Custom Freight Cars

Very nice Bill....

Alan

Hi Bill • Great job on the rolling stock

Thanks guys, always fun taking some beat-up rolling stock and applying a fresh coat of paint and decals.

I on the other hand have some custom jobs:

A year  ago I decided that if no one made the cars I wanted then I would just need to make my own. I have worked with the White Pass and Yukon Route in Alaska for a number of years and even though it's 3 foot narrow gauge I decided to model at least some of it in O-gauge. I started with an engine and went from there.

Here is my annual submission during college basketball.

Since we run almost all fantasy trains, I have a couple of custom reefers in the works.  I have some NASCAR 3 stooges decals that should work for that reeefer,

and am collecting some artwork for the Bugs Bunny Carrot Juice Tank Car.

A Three Stooges beer reefer would be an excellent choice.

Here are a few of my custom cars:

Morton Salt Hoppers:

Valley Railway Coal Hoppers - I made 22 of these!

Hoppers for my fictitious SLC Chemical Co.

And a few covered hoppers for my home road, the WHBL.

Starting point:

Finished car as of this weekend:

SP&S caboose

Great job on the freight cars, Bill.  I really dig the SP&S caboose!

Here are a couple of my Lionel Steel customs.  The Mo & Joe got new uniforms and are now working for Lionel Steel.  The flat cars were cheap and I shortened them, painted, lettered, and added 1/2 sections of track for loads.

I love the carrot juice idea!

MY CUSTOM CARS (THOSE I MADE FORM SCRATCH) INCLUDE ONLY MY LOGGING CARS AND THE FLATS. SEE THE VIDEO ONLY THE ENGINE (MTH) AND THE WATER TANKER (LIONEL) ARE NOT MADE BY ME

I did my first custom car about 7 years ago, since I couldn't buy what I wanted. I've done 30 or so since, and its probably one of the most fun, trying, tedious, but rewarding things I've done in the hobby. They certainly aren't perfect, but I do enjoy them. Here are a few: 

     Looney Tunes I have A 6 pack if three stooges beer, rail bender ale and duke beer (OLD LOCAL BREW IN PGH.) Choo Choo Kenny 

Here is a Reading caboose made by a retired Reading Company conductor, George Ether. He had a table under the grandstand during the York Meet. He wore his conductor's uniform. I always enjoyed talking with him.

I have always loved custom run cars. They are special. One of my favorites.

Jimmy you made so many did you keep a list of all the ones you had made over the years. I wish I would of kept track of what I have done. I always get a laugh when I am at a train show and come across a car I have done.  I ask the history of the car the stories are something then I tell them what I know about the car.