Greetings All,
Welcome to Freight Car Spotlight # 3 - 2023!!
In late 2022 I added three Atlas 68' bulkhead flatcars to my fleet for added visual interest during railfanning and model train operations. In early 2023 I added a pair of Walthers 60' bulkhead flatcars built by Pullman Standard. I've always liked the way these cars looked and the cars acted as another catalyst to build better open car loads. Lets take a look at the prototype and the models.
Prototype Information
What exactly is a bulkhead flatcar and what is it good for?
As the name implies and the above photo shows the bulkhead flatcar is used to keep loads from shifting forward and backward during times when slack is run in and out during travel to its destination. This protects the load and the cars coupled to it.
Here is a good photo of a slightly different Indiana Harbor Belt bulkhead flatcar with a wood deck and slats coupled to a tank car. The IHB carries many different loads like pipe and I-beams that could telescope and pierce the tank car if the bulkhead were not in place.
"IHB 4282 Bulkhead flatcar" by Coxsj is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.
The three new Atlas bulkhead flatcars have reporting marks MDW 1123, MDW 1174 and MDW 1192. The MDW belongs to the Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway.
Minnesota, Dakota and Western Railway
The MDW is a four mile short-line between International Falls and Rainier, Minnesota as well as an inactive line to Fort Francis, Ontario. The MDW formerly served the Boise Cascade Pulp & Paper Mill in International Falls. The Pulp and Paper assets were sold to an investment firm in 2008 and then to Packaging Corporation of America in 2013. The MDW interchanges with the Canadian National at Rainier, MN and also offers freight car storage to other RRs.
Model Information
The models are from the Atlas Trainman line and feature free rolling metal wheels, a heavily weighted frame and Accumate knuckler couplers. Atlas provided scant prototypical information on these cars and online searches direct me to 62' bulkhead flatcars.
The models have the Boise Cascade emblem on their sides at the bulkhead. In the below photo the models have received Kadee #5 couplers and have their trucks and wheel faces painted flat black.
An MDW bulkhead flatcar of lumber sits in North Side Yard awaiting movement to Neal's Lumber and Hardware.
The MDW bulkheads had cameo appearances in PCCM 98. The MDW car below is heading back to Terminal Yard in PC Train BT-28
During another op session the three MDW bulkhead flats arrived in Terminal Yard with loads of wrapped lumber.
Pullman Standard Prototype Information
The 60' flatcars built by Pullman Standard in 1964 had bulkheads installed in 1968 to reduce damages to loads due to end to end shifting. The 8'6" bulkheads reduced the loading area to a little over 48' which gave these cars a unique look. The models I chose were Trailer Train and Indiana Harbor Belt cars.
Trailer Train Company
Trailer Train Company was formed in November 1955 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Norfolk & Western RR (A PRR subsidiary) and Rail-Trailer Corporation. Conceived to promote trailer on flatcar service Trailer Train introduced its first 60' and 85' general service flatcars in 1964. See TTX history link below for more information on this unique company that continues to be railcar pooling experts.
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
Formed in 1907 and financially backed by original parent the New York Central RR. The IHB is the single largest switch carrier in the United States today. The IHB provides switching services for 160 customers and interchanges daily with 16 other rail carriers in Chicago. The IHB also acts as an intermediate switch carrier between 12 trunk line railroads for traffic interchanged between them in Chicago. See below link for more info. This is one of my favorite railroads.
Model Information
The two PS bulkheads are from Walthers and come with metal wheelsets and the Walthers metal Proto knuckle couplers. The cars are free rolling, nicely weighted for good performance both empty and loaded and the knuckle couplers match the Kadee Height Gauge right out of the box.
I purchased a Trailer Train PTTX model in the early brown scheme which matches some of my other Trailer Train cars. The fine print on the model reports that this car was built by Pullman-Standard Butler, PA in12-64 and is classed as an F-60-BH.
On the left is Manufacturer Hanover Trust Company New York, New York, Agent Owner. The interchange data has the cars rated with a capacity of 140,000 pounds (70 tons), a LT weight of 74,000 pounds and a Load Limit of 146,000 pounds. The AAR class is FMS.
The second car purchased is this Indiana Harbor Belt model. The IHB was a subsidiary of both the New York Central and later Penn Central. The fine print on the IHB car reports a build date of 12-64 and features a Plate C decal and three panel COTS label. The car is reported to be L(length) over end sills 60'-7". The interchange weight data is the same as the PTTX bulkhead car.
While I'm imagining the MDW Bulkheads will haul Boise Cascade products as in the prior photos I'm seeing the IHB and PTTX cars as hauling a variety of loads like these banded steel slabs.
Final Thoughts and Comments
The Atlas and Walthers models are very nice cars that are weighted for optimal performance when loaded or empty that fill a void in my bulkhead car roster. While I love my boxcars and covered hoppers the addition of better looking open cars and loads adds visual interest to my trains and my model railroad operations.
Researching the cars for various loads and building them has been an enjoyable endeavor and has added some interesting model railroad operational movements.
Additional Information
Photos of IHB bulkhead flatcars
Thanks for reading!!!
See you soon!!!
Another great freight car project for the NYCTL. As always the background & history information you give us makes the cars come alive. Yes, when people read the background information, they envision the real rail car, as do I.
ReplyDeleteI like the assortment of loads you've added to many of the these cars, and I did get a glance at the blue APRR flatcar. Thank you for the shout out!
The freight cars look good on the roll by at Holman Ave. as well as the ones sitting in Terminal Yard.
Great work Sir John!
Thank you very much 1:1 Sir Neal!!!! I'm happy to read that you enjoy the background info as much as I do!!! The cars are nice additions that compliment the APRR Bulkhead Flat which is a rail fan favorite!!
DeleteNice collection of new bulkhead flats on the N.Y.C.T.L.! I'm impressed by the variety of loads appearing on your local tracks! The MDW cars are well detailed with all of the stenciled reporting information and special instructions. Thanks for filling us in on this road...which as a Minnesotan I wasn't familiar with! The placement of the bulkheads on the 60' Pullman Standard cars is interesting and makes them eye catching models. They look good loaded with pipes, steel slabs, and those fascinating cable reel loads! As you noted, boxcars are cool but the open loads add a lot more visual interest and also serve to make operations more realistic since we can see the load destined for the consignee!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Ralph!!! The MDW was a surprise RR that snuck up on both of us!! I set up the waybills for the MDW bulkheads to get loaded at Boise Cascade in International Falls and return there when empty as nod to my pal from MN!!!
DeleteSome really nice additions to the roster. I agree, boxcars are my favorite rolling stock as well. Having the different loads on the bulkhead cars makes for a nice visual contrast. Thank you for the detailed background on the bulkhead cars and the associated railroads 👍🚂
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliments ATJOE!!!
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