Heavy duty / depressed center flatcar

[David Boeschen]

I’m looking for photos of the depressed center flatcars built by MP from GSC castings. I’m specifically looking for MP 212 (MP 863002) but I’m interested in any of them from this era, rather than the later ones.

RG7

[David Boeschen]

I should mention that I already have the two photos from rr-picturearchives, taken by Chuck Zeiler at Cotter in July 1989, and the equipment diagram.

RG7

[Ted Ferkenhoff]

I have this one in my collection….

MP 863002
Port Reading, NJ
02-15-1987
Bill Guoff

[David Boeschen]

Ted:

Excellent shot. Just what I needed, thank you.

Regards,

RG7

[Charles Duckworth]

Nice photo, I noticed the end with the brake staff is stenciled “A end”. General practice in the industry called the end with the brake wheel the ‘B’ end so can a carman in the group explain the stenciling.

[anonymous]

Is that not due to there being a brake wheel on both ends of the car?

Gene

[David Boeschen]

In addition to a brakewheel at each end, the diagram shows 2 10″ brake cylinders and 1 AB valve. Presumably the B end is where the AB valve is located.

RG7

[Charles Duckworth]

Ron and Gene
Thanks I didn’t see the second brake wheel.

[David Boeschen]

I have a crappy photo of a depressed center flat that was definitely on the MP, I just can’t tell if it’s one of the similar, but not identical, MP flats we’re discussing or if it’s an unrelated car.

[attachment=0:jh2eyf7l]depressed flat Jan 71.tif[/attachment:jh2eyf7l]

RG7

[David Boeschen]

There is a Shapeways depressed center flatcar model that I ordered, which came today. The body and trucks are ordered separately. The Shapeways model is linked below, one for the body and one for the three-axle drop-equalizer trucks.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/J3JHSB42J/general-steel-industries-depressed-center-flatcar?optionId=110745885&li=marketplace

https://www.shapeways.com/product/7J9LLN7YW/general-steel-industries-three-axle-trucks?optionId=110758345&li=marketplace

The prototype is also shown, identified as SLSF 3900. The model has the jacking pads located in the same place as MP 1212, later 212, later 863002. The model measures out correctly, and is solid so it’s not obvious at first glance exactly where the weight could go. Another issue I’ve found is that the prototype has 30″ wheels, which are not common in HO model form.

Watch this space for further developments.

There is a different depressed center flatcar also available on Shapeways, which is not as close a match to this car but it does have the bottom of the body open to make room for weight.

RG7

[attachment=2:210bll4n]P1140782.JPG[/attachment:210bll4n] [attachment=1:210bll4n]P1140784.JPG[/attachment:210bll4n] [attachment=0:210bll4n]P1140786.JPG[/attachment:210bll4n]

[chastity_cumming]

I did decals for my E&P Assoc model of this car
https://web.archive.org/web/20151002172654/http://home.comcast.net/~jerryglow/modeling/

[Author]

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