Purgatory Box Rescues Part 2

 Greetings All,

Purgatory Box Rescues Part 2

My so called purgatory box has once again provided some freight cars that can be repainted and given a new life. Here is some more rolling stock that has been in the purgatory box for too long. Lets take a look:

Turtle Creek Central Auto Racks!

Modelers may remember the Turtle Creek Central story and decals from Model Railroader magazine. Using these decals I rattle can painted four garish Life-Like AT&SF 50' Auto Racks as TCC cars.

Two of the four TCC auto racks.

Here are two that have been de-racked. Color is fine, metal wheels and body mounted Kadee couplers were added. Cars run great but Turtle Creek Central Auto Racks no longer get any layout time.

The de-racked TCC flatcars carry loads of oversize pipe from Gervais Pipe & Fitting in Empire City or an off layout manufacturer towards Terminal Yard.

The TCC flatcars will work in this service and I can probably come up with additional loads once I settle on a new road name.

The Southern Railroad Pulpwood Cars

Next freight cars I felt in need of some cosmetic adjustments are a pair of pulpwood cars lettered for "The Southern Railroad" that are currently in PCCM service between my layout and Ralph's Kings Port Division layout as both pulpwood and bulkhead flatcars. 

The cars have had body mounted Kadee #5 couplers, metal wheels added and track very nicely. I heavily weathered the cars to obscure their lettering and bright colors. Car routing for these cars has been problematic as we send the empties north instead of south which is blatantly contrary to the AAR car service rules. 

After discussions with PC Ralph we decided to repaint the cars and letter them for the Maine Central. Using a photo of an ex D&H, MEC pulpwood car #7718 from 1990. The cars have been rattle can painted Apple Red and await decals.

However when shopping for MEC Pulpwood car decals I found Highball Graphics set F-124 which had photos of the MEC cars in 1965 that were delivered in green and had yellow lettering. Off to the big box store I went!

The cars have been repainted for the second time and are awaiting decals.

PC Ralph inspects the new MEC 1400 and1425 and notes the addition of an ACI label.

The 1425 and 1400 are back in service and look much better with the green paint and MEC decals. Both cars were sprayed with Testor's Dullcote to tone down the bright green and protect the decals.

The MEC bulkhead cars are at North Side Yard loaded with PCCM lumber loads from Half Moon Lumber awaiting pick up by the Long Island RR.

This project came out so nice these MEC cars will be seeing non PCCM layout time!

Here are the MEC and an EBRR bulkhead in non PCCM action. 

The three bulkhead flats are placed in the Gervais Pipe and Fitting siding fulfilling an empty car request.

Final Thoughts and Comments

I really like how the Maine Central (MEC) cars turned out. The color and decals do the car justice and they look much better to me as they earn PCCM and non PCCM revenue.

I continue mulling what to do with the Turtle Creek flatcars and they remain a work in progress. With the auto racks removed they could see service as TCC cars but I'd prefer a different road name.

Thanks for reading!!!

See you soon!!!