Early Piggyback project (1940-1957) late steam early diesel & some of the very first 85-89' cars in 1957-1959!

Really nice work, Erik!

 

Jeff C

Erik,

I'd like to ask you a few questions off sight. Can you email me? I tried yours but it kept bouncing back. Hey, I'm an ol' phart.

Thank you!

Bob sent me his progress..

       
       


Thanks - I'm not real pleased yet- I'm hopeful

Thank you

Consist testing today at Tim's "Rusty Spike" -Louisvile, CO

On the right is Jack Vansworth of Division Point dropped in to see what was up at "The Rusty Spike"....

Photo courtesy Robert Meyer

Another neat truck worth looking into is Specast's fantastic White 1940's tractor trailer combination. I did buy the Rock Island Motor Freight model a few years ago and forgot about them until recently. I wasted no time seeking out a private carrier version. What to my surprise one of the all time classic carriers Hennis in that arrest me yellow and black; even Ulrich back in the 60's made these trailers in HO; a true classic. I've found photos of the North Carolina Hennis carrier trailers all over the US not just back east.



The HO scale Ulrich "Hi-Liners" die cast version from the late 50's and 60's was part of a series of truck models that were developed for the purpose of Modelers wanting to create piggyback consists of the day. I have always been really envious of HO for the huge assortment of equipment they are blessed with.


The trailer is 1:50 scale and just slightly small; this prototype 1:1 trailer is small! Intentionally a small trailer the laws were highly restrictive in the 1940's for tractor trailers. The old photo below demonstrates also the high degree of mismatched sized vans. Just like freight cars in the Golden Era the vans vary in length, height, and width. This 1:50 round roof trailer is a winner in O scale. Works great!

Bob Meyer shared more photos of his progress. Love that Espee set. He should have my decals tomorrow-that will be cool!

This thread is very interesting. Thank you to share!

 

I've just a question: what was the maximum length for a trailer in 1959/1962 please?

Trailer length wasnt the limit as much as overall combination limit of 55'.  Most trailers were 40' for singles.  Limits were different state 2 state. Doubles 24' where permitted. Cabovers used so as a sleeper could be included. Coffin cabs were outlawed.

John Johnson


       

Navajo!

Hey this just in-- Bob Meyer says Lionel just released this one! And they come in 2 rail with Kadee 745's!

Figures! I would not have had to spend all that time making my own.

Ahhh, Lionel is offering piggyback equipment in "scale O". Excellent. Will they be offering other road names beside Rio Grande Motorways, as they had in the past? "Piggybacking" on the discussion of Division Point brass, I find navigating the Lionel website to be a similar experience as was had by Pleistocene-era animals stopping by the Labrea Tarpits for a drink!

 

The trailers weren't 55 feet.  The entire vehicle (tractor and trailer was).  The trailers were anywhere from twenty-something short single-axle doubles used with "Rocky Mountain Doubles" to 40 foot tandem axle trailers in the late 50's to early 60's. 

 

The restricting factor were the state laws that limited the length overall of both tractor and trailer.   Thus trailer lengths for west coast roads could be different from east coast roads. 

55' for the trailer + the truck. Ok. That's clear.

 

Sorry I hadn't understood. I'm not from the USA and I have to learn.

 

Many thanks!

Quite welcome!  If you want to look at lots of US trucks go to the hanks truck pictures web site. Many really neat pictures from the 50's through the present...  Like our trains here, our trucks are most unique though I am fond of Australian Road trains.

 

OR you can just look at Eric's Ringsby and Rio Grande work on this thread. 

Watson Brothers Omaha Nebraska
Ringsby Denver Colorado

Ideal loads west

 

Great thread  I like the newer ones. .Guess I'm not old enough. This is about a third of my fleet.

BLT, How do you figure?

"Guess I'm not old enough"

I'm 40 - not exactly old enough to remember growing up in the 1950's. I graduated high school in the mid 90's...  I've never understood why some folks associate age with era of interest these days. I know it was a driving force 30 years ago; reliving youth etc I get that. This obviously is becoming a thing of the past- no pun intended.

I do love to collect and enjoy Post War Lionel why because I was a small boy in 1948-1955.. ;-P

At this point and time age has very little to do with interest in a certain era. Guys that can recall those warm fuzzy memories as young adults in the 1950's are what now 90's and centurions? It's all a matter of choice. If I model what I remember as a boy it would be Amtrak Superliners, LMX gray backs, SD70's, and double stack intermodal. That's about as far back as I can go. If model my high school time line I would be modeling what is still considered contemporary; SD40's have kind of gone away but the rest are all still around. I would love to have seen F units in action; not tourist museum roads but in action! They were long gone before I was old enough to walk.

That is how I figure it.

Glad you enjoyed my project nonetheless.

Erik

 

Thanks for starting this thread and keeping it going with all that historical information and photos

 

You have inspired me to get a few F39's so I can add some dual piggy back 35' trailer flats to the single trailer F30D flats my Truc Train

 

 

 

  

 

John Sethian (ps note spelling!)

 

 

 

Great to hear John good luck


       

Erik

 

Everything is scratch built: The screw jack stands (they actually work!), cross beams,  chains, the hooks, the deck tie downs, the counterbalance springs on the ramps, the crash posts, even the turnbuckles.  I inserted a short hidden section EZ wire into the chain to keep everything taught. I also machined the rub rails from brass I beams to replicate what was used by the Pennsy. I added a few decals and underlined the work Pennsylvania to make the cars look more Pennsy like.  They have a couple of inaccuracies, but I captured the flavor of the F30D.

 

I wrote an extensive article in O Scale Trains on this.  See issue #63, July August 2012

 

Like you I made custom decals for the trailers.  I also modified the trailer sides (horizontal ribs,  or rivets, or smooth sides) to replicate the prototype

 

 

John Sethian your work is so much better than Erik's!

Erik your work is so much better than John's.

 

hey i got an idea send me 1 each of your cars and then i'll be able to judge the winner.

SMALL PRINT all entries become the property of the judge.

 

seriously this thread and the modeling here is one of the best. 2 rail modeling at its finest!!!!!

Oh boy the wheels are turning in my mind.

This 1/50 scale Matchbox Dinky "Birth of the Big Rigs" series was something I just discovered. They were manufactured in 1998. Very nice models; and I believe they measure out very accurately. Attached to a Revell 1955 Bekins van in 1/48 it looks right at home. Not diminutive at all. 

I see Pacific Intermountain Express all over this.. Or better yet rio grande motorway! Some paintwork and weathering these Peterbilts are as good as any prop you would want to add to a loading ramp or highway scene.


The wheels and tires are especially nice- not chunky.

 

Erik,

 

continue to give us the informations. I learn a lot. This subject is one of my best loved.

 

I've made a TOFC train starting from flat cars (Micro-Trains) and styrene using CMW trailers and scratchbuilts ones but it was in N scale. In O scale it's really better.

 

Many thanks to share.

 

Jack

I do also!

This is what the hobby is all about. Creation, being able to share our creations is part of the fun. Thanks John, Lee, Bob, and anyone else who has shared on this thread




       

Thanks Jack!

This is a resource for anyone down the line that wants to make a piggyback consist. It may not be the absolute but it's something.



       

Your funny Mark

:-)




       

Bob Meyer and I are joining forces and doing another TOFC in Western Pacific.
This is going to be fun!




The PS-4 from Lionel is almost dead on. Note the rib along the sides.


I will use the Lionel ribbed trailers; maybe even go as far as cutting out the sides and styrene implementation of new wider spaced ribs. The signage, separately applied panels will be fun and a neat contrast with the rest of the consist.

I would prefer to use the smooth side trailer with an easier install of the kit-bashed styrene ribs; no side doors- bummer.

I could scratch the trailer from styrene and use the castings and wheels from the Lionel. I believe I will take John's approach and kit-bash like he did with the Weaver 34' vans and use the PRR Lionel trailers and kit-bash them to suite.



Not exactly the correct model; like many models in our beloved O scale - it's what we have. Close enough- I guess it will be a one foot model. ;-)

Signage will be very straight forward
I need color help; any ideas fellas other than orange and silver?


Orange and white?



I love the leaf! Feather River Route yeah!

Another cool graphic right out of the 50's


Get a load of those panels installed on the back doors. Pretty simple issue with styrene. Hmmm...

Great work Erik!

 

I like the weathering on the Herris trailer. The cars and the other trailer are good too.

 

I think weathering is very important for realism. The bright colors and the plastic are "toylike" if you don't weather all. But it's only my idea.

Thank you sir; I am very humbled and flattered.

I do not like it when guys don't weather equipment. I operate fine scale models not collectors items or toys. Granted weathering my brass passenger gear is painful thought but if done right it would be just spectacular; I would be concerned I would screw it up.

Small informational tidbit: noted in the 2014 Northern Pacific Ry Historical Association calendar was that the NP began TOFC service in 1954, with Raymond Loewy colors on the trailers. 1954 would be well within mainline steam operation on the NP, for us steam fans.