0200 / 2000- Series Ballast Cars

[Keith Hayes]

In 1911 the C&S modified ten Phase II coals to non-revenue cinder service. These were wood frame-truss rod cars with Bettendorf cast steel bolsters and trucks. Modifications included an internal A-frame to encourage the materials to move, and adding hinges and cutting doors in the sides. The top board remained continuous. Where the doors actually are is a question,  because of the stake locations and the vertical rod hold-downs.

This should be an easy modification, because the base is a Phase II coal. In Sn3 Theo Berlwin introduced these models back in the 90s. Paul Vaughn picked up the kits at some point, and I understand Grandt/ San Juan now has the molds.

I arranged with Paul to purchase a number of kit parts as part of my Phase I coal build. In retrospect,  I should have just bought the frames--the part I really needed. Instead,  I have an abundance of Phase II sides.

The project has been in the rear of my mind for some time. Dr. Stears helped with plans in the March-April 2021 Gazette. After that, the hinges were the missing part.

Getting a 3d Printer helped solve that issue. Studying the plans, the hinge seems to be a L-shaped bracket that laps over the top board and a sqare-section timber with a steel plate. Looking at the photo Chris Walker posted, the door hinge looks more to be a piece of angle. Perhaps this is a later mod reflecting 20-plus years of service.

The plan also revealed the A-frame down the center of the car. I realized I could easily model this too--in fact it might be easier as a print. So, I did, and then I let the software create the supports, and it created waaay too many.

Cleaning up the part, I ended up breaking the part in two, plus loosing some of the supports.

This really is not an issue as the whole thing will be hidden anyway!

Here it is in a P III coal. My idea was to hold the frame short and use wood on top. A close read of the plan shows the whole thing is covered in steel. I will give some more thought to how this gets modeled

Using two of the surplus sides from the PI project I scribed the doors using a knife and razor saw.

Some of the horizontal joints were cut through.

The 3d parts have the hole in them, and these were drilled out to accommodate  0.020" wire.

One side is done. Stand by as the project continues. I am anxious to implement some of the weathering techniques I have been developed,  along with faded block lettering and patched Roman numbers.

And yes, Chris,  it may get, "EMTY RETURN TO PENROSE LEADVILLE " lettering.

[Keith Hayes]

I found a Phase II kit--the one I picked is from PVC. Of course I am deviating from the directions,  but I did clean up the underframe and notched the ends of the floor boards and glued those pieces around the weight.

Next, I drew a line down the center of the car and glued the A Frame to the deck with VMS Black Flexi CA.

To establish the the length,  the ends were cleaned up and cemented on. Always predrill holes before assembly. The starting idea was to build the A-Frame deck from wood 2x10s, the styrene material. In the end this will all be hidden, so I found scraps of 0.040 styrene sheet and cut it to fit. At the last moment, I scribed boards with a knife and glued it up.

[Chris Walker]

Keith wrote: Where the doors actually are is a question,  because of the stake locations and the vertical rod hold-downs.

Those round Tiedown rods shouldn't present much of an obstacle; there is a possibility that those were cut off; and the Doors just cut in(visible in the larger copy I posted) from the Sidestakes. You may notice that the upper section of the doorhinge folds over the top sideplank.

I have often wondered if there were slope corners fitted to the Coalcar conversions; as the side doors are in a ways from the ends.  They wouldn't want to hand clear the corners in Mine waste rock service everytime after dumping.  Of course the earlier versions had full doors for sides.

[Ken Martin]

According to Derrell Poole and Joe Douda in 1911 the CB&Q leased 50 cars that were rebuilt as side dump cars for a smelter in Galena, SD which failed during WW I. In 1920 10 cars were returned to the C&S and became 0200-0209, 15 cars were sold to the CB&Q and became 12685-12699, the remaining 25 were sold to an unknown buyer.

Ken Martin

[Keith Hayes]

Wine bottle foil is one of my favorite modelling materials.

The 3d printed part was entirely covered in styrene,  and in turn the styrene is covered by steel plate-er foil.

I flattened out the foil with the end of a hobby knife and cut it into 4' strips. These were cut to length, scribed at the ridge to fold sharply,  and scuffed up with a sanding stick. Carriage bolt heads were created with a drill bit and a straight edge.

I am looking forward to creating rust effects on this!

[Ken Martin]

Chris wrote "I have often wondered if there were slope corners fitted to the Coal car conversions; as the side doors are in a ways from the ends."

The folio shows slope corners.

Ken Martin

[Keith Hayes]

These cars hauled around a lot of air.

[Chris Walker]

Thanks Ken; several newspaper reports of the time specifically mentioned the clean dumping unaided.

About 35 ore cars to fill....