How accurate are reporting marks on models?

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W

Warpiper

Member
I was wondering how accurate the reporting marks were on the models. More specifically, the number portion of them. I'm slowly collecting some Boston & Maine rolling stock and I like to research and see what the real cars looked like and some of their history. Makes me appreciate the model a little more. But I have noticed that the information about the model for sale differs from what rolling stock records show. I'm sure I'm just over thinking it all or just not analyzing the information correctly. For example, here is an "HO Scale, 40' Boston & Maine 77711 Freight Train Box Car" for sale.

HO-Scale-40-Boston-Maine-77711-Freight.jpg

But on this website where I find most of my information http://www.faracresfarm.com/jbvb/rr/bmrr/freight.html, it shows that the car with that number was 50', not 40'. I've also noticed that some of the rolling stock I've looked at have numbers that I can't find anywhere else except for on models. Am I over thinking this?
 
Many of the more recent models are accurate regarding their heritage. Many older ones, especially kits made prior to 1990 or so are not. It's hit or miss on them.
Am I over thinking this?
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That depends on how close to accurate you wish to be. There are modelers in all camps. In my case, I attempt to remain relatively accurate, but probably 20% of my freight cars (older kits from the 80's) didn't exist in real life. Who else is going to know? In my case, no one. My only visitors are non-modelers since I live so far away from any others that I know of. Even then, most modelers probably wouldn't know for sure unless they model the same prototype.
Your choice.

Willie
 
The best way to know is to do more reading on the prototype that has your interest. Check the BM historical society & their info on freight cars. Also, do a Google search for any cars you're interested in.
 


Over 30 years ago when I started my layout, I chose the transition sra, set in the late summer of 1957 to be exact. I was anal about making sure that all of the reporting marks on my freight equi[pment was correct. I bought a lot of Athearn blue box freight equipment along with other kits to be custom painted. I made sure thaty there were no cars with any markings later than 1957. It was a pain in the butt with the undecorated cars reading white reporting marks on white decal paper, but everything was correct when the cars were completed.

Now that I am a bit older, I can't see the friggin' things, so I guess it really doesn't matter any more.
 
santafewillie said:
Many of the more recent models are accurate regarding their heritage. Many older ones, especially kits made prior to 1990 or so are not. It's hit or miss on them.

That depends on how close to accurate you wish to be. There are modelers in all camps. In my case, I attempt to remain relatively accurate, but probably 20% of my freight cars (older kits from the 80's) didn't exist in real life. Who else is going to know? In my case, no one. My only visitors are non-modelers since I live so far away from any others that I know of. Even then, most modelers probably wouldn't know for sure unless they model the same prototype.
Your choice.

Willie
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Hi Willie,

Thank you for the information. I'd like to be accurate when I can but I can enjoy some of the cars that may not have existed but the model is attractive/appealing to me anyway. :)
 
cajon said:
The best way to know is to do more reading on the prototype that has your interest. Check the BM historical society & their info on freight cars. Also, do a Google search for any cars you're interested in.
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Hi Andy,

Thanks, will do.
 
montanan said:
Over 30 years ago when I started my layout, I chose the transition sra, set in the late summer of 1957 to be exact. I was anal about making sure that all of the reporting marks on my freight equi[pment was correct. I bought a lot of Athearn blue box freight equipment along with other kits to be custom painted. I made sure thaty there were no cars with any markings later than 1957. It was a pain in the butt with the undecorated cars reading white reporting marks on white decal paper, but everything was correct when the cars were completed.

Now that I am a bit older, I can't see the friggin' things, so I guess it really doesn't matter any more.
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LMAO!!! Thanks Chet. I"m not there yet but I would like to change up the numbers. I'm going to have several of the same box cars with the same reporting marks and I'm not sure If I can paint the numbers small enough and neat enough. With it being just me and my grandson on occasions, no one's going to look at them anyway.
 
Had a look on rrpicturearchives.net in the Fallen Flags section. Could only find 1 example in the 777 number series, it also was a 50'

BM%2077753.jpg
 
There were 2-1/3 pages of box cars on that site for BM. The AAR classes were XL, XP and XM, all in the 49'-59' range.
 


If you really want accurate numbers and car sizes, look for an "Official Railway Equipment Register" or ORER. They are published quarterly and give the number series and capacities of the railroad cars in interchange service. You will want one for a time period as close to what you are modeling as possible. They will not tell you the make of a car, when it was built, what color it is or what herald it has on it, only the physical characteristics. You can find them at stores that sell railroad books, on E-Bay and at swap meets. Westerfield has some on CD.

For example the 4-71 ORER shows the BM had a series 77000-77999 of plain boxcars (XM) that were 50'6" IL, 10'6" IH, with a 9 ' door and a 50 ton capy. There were 933 cars in that series.

So your car has an accurate number, its just on the wrong car. The model is a 40' box with a 6' door.
 
dave1905 said:
If you really want accurate numbers and car sizes, look for an "Official Railway Equipment Register" or ORER. They are published quarterly and give the number series and capacities of the railroad cars in interchange service. You will want one for a time period as close to what you are modeling as possible. They will not tell you the make of a car, when it was built, what color it is or what herald it has on it, only the physical characteristics. You can find them at stores that sell railroad books, on E-Bay and at swap meets. Westerfield has some on CD.

For example the 4-71 ORER shows the BM had a series 77000-77999 of plain boxcars (XM) that were 50'6" IL, 10'6" IH, with a 9 ' door and a 50 ton capy. There were 933 cars in that series.

So your car has an accurate number, its just on the wrong car. The model is a 40' box with a 6' door.
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Thanks Dave,

I appreciate the information. I'll start searching for ORER. The time period I would like is the 70's to mid 80's, back when I was a kid until I left home.
 
Ok, I need to get one of these! I'll probably have to paint it myself, but, I have to start some time. :D Found this on the RR Picture Archive site. Thanks again tootnkumin!


BM 77039 Bi-Cent.jpg
 
When I started my layout, I did custom paint a lot of undecorated Athearn blue box freight equipment along with other undecorated kits. I used decals for the car reporting markings and each series of freight cars were given numbers. Box Cars were in the 1000 series, Reefers in the 4000 series, hoppers in the 7000 series and so on. I made sure that all of the freight car data and reporting marks were accurate. Can't read them any more without a magnifier. A bit getting old.

IMAG0264.jpg IMAG0265.jpg IMAG0263.jpg IMAG0268.jpg

I have a few Milwaukee Road rib side box car kits that came without a car number on them and decals were supplied to number the car. If you have cars with the same number, I guess you could remove the car number and use decals to give the cars a different number.
 
tootnkumin,

Thank you for the links, I greatly appreciate it. The GP-38-2 is definitely on my list of things to buy. I was looking at the stickers and am going to get one. Are they pretty easy to apply? I haven't used them before. I also saw a box car I want to get. The "Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti Day" car. I remember watching those commercials as a kid. :)

I do have a question about the GP 38-2. It's DC but DCC ready. How hard is it to put a decoder in? I'm running DC right now but was thinking of moving up to DCC whenever we make our last/permanent move and I have a lot more space to play in. Thanks.

Chris
 
Hi Chet,

Thanks, I'll give it a try. Haven't done any painting yet but I can see a time when I will want to start with a kit or weather a car. You did a beautiful job on those cars. Now what you mean about the eyes. I picked up a visor with the magnifying glasses on them so I can read the small print on the bottom of the cars to see who the manufacturer is. LOL!!
 
DCC ready normally means that there is a plug for a DCC decoder already installed. You may or may not have to remove the pre-installed lighting board. Just "plug and play", real easy.

Willie
 


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