Athearn has announced the release of a new freight car that is very
much applicable to the Q. I know some on this list thought I was anal
about the mistake in the Athearn 2,970 cu ft LO-11 covered hoppers
(they were spot on for the CB&Q LO-11's but with correct car numbers
but used the capacity data from the 3,200 cu ft LO-7 cars) But now we
have an opportunity to work with Athearn to get EVERYTHING right on a
new car.
Athearn just announced the release of a 2,600 cu ft Airslide covered
hopper (see
http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/012009/10_GATC_Airslide_012009.pdf).
Athearn is not doing CB&Q in the initial run, but these would be the
same cars as the CB&Q LO-1 and LO-2 series cars. But there were
nuances to the different Q classes, not all of which match the Athearn
cars. The good news, however, is that from what I can tell they do
match exactly the Q LO-2, LO-1B, LO-2A, LO-2B, and LO-2C cars, and are
also eligible for two different paint schemes. Here is the research
(mostly from BB 20):
1. In 1954 the CB&Q received its first batch of 100 2600cf Airslides,
class LO-1 cars 87000-87099. These were painted gray with black
"Everywhere West" lettering and a small herald. The LO-1's rode on
50-ton Berber S-2-A friction bearing trucks. These were followed in
1955 with 100 LO-1A cars 87100-87199. The LO-1A's rode on 50-ton A-3
Ride Control roller bearing trucks, hence the new class designation. A
major spotting feature of the LO-1 and LO-1A cars was that the outside
vertical posts were open at the bottom. If you look at the prototype
photo of the WP Airslide on the Athearn website it appears the Athearn
car is a later built car (the WP prototype is 1958) and does not have
the open bottom posts. Thus, the Athearn cars would not be correct for
the class LO-1 and LO-1A cars 87000-87199.
2. Next, in 1957 came the 50 class LO-2 Airslides numbers 87200-87251.
While still 2600cf, these cars rode on 70-ton CB&Q Class 97 A-3 Ride
Control roller bearing trucks. Hence the car capacity, load limit,
etc. are all higher than the previous LO-1's and hence the new class
(LO-2). They used the same "Everywhere West" paint scheme as the
previous LO-1 and LO-1A cars. But the vertical post design changed to
a closed bottom post. This car would appear to match the Athearn
prototype right on! Hence, the class LO-2 car appears to be our first
candidate for Athearn. It is a simple paint scheme, easily done. The
color photo broadside view in the BB, as well as the B&Ws, would seem
to show that the underside was painted the same color as the rest of
the car.
3. In 1958 CB&Q went back for more LO-1 class cars. Even though these
were rated at 50 tons (same as the previous LO-1 and LO-1A cars).
These used CB&Q Class 99 roller bearing trucks (anyone know if these
are A-3 Ride Control trucks, or what?) and used the same the used the
new carbody design with closed posts as the LO-1B cars. There were 75
cars in this order, numbers 87300-87374. The biggest external
difference was the paint scheme. These cars came in the new red
lettered "Burlington" scheme with a large Scotchlight herald. The car
body was gray, but the underframe was black. Interestingly, however,
the bolsters and draft gear were gray, not black. These cars also
appear to be an Athearn candidate. (Depending on the size of the
Scotchlight herald, these might be able to use the same herald panel
Athearn did for the 60' Pullman Standard auto parts boxcars in their
Genesis line.) Since they were built just one year after the LO-2's,
my vote is to ask Athearn to do cars in the new scheme. I think they
would sell better to none-Q modelers than the black lettered LO-2's.
4. In 1959 CB&Q bought 70 more 2600cf Airslide cars, again rated at
the higher 70-tons. Hence these were classified as LO-2A cars. They
came in a batch of 50 cars numbered 87400-87449, then 20 cars numbered
97450-87469. These came on CB&Q class 86B 70-ton roller bearing Barber
Stabilized trucks. The main difference between these and the LO-1B's
(besides the trucks and capacity lettering) is the Herald mounting. On
the LO-1B's there was a horizontal cross stiffener between the posts
where the herald was mounted. It is clearly visible on photos. The
LO-2A cars did not use this stiffener. Instead they use four metal
angle-iron anchors at the herald corners. The stiffener for the
LO-1B's or the angle-iron would not be hard to add by the Q modeler,
so I am not sure if these are critical to come from Athearn (in this
case, I can lean to the "close enough" side). These 70 LO-2A cars are
certainly also Athearn candidates.
5. In 1960 LO-2B cars 87500-87549 were purchased. Although classified
as LO-2B cars, I can see no visible difference, and the BB states
these were virtual duplicates of the LO-2A cars. Anyone know if this
is true? Also, C&S purchased 10 cars, 800-809. A sizable number of
these cars were used to transport bulk sugar from sugar beet plants in
Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana to packaging facilities
throughout the U.S. These would appear to be candidates for an Athearn
car.
6. In 1961 CB&Q bought 50 LO-2C cars numbered 87550-87599. But here is
where a few things begin to change. The biggest "spotting" difference
between the LO-2B cars and the LO-2C cars is the vibrator brackets. On
the LO-2C cars the vibrator brackets were mounted on oval pads. I
presume this was to strengthen to connection to the body. This was not
a Q only change, but apparently a change in the GATX design. I say
this because the Athearn cars come with both styles of shaker brackets
(direct mounted, and mounted on oval pads ? see
http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/012009/11_GATC_Airslide_A_012009.pdf).
So while Athearn can do the LO-2C cars, they would need to use the
oval pad mounted shakers. Any previous classes would use the plain
rectangular shakers.
7. In 1962 came the a major "rivet counter" change. In addition to the
new shaker pads, the next generation of Airslides used less rivets.
Where earlier cars had 26 rivets per channel brace, the 1962 LO-2D's
have only 12, and the bottom connection to the side sills is welded
instead of riveted. It would not appear from what I have seen on the
Athearn website that they are doing these "generation 2" cars. Hence,
I would not suggest Athearn consider an LO-2D unless they are also
planning on coming out with the fewer rivet Airslide version.
8. The last group of 2600cf Airslides were the 50 class LO-2E cars
87700-87749 built in 1965. This was a major design change with
triangular gusset plates. So these are definitely not an Athearn
candidate.
So there you go. I would like to hear back from the group as to what
class of cars we should approach Athearn to do. I vote for the
LO-1B/LO-2A/LO-2B cars (depending on what trucks Athearn has available
? 50-ton or 70-ton). The LO-2A/LO-2B is the biggest group. To me the
key is to make sure the right capacities go with the right numbers,
and correct trucks and shakers. If we get this right, this should be a
superb model.
Does the BRHS or anyone out there have actual painting diagrams for
the LO-2, LO-1B, LO-2A, LO-2B, and LO-2C cars? This would also be
great to get over to Athearn (there are several painting diagrams in
BB 20 but none for the 2600cf Airslides).
I would be happy to be point person on this to Athearn.
Tom Mack
Cincinnati, OH
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:CBQ-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:CBQ-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|