Genesis PC&F 50' box cars w/ COTS/LUBE

[riogrande]

I've been looking at the Genesis PC&F 50' box cars and some of them are labeled COTS and LUBE - the visible difference being these black labels with data listed.

I assume the COTS and LUBE refers to the stenceling on box cars at some point after they were in use. Can anyone previde some info about when and why these markings were applied?

[craigz]

May 13, 2012 11:11:19 GMT -8 riogrande said:

I've been looking at the Genesis PC&F 50' box cars and some of them are labeled COTS and LUBE - the visible difference being these black labels with data listed.

I assume the COTS and LUBE refers to the stenceling on box cars at some point after they were in use. Can anyone previde some info about when and why these markings were applied?

forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=64913 has good info for you...

[riogrande]

I looked up the link - yes, it looks like around 1972 or so - I'll copy and paste it in here in case anyone wants the info. I collect models from 1965-1990 but it's nice to know what models ran when depending on type of operation.

As it turns out I hadn't paid attention to the few Genesis PC&F cars I'd bought so far, but as it turns out, one of the Evergreen box cars (double plug door) and one of my Landis door SP box cars both are "pre-LUBE/COTS" cars and have no panel. I suppose one could put a decal on if need be. The one Cotton Belt Landis door box car has the LUBES label. I just ordered an Evergreen without the COTS.

Ngineer posted the following

From the Kalmbach book "Detailing Freight Cars".

Consolidated stencils first appeared in 1972.

COTS: clean, oil, test, and stencil for brake system
RPKD or LUB: repacked, for journals on solid-bearing trucks or lubed, for roller bearings
IDT: in-date test, for brakes
RCD: reconditioned, if a car has been rebuilt
INSP: inspected

In 1974, two-panel consolidated stencils became mandatory on cars with a deadline of 1979 for application to all cars. They can be adjoining or separate.

In 1982, the design changed to four panels, shortly thereafter, this was revised to three panels.


Wheel inspection dots: I quote from the same book.

Wheel inspection dots began to appear in March 1978. Cars without the banned wheels received a black square with a yellow dot, cars with the bad wheels got a white dot and were restricted in service, with weels to be replaced by December of that year.

www.hosam.com/mod/rsdet.html#ui

From the link:

"The A.A.R. began a program of consolidated Stencils in 1972 which applied
to new or rebuilt freight cars only. Application to existing cars was not
mandatory. The F.R.A.(Federal Railroad Administration)created in 1966
issued in July 1974 a mandate for all freight cars to begin having the
new consolidated stencils applied. These stencils are applied on the
lower right end when facing the car side."

[craigz]

Microscale makes the various COTS stencils as does Highball Graphics. I also add the ACI labels to cars where the cars are old enough to have gotten one.