Okay, another dumb question as an offshoot from my operations questions. Has anyone been able to use hidden magnets in flatcar loads that would allow for the easy removal of the load and yet make it secure enough to stay on the flat car? It would seem that the small rare-earth magnets could have enough strength to attach itself to the flat steel car weight. Man, I can't wait to get the railroad started so I could try this stuff out myself.
I have some small (1" x 0.5" x 0.125") magnets here. I just laid them on an Athearn Rock Island flat car I had handy, and they held on fine to the metal weight in the car. Between the magnet and the steel weight was the plastic shell of the car deck, plus a Laserkit wood deck. Good idea. These things would have to be built inside the load, but it seems it would work. Ken
Far out Ken. Nothing like delivering a load of lumber or a covered machinery load and not having a way to remove it (or pickup it up on an empty flatcar).
Bob, the small, round rare earth magnets will work. I would use a pair, one on the underside of the load and one on the car underside.
Somewhere I have an old RMC article where Robert Smaus built interesting flatcar and gondola loads that had hollow "centers." I think he hid weights inside his loads, but I'd think magnets would cover both bases. Best Regards,
