Interesting gondola car load to model.

[PPPPPP42]

I personally had no idea that switches were built and moved like this. I had assumed they were put together on site but these are prefabbed sections of brand new switch track, one complete unit in each car with the pieces stacked on each other, probably for a run around track or an additional car storage siding at one of the many local (local is Spooner WI CN junction) frac sand plants that have suddenly been flung up all over the place.
I would think if someone had a broken switch track from a layout and an empty gondola it would make an interesting load to model for the MOW fleet. The one car has a bare metal I beam frame chained to the side of it on one side through holes burned in the car, the other car has a welded yellow painted frame and a stencil on the side that says specifically not to burn holes in the car to chain it down. I have closer and different pictures if anyone is actually curious but I didn't crawl up to get a better look or pictures as the yard office was just across the dirt lot and I didn't want to overstay my welcome, the pictures were all taken from farther away than they appear. It looks like any cradle frame of that sort would be prototypical then judging by the large variation in design.
These may have actually been built right in this yard and hoisted into the cars for a short run a few miles down the line as there are many other new rail components lying about.

There is actually a lot of new track work and rebuilding of old lines around here lately. One local sand plant near there got a delivery a few months back of shiny brand new baby blue colored 2 bay covered hoppers to put sand in and the line of sometimes sequential numbers stretches for a long ways. They have added new sidings for car storage and fairly long unit trains go out on a pretty regular basis.

Decided to just link to the pics I uploaded as they are really awkward when posted in the message. (PS ignore file names, I listed them as hoppers rather than gondolas at first because its bed time.)
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/photos/data/500/switch_hopper_1.jpg
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/photos/data/500/switch_hopper_2.jpg
http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/photos/data/500/switch_hopper_3.jpg

 

[marriedshades]

If also plan to do that but I use code 100 rail. To big to look right I haven't figured out what code would look good and with the price of switches. I'm not buying knew. And I work next to a company that makes the panels and when they send them out they put them on a regular train.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

I did that load a few months ago

This is the model when I was building it. A few feet of plastic 2X10s and super glue, some flat black spray paint, some mini chain and an old turnout that doesn't work well anymore.

 

[dinwitty]

I think thats very pre-fab.....

 

[trailrider]

I have actually seen one on a MOW train, either BNSF or UP (on the joint line from Denver to Colorado Springs...forget which road's MOW). But, while such a thing would be cool, my era is in the 1940's- 1960, and I don't ever recall seeing one like that in the Midwest, back then. But I was just a kid, and might not have paid attention thereto. Very cool, interesting load for present day.

 

[Markus_Bane]

At least you chained down your load, the rail guys didn't hehehe

A switch or section of track is being replaced or added to an existing line it will be pre fabricated and the original section cut out and the new panel inserted.

This is to reduce the time the line will be out of service.