2 Bay PS-2 covered hopper lettering

Rob,

Not the most clear image. However, based on what can be made out from the image the following information can be determined.

This car appears to have been built in 11/1952.

The boxcar red patches are the most recent periodic reweigh of the car (left two patches). In this case the car was reweighed at Tennessee Yard (TN) on 11/1973 (right of the two). At that time the new light weight was noted and the capacities updated as appropriate (left of the two). Weights are noted to the nearest 100 pounds (last two digits are 00).

This was important as freight cargo freight rates were determined by weight. The exception were tank cars. They did not have to be periodically reweighed as tank car billing was based on gallons.

The color of the patches and data is not specified in the rules. Basically the railroad facility used what they had on hand at the time. They might have used the original car colors, but if not various reds, yellow, orange, black and gray were common. Lettering was a contrasting color to the patch, typically white or black. In any event, the new patch and data would be cleaner, less weathered than the balance of the car.

Required reweighing time periods varied over time and car type. A general outline is presented below.

- 1937 - 1949 - Every 30 months, except composite (wood and steel) underframe or superstructure - to be first reweighed after 15 months.
- 1949 - 1962 - Most cars reweigh very 48 months, except first reweighing after 30 months, and composite cars first reweigh after 15 months, and composite and open top cars reweigh every 30 months.
- 1962 -1 967 - Reweigh every 48 months, except ice reefers and LO covered hoppers first reweigh after 30 months and LO covered hoppers reweigh every 30 months.
- 1/1/1968 - Reweigh every 60 months for box cars, open hoppers, and non-mechanical refrigerator cars, while all other car types were released from periodic reweighing requirements

The right most patch is the periodic journal repacking information. It does appear to have been performed by the Frisco (SL-SF). Unfortunately, in this case the balance of the data is too small to read.

You might find this link to an article by Tony Thompson helpful in explaining the subject further. This is an updated version of his article in Railroad Model Craftsman (RMC), April 2011, pages 72 and 73. Please see: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz...mZm/view?resourcekey=0-MlfGiPxYP7as-KB47xlyMg

Hope this helps.

Thanks!

Mark

 

Hi Rob
I have done a few projects similar to what your doing. And if I may offer a bit of help. While cutting decals from your sheet, save whatever scraps of clear decal paper with film still on it, hold in clamping tweezers, and paint the desired color on patches, then simply cut to size and place where wanted. No masking that way, also no need to make the patches square as they almost never were, just make sure there is adequate paint on the decal to make it opaque. You might consider a gray undercoat before the color desired, I have seen as many as 4 different color patches on these things. Those shops just used whatever they had handy.