Wheels of Time N scale 53'-6" Welded Fish Belly Flatcars

 See the PDF brochure.     See PNG brochure (3 pages) page 1 - page 2 - page 3

Status: WOT - We have some in-stock including BN, Conrail, SP Bulkhead, SP plain deck flat, UP, Western Maryland and SPMW 9326.  Contact matt@wheelsotime.com for a list if interested.

Orders originally due: May 6, 2022. 

Download Barcode Item List in .xlxs

SP Flatcar with lumber load

Conrail Flatcar

These 53'-6" flatcars were constructed with a welded fish belly steel frame in contrast to the cast steel GSI frame. The fish belly frame provided an optimal distribution of tension and compression forces from the center of the car to the bolsters. Think of it as a bridge. In addition, fabricating a welded frame was far less labor intensive than an equivalent riveted frame. The welded frame proved extremely durable holding up to rugged service. As these flat cars aged-out due to ARR interchange age limit, they found it's way into many years in maintenance-of-way service. A number of builders constructed these flat cars such as the Pacific Car & Foundry (P.C. & F.), Marine Industries (Canada), Pullman-Standard, Bethelehem Steel, and including railroad car shops such as the Western Pacific.

N WOT Western Pacific closeupN WOT ConrailN WOT Boston & Maine

N WOT Union PacificN WOT Southern Pacific______________________________________________

Boston & Maine , PS 3-57, General Purpose Flatcar, 34000 - 34089 (black body with logo), 6 car numbers 

WOT N B&MBoston & Maine purchased two batches of Pullman-Standard PS-4 53’-6” fish belly flatcars in March & April 1957. Lot 8322 numbers 34000-34089 built at Butler Pennsylvania were plain deck general purpose flatcars. Lot 8322A numbers 5320-5329 were speciality equipped with bulkheads. 10 cars from the 34000 series were later converted to TOFC service.

Burlington Northern, ex GN PC&F 2-54, General Purpose Flatcar, 6360 series (BN green) Stencil date 7-87; 6 car numbers

WOT N BN

Burlington Northern inherited a batch of Great Northern Pacific Car & Foundry 53’-6” as trailer on flatcars. They were all reverted back to general purpose use. Number 636050 was assigned to Barge 2 Idler Service in Seattle. These PC&F flats were welded fish belly cars built in Feb. 1954. Ex-BN 635172-635196; exx-GN 60209-60224; nee-GN 65500-65699.

Canadian National, Marine Industries BLT 1963, General Purpose Flatcar, 665001 Series (CN Mineral Red) Stencil date 3-72 ACI label; 6 car numbers

WOT N CN Canadian National Railways purchased a group of Marine Industries 1963-built welded fish belly flatcars. They were assigned to general purpose use. About 1968, the infamous ACI labels began to appear on the rolling stock as shown on our Wheels of Time model.

Conrail, PS 1960, ex-NYC Class 888-F, Stencil date 2-81, 6 car numbers

WOT N ConrailConrail Class 888F flatcars were originally Pullman Standard PS-4 built in 1960 for the New York Central System. PC inherited it’s fleet. And Conrail inherited it from PC. Conrail repainted their FM flatcars at the Altoona Car Shop until 1980, By 1981, the Hollidaysburg Car Shop did all the refurbishing of these Class 888F flatcars. On 4/80, only 2 cars had CR reporting marks. By 4/82, 53 cars had CR; 9 cars had PC; and 114 cars still had NYC! Wheels of Time is happy to reproduce these fine cars with the assistance from Jeff Lopez.

Southern Pacific, GBEC 1964, Bulkhead Flatcar, Class F-70-12-R, Stencil date 3-78, ACI label; 10 car numbers

WOT N SP BulkheadIn 1977 - 1978, Southern Pacific shops rebuilt 66 (1963-64 built) SP Class F-70-12 flatcars with bulkheads like the originally built GBEC SP Class F-70-26 bulkhead flatcars. They were renumbered as SP 507733 - 507799 series and with an added “R” to it’s original class. They were 48’-6” between bulkheads.

Southern Pacific, GBEC 1963-1964, General Purpose Flatcar, Class F-70-12, Stencil date 3-75, ACI label; 6 car numbers

WOT N SPSouthern Pacific Class F-70-12 were built by Gunderson Brothers Engineering Company (GBEC) at their Portland Oregon plant for a whopping 1,150 car order. Delivered starting in Feb. 1962 and continuing into 1964.  They were assigned to general purpose use. Constructed with welded fish belly frames and Douglas fir decks treated with Pentha. Painted with Red Lead paint from Pacific Paint & Varnish or Freight Car Paint from Sherwin-Williams.

Union Pacific, ex SP GBEC, Plain Deck Flatcar, UP Freight Car Red, Stencil date 2-85, 1 car number

WOT N UPUnion Pacific inherited a large batch of ex-SP GBEC F-70-12 after their purchase of SP. Most of the SP F-70-12 were reassigned to UP MOW relay rail use. However, one car - just one car was repainted to UP paint and assigned to general purpose. This car exist today on a tourist railroad.

Western Maryland, Bethlehem Steel Co., WM 7001 Series, WM Red, New date 6-59, 6 car numbers

WOT N WM

Western Maryland received from Bethlehem Steel Company (Order DS-3400-286) in 1959, 30 all welded fish belly frame general purpose use. They were equipped with roller bearing unlike previous WM flatcar orders. These 53’-6” flatcars were painted in the stunning Western Maryland Red paint.

Western Pacific, WP Shops, STK 10-78, Black, 6 car numbers

WOT N WPIn October 1978, Western Pacific Railroad stretched their 1953 home-built 50-ft flatcars originally numbered 2701-2802. WP Stockton Shops added three and half feet to meet shippers load accommodations. These cars also received roller bearing trucks replacing the original plain bearing ones.

Southern Pacific, GBEC 1963-1964, Maintenance-of-Way, Class F-70-12; (SP era); Aluminum, 2 number

WOT N SPMWSouthern Pacific painted their F-70-12 class flatcars aluminum color for use in their non-revenue service.

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BC Rail, ex-PGE, Vancouver Iron & Engineering Works, BCOL 1511 series, BC Rail Green, Stencil date 6-86, 6 car numbers
Special Run Commissioned by PWRS. Only available at PWRS.WOT N BC RailBCOL reporting marks mean "BC Rail On Line" traffic.

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