Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Categories
Freight Car Loads Articles

3D Printed Power Transformer and its Schnabel Car

Designing and 3D-printing a very large transformer model. Lots of photos, including prototype ones. The second half of the article is about making a reasonable facsimile to the Schnabel car, suitable for G-gauge track.

48-foot Rib-side Containers

Using a Des Plaines Hobbies 48-foot flat-sided container, the author simply added ribs to model the newer versions of the containers used in the real world. Includes several model photos.

A Bridge Girder Load for the Davies Steel Gondola

Using Atlas bridge girder kit parts to build a load. Shows wood bracing to secure the load.

A Flatcar Full of Tractors

The author describes how he installed six Farmall tractors on a Life-Like Proto 2000 53-foot flatcar.

A Load of Freight Car Trucks For Derailment Cleanup

The author describes how he built a flat car load which contains six trucks and some spare parts for helping fix derailments.

A Load of Scrap for Your Railroad

Replacing plastic wheels for metal ones, the author kept the old plastic ones and now shows how he converted them into a realistic load.

A Transformer Load You Can Build

The author uses an A.C. Gilbert AF depressed-center flat car to model a car after the Erie railroad that had a large transformer load on it. He describes the changes he made to the car to make it more accurate, and how he built the load.

An Unusual Load

The author describes how he built a unique load for a very unique B&O well gondola.

BNSF 48-foot Pines-built Vans From Atlas & Walthers

Container trailers used on flat cars.

Build a Realistic Flatcar Load

This detailed article shows how to model a steel I-beam load for a bulkhead flat car.

Build a Supersize Flatcar Load

The author describes how he built a 218-foot refinery tower that is carried on five flat cars.

Building 20' and 40' Containers in S Scale

A parts list and photos of the models and jig accompany this article about how to build these TOFC container loads.

Casting Junk

The author describes the "damage" he does to his gondolas, and then talks about how he casts loads for them.

Cats, Flats and Locos

The author describes how he detailed a D-8 and a D-6 crawler, and also covers the Rex 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 engines he has.

Chains, Chocks, and Shackles

This article is about loads that can be modeled for gondolas and flat cars, and how to realistically tie them down to the car. Specific examples mentioned are construction vehicles, steel pipes, and military vehicles.

CNW 3-bay Hopper From MDC's N Scale Kit

The author describes how he created coal loads for the hoppers. Other changes he made to the MDC cars are installing Z-scale couplers and replacing the trucks with Micro-Trains ones. He also describes how he weathered them.

Coil Covers for Your Greenville Gondola

A review of the Pre-Size Model Specialties kit for steel coil covers for gondolas. Includes prototype and model photos.

Construction Cement Pipe Loads for Your Gondola Cars

The author describes how he simulated a concrete pipe load in an S Scale America gondola using Evergreen Scale Models styrene tubes.

Corner Module

The author recommends putting loads on open freight cars so that show audience members can enjoy them when viewing our layouts. Includes several diagrams for constructing loads and how to tie them up.

Create a Load for Your S Flatcar

The author uses a prototype photo of a flat car with a crate load, determines the dimensions of the crate, and then scratchbuilds a model of that load. Includes a sidebar on how to convert a Rex Engineering hi-rail flat car to "scale".

Devine Freight Car Loads

Making loads for flat cars and gondolas, such as pipes, telephone poles, scrap metal, gears, steel plates, storage tanks, plate girders, lumber, structural steel, boxes, and the "flat car load that was there".

Early Intermodal Part 4A

This installment covers containerization. The article covers the history of containers, railroads competing with trucks, and the NYC and PRR solutions. Included are a few photos of some of the PRR's containers, as well as a PRR class SD1 container.

Early Intermodal Part 4B

This installment primarily covers the less-than-carload containers the PRR used. Also covered are the PRR automobile trucks carrying the containers. Includes prototype photos and drawings.

Easy N Scale Pole Loads

The author models a load of cedar poles used by power and utility companies for his N-scale gondola and a flat car with stakes. A prototype photo is included, as well as a parts list for the styrene cradle used to hold the poles during transit.

Economical Coal Loads

An inexpensive method for filling hoppers using a false styrene floor covered with coal.

Electric Motor Load for Flat or Gondola

The author describes how he modeled an electric motor by using two dish soap bottle caps.

Flat Car Loads

The author describes how he built a log load, and a tarp-covered load.

Flat Car Loads

Using the HO-scale Tichy Train Group kit #3056 Cement Pipe Flat Car Load on an S-scale car.

Flat Car Loads Part I

This installment covers how to model a load-that-was, i.e. what remains after a load has been recently removed from the car.

Flat Car Loads Part II

Covered machinery loads from Stewart Locomotive Works.

Flat Car Loads Part III

This article is also a product review of the Building & Structure company's laser-cut low-profile crate used as a flat car load.

Flatcar Loads

In addition to describing several loads the author built, he also describes his method for placing the loads on the cars, while still allowing them to be removable.

Freight Car Loads

This article focuses on looking at some of the rules railroads follow for securing loads in open-top cars. Loads covered are steel plates, pipe, lumber, tanks, and structural steel. Includes a freight car loading diagram from the 1950 AAR book.

Getting Real

Loading and unloading at the team track. Has many prototype photos. The article includes the building of a small Southern Pacific team track freight shelter and ramp from scratch.

Gondola Details

The author describes how he built several different loads for gondolas.

Hauling Steel on the PRR

Showing various steel product car loads in a PRR G33 65-foot gondola.

Homemade Flat Car Loads

The author uses wood to make forms under tarps to simulate loads. He also makes a rebar load. Includes prototype and model construction photos.

How to Make Trailer/Container Racks for Flat Cars

The author shares his method for holding down loads to flat cars, while still being able to remove the loads.

Hunting for Flat Car Loads

The author used a 42-foot Rex Engineering flat car, which he slightly refined, to install two boilers as a load. The boilers are HO-scale made by Bachmann, but are oversized for HO, so they make good S-scale models. Includes a model photo and a boiler load drawing.

Let's Make Some Coal Loads

The author describes, in a step-by-step manner, how to use insulation foam as the base for creating hopper and gondola coal loads.

Load It, Don't Trash It

Reusing parts of a medicine bottle as gondola loads.

Loads for "S" Scale Open Top Cars

The author shows and describes loads for a flat car and a gondola.

Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

This article covers the following loads: Chooch Enterprises #7282 "120 Ton Steam Boiler Equipment", Lionel General Motors diesel-driven generator set, Ertl Farmall Super M tractors, Blue Mountain Hobbies coal loads, Steam Depot baled scrap load, and S-Helper Service trailers. Also covered are lumber loads made from ice cream sticks, and pipe loads from plastic drinking straws. Includes photo of all.

Loads From Medical Supplies

The author shows how he built several loads from leftover medical supplies.

Loads of Fun

The author describes his process for creating styrofoam-based shipping container loads, which are wrapped with pre-printed paper. He has designed a number of them for various sizes of containers, which you can download and print on your own color printer.

Machinery Loads for Gons

This article shows how to make loads that look like machinery that is covered by tarp, using foam blocks and facial tissue.

Making A Pipe Load

Using soda straws to make pipe loads. Includes photos and several diagrams of how pipes might have been loaded.

Making Loads with PVC Pipe Couplings

Using common plumbing supplies, the author builds some fantasy, but believable flat car and gondola loads.

ME Ry Gons and Flats with Interchangeable Loads

The author describes how he built several flat cars and gondolas, but most of the article is about building the various loads.

Modeling a Heavy Flatcar Load

Inspired by a prototype photo, the author describes how he built the 100-ton load for a flat car. Includes model photos and design diagrams.

Modeling a Load of Corrugated Pipe

The author shows his technique for using a threaded rod and aluminum foil to simulate thin-walled pipe.

Modeling a Removable Scrap Load for a Gondola

The author shows how he uses various bits of leftover material to make a realistic-looking load for a gondola.

Modeling a Tarpaulin-covered Load

Using tissue paper to cover loads that come from the parts bin.

Modeling Pulpwood Loads

The author describes how to find the proper logs out in the backyard, how to prepare them, and how to install them on a bulkhead car. Includes a sidebar on how pulpwood is moved by rail in the real world.

Module Corner

This is a follow-up article to the October 1996 issue's one, describing how to properly model securing flat car loads. Covered are the 4- and 6-wheeled motor graders, military tanks, and crawler-type tractors with buckets. A sidebar with this article provides an brief index to all the Module Corner articles up to this date.

Module Corner

The listing of how to tie down flat car loads continues with this column, covering military tanks, and crawler-type shovels with rotating bodies.

Module Corner

How to properly store farm tractors on flat cars.

More Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

A Rex flat car with a box and a GM engine as its load. A converted AF flat car with a large lumber load.

More Loads for S Scale Open Top Cars

Two photos, one of a Rex Engineering Lowside gondola loaded with a Building & Structure Co. wooden container kit. The other is an American Models flat car with a load of seven John Deere tractors.

MTL (Motor Tug Large) The Perfect Load for a Military Train

The author built a wooden master model of a 47' long MTL, and then created his own "kit" by making 8 molds total. This article is really about how to create your own mold and then casting the parts.

Musings from the Beach

Using the refractory loads available from the NASG.

Open Loads of Fun

Various tips on how to make loads for hoppers, gondolas, and flats cars.

Real Scrap Loads for your Gons

Using actual rust particles falling off of a car were used to show an empty gondola as having been recently used, but not quite cleared out.

Removable Flat Car Loads

The article describes how the author was trying to model a single flat car and have its load be swapped out when it was supposed to return empty. This proved harder to do that originally thought because the deck was glued to the car's frame with superglue.

Scale Looking Wheels for Your RIP Track

Plastic wheels from Pacific Rail Shops kits can be used as freight car loads, or as scenery items.

Scrap Loads

This article is really more of a large tip; use the leftover scraps, filings, etc. left on your workbench after a project and sweep them into a storage container. Later, use those to make loads for gondolas that are headed for the scrap yards.

Scrap Loads for Gondolas and Hoppers

The author describes how he made the scrap loads for his cars. The key material he used was Magic Scraps®.

Secure Your Loads with Foil Tarps

Using aluminum foil to make tarp load covers.

Short & Easy

Using the cores of Scotch cellophane tape holder as a flat car load. Includes photo and several diagrams.

Short & Easy

The author describes how he scratchbuilt a gondola pipe load using straws, and material for the cribbing. Includes a model photo and construction diagrams.

Short & Easy

A brief article for how to scratchbuild a 6-foot wide seating bench, commonly found at train stations, parks, or backyards. Includes one model photo and construction diagrams.

Short and Easy

Building hopper coal loads using a styrofoam base.

Short and Easy

Using paper-decorated wooden blocks as representing box car loads (for when the doors are modeled open). The majority of the article and photos were contributed by Pete Silcox.

Short-and-Easy

Using Grandt Line castings, the author describes how to make a flat car load transporting large pulley sheaves.

Tie Down That Load

Train Room Confessions

Not every car needs a load, but the author describes several he has built, and shares photos.

Trash Into Loads Clinic

The author shares some tips and photos of creative "radio-active" trash loads he has made.

Two Different Car Loads to Create for Your Layout

The author describes how he built a crate load for a converted-to-S O27 Lionel gondola. He also creates a uniquely-shaped load for a well flat car.

Two for the Load

The author describes how he scratchbuilt a lumber load for a flat car, and a pulpwood load for a gondola.

Unique and Custom Loads for the American Flyer Circus Train

The author describes the #5002 A.F. circus train set, and its brightly-color flat car loads by the Pyro, ACME, and Allied toy companies. Lots of photos of the vehicles.

Use Putty to Save On Coal Loads

Simple coal loads that only use real coal as the top layer.

What's on your workbench today?

A photo of 3D-printed coil-car covers.

What's on Your Workbench?

Photos of models that Joel Lebovitz brought to the O&S Midwest show, demonstrating his freight car loads.

Who Says You Can't Mix Scales?

The authors describe a American Model Builders HO-scale Structural Flat Car Load with Blocking kit (part #206) that can be readily used as a 40-foot flat car load.

Youngstown Bulk Containers

Lots of detailed information about these dry-goods containers, with many prototype photos and scaled drawings (including one for a 54'6" Western Maryland gondola).