 70000 series had several classes.
   

2. Tony Thompson 
   

3. 
   

4. 700000 series was used too in the late 1960s. They appear to have been bought second hand, possibly from the Rock Island. They were assigned classes F-70-92G and -93G. 
   

5. Reference
   

6.     See the following pages for photos and info:
   

7.                                              http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-92g.htm
   

8.                                         
   

F-70-93G  SP Flat Car

    SP #70000

1. Reference
   

2.                                                                              http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f070-93g.htm
   

F-100-1 Flat Cars

1. SP #597000-597009
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 246
   

2. PM Feb./Mar 1982- SP F-100-1 Flatcar
   

3. 
   

4. 
   

F-100-2 Anode Flat Cars

1. SP #590000-590099
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 322, 348
   

2. 
   

F-100-6 Evans Coil Cars

1. SP #595350-595364
   

2. 
   

3. SP had 15 Evans coil cars of this type:  F-100-6 Evans coil steel gondola series were built in 1971.  
   

4. There were two classes of purpose built coil steel cars on the SP, the small (only 15 cars) F-100-6 class built with covers, the other F-100-7.
   

Reference

1.                                 (*see Mainline Modeler Oct 1996 pp. 42-48)
   

2.                                                                             http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f100-06.htm
   

Modeling F-100-6

Red Caboose

1. The RTR Evans Coil Cars in SP livery in HO is a dead-on match for the SP cars, at least with respect to body style. 
   

2. 
   

F-100-7

1. SP #595500-595624
   

2. The more numerous Thrall F-100-7 cars were hoodless cars. 
   

3. There were two classes of purpose built coil steel cars on the SP, the F-100-6 class built with covers, and the larger (125 cars) F-100-7 class built without covers:
   

4. Reference
   

5.    See the following:                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f100-07.htm
   

6. 
   

F-100-16 Copper Anode Car

   The 599230 is an F-100-16. They were built by Greenville.

1. The car is a 50 foot flat/gon copper anode flat. The SP had several interesting series' of flats (and boxes) to assigned carry this unusual commodity. The copper anode slabs are held in cradles at the ends of the cars as opposed to coils. See the following page:
   

2.                                            http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/bytype/flat/copper_anode.htm
   

3. 
   

4. Anodes were approx. 3'x3' with lifting ears at the top. They were about 1 3/4" thick with a weight of approximately 800 lbs. Therefore, a 70T flat would carry two rows of anodes at each end of the car, and, if loaded to capacity this would mean about 180 anodes total.                                                     (*see Trainline #56 p. 28.)
   

5. 
   

6. Anodes were also carried in box cars. For instance, SP converted a number of B-50-28 cars in 1963-64 for this service. Locally known as Phelps Dodge cars they carried a 'C' in a circle on the door.
   

   These cars were modified in late 1993 and early 1994.

F-125-1  Heavy Duty Flat Car

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 356
   

2. 
   

F-125-2  Heavy Duty Flat Car

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 356
   

2. 
   

F-125-3  Heavy Duty Flat Car

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 354
   

2.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 356
   

3.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 461
   

4. RMC Mar. 1977 - SP F-125-3 Depressed Center Flat Car - Plans - #500502 - 500521.
   

5. 
   

6. 
   

F-140-1

1. SP #599056-599069
   

2. 
   

3. The F-140-1's were created in the late '60s by coupling pairs of F-70-7's together semipermanently. Originally they were in farm implement service, in the 60s they were in International Harvester truck cab rack service.
   

4. 
   

F-140-2

1. The F-140-2 was a one car class, #599070. Articulated flats for handling containers (of some sort). Probably the prototype for the F-140-3.
   

2. 
   

F-140-3

1. SP #599071-599095
   

2. The F-140-3's were built as two car sets, the color guide to PMT trucks, a.k.a. Southern Pacific Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment Vol. 1,page 39 has a builder's photo of a pair, #599076. The containers are not pictured but the mounts look small even for 20' intermodal containers. SP drawbar-equipped flats and SP #11
   

3. 
   

4. SP #599078 is an F-140-3 blt by ACF in 1968. While built to handle containers. Three photos of SP #599078, one of the drawbar-coupled flats that were the test bed for the SP's articulated double stack cars.       http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f140-01.htm
   

5. 
   

F-195-1  40ft container

1. In Tony Thompson's SP Color Guide V.1 there are photos of SP #513301, the 1979 F-195-1 3-unit prototype.
   

2.                                                                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/fc195-01.htm
   

3.                                                                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp513301d_acf_builder.jpg
   

4. 
   

5. It shows XTRA Fruehauf sheet & post containers lettered SOUTHERN PACIFIC, as do the ACF builder's photos:
   

6.                                                                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp513301b_acf_builder.jpg
   

7.                                                                         http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/photos/sp/sp513301c_acf_builder.jpg
   

8. 
   

F-200-1  Heavy Duty Flat Car

    #44091 to 44094

    #500603 is a post 1956 car number

1. These were a 4 truck car. These HD 8-axle flat cars were built in 1941 by Mt. Vernon Car Co. They featured double four-wheel trucks on span bolsters. The frame was cast steel, and the deck was flat, i.e without a well hole or depressed section.
   

2. Richard Brennan
   

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 362
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 356
   

2.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/f200-01.htm
   

Modeling F-200-1

Athearn

1. Use this model as a stand in. The car deck is too thick, so saw it off.
   

2. Add 4 trucks and two brake poles, one at each end.
   

3. Tony Thompson 
   

4. Southwestern PM - SP F-200-1 #44091 - 44094 - Athearn 4 truck kitbash.
   

Prototype Modeler

1. (same folks as the magazine) 'kitbash-in-a-box" for an SP F-200-1 8-axle flat. From the late-1970s. The bits in the box include:
   

2. - Donor frame and deck
   

3. - Span Bolsters and 4 trucks
   

4. and a 3.5 by 5 B&W Builder's Photo Print of SP 44093
   

1. The kit's deck and frame are massively oversized compared to the prototype.
   

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

Champ

1. 2 sets Champ Decals: HN-32 and HD-4
   

2. 
   

F-200-2  Heavy Duty Flat Car

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 362
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 356
   

2. 
   

F-270-1  Stack Car

1. #513300
   

2. It was the one-only single car.
   

Drawing

                                                                             Model Railroader, Oct. 1983

Reference

1.                                                                           http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars/byclass/flat/fc270-01.htm
   

Modeling F-270-1

Clyde King Scratchbuilt

1. Clyde King scratchbuilt his own set using the plans published in the October 1983 issue of Model Railroader
   

2. magazine. His is numbered incorrectly.
   

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

Whistle Stop

1. The Whistle Stop is long sold out of the special run decals they did.
   

2. 
   

3. 
   

4. 
   

F-350-1

1. The #599100 was a single car class, F-350-1. It is listed as a 5 unit Articulated car to handle containers, again, what kind a containers nobody knows.
   

2. 
   

1.