Take a close look at the trucks used on the gumbo hoppers that were used by Marquette Cement in Cape Girardeau, Mo and see if you might come up with an idea about where I might come up with trucks to model these little boogers. I have not come up with exact sizes for the cars thus far in my research but they appear to be about 10 feet long.
Keith: If I were you I would look at European models to see if you might find something tht would be close. I think Walthers sells some. El Bob Oh
The bobber caboose trucks are probably close enough, but I need a source without buying cabooses (or is it cabeese?).
The whole car is only 10 feet long? You could probably cut down a bobber side frame. I have several if you want to come by and look at them. The ones I have are cast metal, I think from Labelle. I also have a European tank car that is a four wheel car if you want to look at that. Kent in KC
Put a ad out (WTB) on hoyardsale - or have some of the guys who are going to shows look around for some. Might ask around on some of the other model RR sites too. How many you looking for? There has to be thousands of them around I would think.
Keith, I did a quick google of " bobber trucks" and found a story by the owner of the Housatonic Railroad [ model ] He was doing a bobber project, and bought side frames from B.C. rail? he then made a mold and cast more sideframes out of a plastic medium. That may be a way for you to get a string of cars without spending the entire budget. Hope this helps. Dan
Dont remember the trucks that well but the tyco bobber caboose truck seemed to long. Could you stretch an old style passenger truck? I do remember the link and pin couplers.
Keith, those cars are a dandy! I looked back over your original post and description of these cars...did theyhave reporting marks/numbers that you are aware of, so that we can look up in an Official Register? My guess is they'd be in the 1943 reprint that I have, but I'd also presume that they were not used at all in interchange service so they may not show up after all.
There were no reporting marks on the gumbo cars since they never left Marquette's property (at least in one piece). I have looked in Walther's newest catalog and haven't found any "loose" trucks pictured that come close. The sideframes on the Kadee Disconnect Log Car (380-107) are the closest that I've found yet (below), but they're $18.95 for a pair of trucks!
Update: I found the Bachmann Spectrum On30 Side Dump Gondolas a few years back and they are a very good stand-in once the side dump mechanism is removed. I have 30 of them.
Jim, no, I just removed the side dump mechanical parts from the frame and body and used C/A to glue the sides to the rest of the body. Then glued the body to the frame. I have them all stashed away so I can't readily get a picture, but look at the two photos and let your imagination do the rest.
Very nice. That sure takes a lot of the work out of having a lot of fairly unique rolling stock. Good eye.
