CMC Flat Car Loads, Std Gauge

They might well be original. I have a CMC catalog showing the same type flat car with a load of six, smaller diameter dowels. CMC was a small operation so I wouldn't be surprised at minor variations. 

Steve, my CMC flat car has the big dowels like yours.

Here's what Arno ("writing the book...") said about my log car,

"#100 log car - This is again, early CMC. Later when they revamped these cars, they were painted yellow and had Union Pacific lettering. The bigger dowels were what it came with, later they were smaller diameter dowels."

Hope Arno doesn't mind me quoting him, I think it answers your question

Thanks Southwest & Hojack. I was guessing they were original, but wanted to be sure.

Steve

Cool looking cars Steve!

Yes, Hojack was right by quoting me! The early CMC #100 log cars (1971) had the large dowels, some had grey plastic chains. It wasn't until the later #4001 Union Pacific log car (1976) that they went to the smaller dowels.

ARNO

Arno

Thanks for adding the year info.

Steve

Thanks Arno.

The McCoy log cars have loads made of cut pieces of natural Alder wood, the number of pieces depending on how large diameter they are - they vary from about 5/8" to 1-1/4". You kinda have to "make up a load", very prototypical...

When I got my Shawnigan Lake lumber car it came without the load, so I emailed Bonnie McCoy to ask if they had any log loads in their spare parts bins.  She thought that was pretty funny, logs in the parts bins.  She said they cut them from the alder bushes as needed.  Nice smooth tight bark, and usually straight pieces.  A big improvement on dowels, IMHO.

She told me to go out and cut my own, but I wanted the real McCoy, authentic Washington State alder logs, so she relented, cut me a bundle, and sent them to me.