Model Train Journal

Here it is, my since “locked” thread on OGR I started back in 2015; I’ve since finished many cars and plan on sharing my progress.

I’m actually looking forward to sharing this effort since it’s cool stuff and has been a challenge to get done. Really my train has gotten way too long and I need to trim it down substantially.

Some recent shots of some of the cars in early TTX fashion … mid 50s with all those different trailers, ragtops, all that fun.

1955 F39 P48 1/4 scale by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

IMG_8629 by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr


Early TOFC 1950s piggyback for forum discussion by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr


Early TOFC 1950s piggyback for forum discussion by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

IMG_8629 by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

All my content is still up on OGR, I was locked out of this thread maybe 2 years ago, I posted an update and returned to answer a question and found it locked. I asked for a release and was told you cannot unlock threads. It was wildly popular, And now I’m completely locked out of OGR so I can’t post updates until I get things figured out. I like OGR, I just at the moment can’t use it. I’m trying to fix that but it’s got to wait till after Christmas. Either way I want to keep this thread going so here it is. I can finally get some updates shared. Most of the 2 rail guys on OGR look here so I think they will like it!

Some pieces from my original post back in 2015:

TOFC (Trailer on Flat Car), Piggyback, Intermodal, whatever it may be called- this post is bits and pieces from other posts here in one spot. I will make it the next official project for me with high hopes of an ops session at the Rockymountain Train Show on March 7/8.

I do think am getting closer to pulling off that early block of TOFC Piggyback cars I've always wanted to do since I was kid. There is something about those 20'-35' piggyback trailers being pulled by steam and early diesel that makes it so unique.







The pioneers such as the North Shore in Chicagoland and Chicago Great Western paved the way for other roads such as the D&RGW in 1940 to begin using TOFC preceding PRR; it was the PRR that pioneered the intermodal unit train of today.

The first goal was to imitate the variety of trailers, length and height and style. This is western piggybacking not unlike the freight trains themselves. We have lost that today with all the unit and standardization. Character is one of the great highlights of early piggyback 1940's-mid-1950's.

I’ll start off with Custom decal work

There is almost a complete absence of western private carriers in decal form. I do a great deal of custom artwork for Key and DVP; its a natural to grab some reference and produce some western private carriers for the train.

Rio Grande Motorway Inc.
Ringsby Truck Lines of Denver
DC Denver Chicago Express

I use CS from Adobe all vector art and print on an ALPS or Kinkos where I don't need white or opacity.

Nice thread Erik. Because of your truck and trailer modeling I bought some nice models...........still haven't done anything with them.......but I have them. Trucks and trains just seem to go together in that great era of transportation. Unfortunately, trucks took over and trains had to scramble for larger loads......but what a great era and you captured it magnificently.

1955 F39 P48 1/4 scale by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

1955 F39 PRR P48 1/4 scale by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

PRR F39 P48 1/4 scale by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

PRR F39 P48 1/4 scale by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Two hundred F39 were built in December 1954 by Bethlehem Steel in Johnstown, 470400-470599. The cars were equipped with jacks, tie-down chains, wheel chocks, and jacking beams to secure the trailers.

This model is an Overland Models built by MS of Korea I finished with very short lived “Truc Train” signage which was thought to have been used for months on a dozen or so of these cars as PRR had debuted “Truc Train” the predecessor to Trailer Train corporation founded in 1957. This is the earliest variation of the modern intermodal trailer on flat car eventually ending with 89 foot versions which are still in used today. My model is also P48, and not O5W, finding accurate trucks was an astonishing feat and less than 25 pair were produced by Jim Canter with Protocraft.

I made the signage with brass stock and made brackets to hold them in position based on photos of this unique set up. An expert PRR modeler and historian ran me a custom run of 4 sets of these decals that he specifically made for his 1/87 modeling efforts and like me was making a 1955 block of these cars seen between New York and Chicago and a few ventured about eventually the signs were removed and eventually after ICC mandate T.T.X. was formed and a the Pennsylvania patched with T.T.X. and the rest is history. These cars were found into the 1990s stlll in use.

My model is as this car would have appeared in early 1955, months after being placed in service; I still need to weather, when I do, lightly, more dust and some light road grime as it could have been found in St Louis or alone on the system with both varieties of early “common carrier” and road owned Piggy Back trailers, per ICC loading practice and law, all pneumatic tired vehicles must be chained to decking with the tires not in contact with the deck. Duff Norton jack stands with chains on both ends of the trailers to the frames. And all trailers doors must be steel straps as locking in doors and cannot be accessed during transport along with poles in front of side doors installed along the rails by the handlers per each variety of trailer. In time side doors like ragtops were phased out. Very shorty after 1956 as trailers gained length and size mounting practice also was altered resulting in “fifth wheel” mounts.

https://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/index.php ... r-modelers

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Pennsylvania Railroad F39 class 75’ TOFC 1955 P48 by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Erik, Erik. Those piggyback photos are smokin' realistic. Yes, I know you threw a prototype photo in there. but the models are examplary.

Dan Weinhold

I remember the thread and it was hugely popular with lots of responses and followers. I can't imagine why the moderators would lock it as your demeanor was always pleasant and easy going. But, I've quite trying to figure them out. I agree there is some good modeling and interest over there and I enjoy it too. I've gotten some good responses to my questions.

up148 wrote:I can't imagine why the moderators would lock it as your demeanor was always pleasant and easy going.

It's more than likely about the watermark that Erik is putting over his photos. One of the TOS bits there is that they claim a royalty free license on all content and that watermark is blacking their use of his photos. Anything that appears to be copyrighted that they cannot use is a problem.

One of the TOS bits there is that they claim a royalty free license on all content and that watermark is blacking their use of his photos.

Why does that not surprise me. Sheeze...............

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

up148 wrote:I can't imagine why the moderators would lock it as your demeanor was always pleasant and easy going.

It's more than likely about the watermark that Erik is putting over his photos. One of the TOS bits there is that they claim a royalty free license on all content and that watermark is blacking their use of his photos. Anything that appears to be copyrighted that they cannot use is a problem.

No, not at all Martin, Et All,. It was “locked” long before I watermarked my images that I have been doing since Fvckerburg’s Meta allowed pirate groups to harvest them from places like here and get paid for them, I get nothing when that happens.

OGR forum locked it back 2018 no explanation given, none of my work was watermarked; only by the fact it was on my thread one would surmise it’s mine, and many of those images have been reshared all over in places like Facebook with zero mention to my name or that I did the models, and that post which was enormous and was victim to years of run-on, look, Maybe it was time to refresh.