Modeling auto industry traffic - which cars do I need?

[fr8kar]

One of my coworkers used to work for GM before hiring out with the railroad, so when we got on the same job this week, I had some questions for him. Since part of what I model includes traffic to and from the plant where he worked, I was very interested to learn which vehicles the plant assembled during my modeling era. It turns out the Caprice Classic (and similar body styles from other GM badges) was the main vehicle produced during in Arlington during the 80s.

I'm not planning on modeling the assembly plant or even a loading ramp since I'm not modeling the Mopac in Arlington. But I am interested in figuring out which cars would be appropriate to deliver parts to the assembly plant during the 80s for the Caprice Classic. I imagine some of these cars would be delivered to MP in interchange and likewise the finished product would also be interchanged with other roads. If it helps, the interchanging railroads in Fort Worth at the time I'm modeling would be ATSF, BN, MKT and SP.

I already have a model of a Caprice Classic (I think it was made by Classic Metal Works) and it's nice. The more I think about how much the model weighs and how much it's going to cost to acquire a bunch of them, I'm starting to think about resin casting my own copies. If I had enough of these, I could see myself springing for an open autorack with side shields, since open autoracks were still popping up in my area during the 80s. That being said, I'll probably just use the handful of Walthers autoracks I already have to fill out the cut from the GM plant. I would expect a sedan like the Caprice Classic to be loaded on tri-level autoracks. Would bi-level autoracks be out of the question for these cars during this era? I already have a few bi-levels, but if they don't work as loads from the Arlington GM plant, they always have a place in my Espee Fort Worth Turn.

Currently there are five of the big auto parts cars in my collection and all but one are of the 8 door variety. Are the 8 door cars correct for the traffic I'm interested in, or should I replace them with the 4 door versions? Or is it possible a mix of both 4 and 8 door cars is correct? What other types of cars would deliver the parts needed to assemble these automobiles? I'm hoping there are options other than these big boxcars. They are visually interesting, sure, but they really eat up a lot of space in the train.

[mlehman]

Ryan,
I'm no expert, but know a little (which may be dangerous.) Word is that the 8-door cars were in Chevrolet pool service, but that a few 4-door ones could be mixed in by the time you're modeling (the 80s).

You want some of the 60' cars also, as they hauled heavier components like transmission and engines, etc.

I'll leave the rack stuff to better experts, but bi-levels would be unusual hauling cars like the Caprice. They were mostly for trucks and vans, but in a pinch could be used. The problem is that's 50% more expensive than a tri-level to ship the finished product.

[fr8kar]

Good point about the autoracks, Mike. I think I'll reserve my tri-levels for the Fort Worth Turn then. I'm also going to cull through photos taken on the Mopac in Arlington during my era to see what I can find mixed in with the big auto boxcars.

[riogrande]

I have only read about the Ford FAST traffic between Michigan and Milpitas California so I can't comment on Chevy part to Texas. The only thing I can remember from articles about the Ford FAST and GM ARRO is that Ford preferred the 86' box cars with 4 doors and the GM preferred the 86' 8 door box cars.

[Spikre]

spent a lot of time watching the Mahwah Ford Plant,but don't recall which cars
went there besides the 86' and 60' Ford type Auto Parts boxes.
Edit - add some older 50' Double Door cars.maybe some Tank cars of Paint or oil ?
also a lot of Truck Traffic in and out besides Auto Carriers.
the plant was almost a mile from the EL mainline,and had its own yard besides
the Hillburn side of the Suffern passenger yard,and about 2 miles west was a 3rd
track that often held Bi-Level and Tri-Level racks until they were needed.
a thru freight would drop boxcars at Hillburn,or pick up emties left there by
one of the Plant switchers,which were all EL,not sure if Ford had any critters
to work in the plant.
if loads were on the Scranton Main they would go to Croxton,then to Mahwah on a
train bound for Maybrook [NH then PC,then nothing],and then keep going west.
the road power would go into the Plant yard to pick up loaded racks,then head
west very quickly,some empty boxcars may go with it sometimes.
the Plant built big Fords,Mercuries and sometimes Lincolns,either pickups or
vans,dont recall as it depended on the years.
and was always a good start to watch EL if one didn't want to go to Croxton Yard.
during the week the Plant operated at least 2 shifts,so was really a surprise that
Ford closed the 1955 Era Plant [around 1980] and kept the older Metuchan plant.
EL did make some money off the Plant,but like UPS,if EL didn't perform they were
penalized.
Edit:
Just In Time Delivery isn't such a New Concept,the Ford Plant seemed to run by JIT.
Spikre

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

If I could help I would, but can only offer what limited knowledge I do have on auto assembly plants.

I used to commute on the Chicago South Shore and South Bend, to my job in downtown Chicago from Hegewisch on the far southeast side of Chicago. Hegewisch has the massive Torrence Avenue assembly plant. When I first started taking the train from Hegewisch, Norfolk & Western was still separate and switched the plant. I clearly remember the shorter 60' cars and four door 86' high cubes.

On Garbage Truck or Grand Trunk Western rolling through my former hometown of South Holland, Illinois heading west, it was a mixture of 86' high cubes with four and eight doors and many 60 foot cars.

[fr8kar]

I already have some Genesis 60' high cube boxcars. It sounds like they would fit right in for this traffic.

[Spikre]

RC,
the Genesis P-S 60' Ribbed cars with the double plugs were Ford cars when built.
not sure how long they lasted though,and cant recall seeing any at Mahwah.
also not sure what other Genesis 60' cars were used for, or which companies ?
look for that Walthers book on the Auto Industry,a good over view of the 80s
and 90s Auto Industry.
Spikre

[fr8kar]

The ones I have are high cubes, not the Ford PS cars. Thanks for the heads-up on the Walthers book. I'll see if I can find it.

[dti406]

The later 60' Geneses Hi-Cubes were mostly used in Appliance service, the Walthers and IMRC PS 60' SD and DD Cars were mostly used in GM Auto Parts service and were nicknamed "Fisher Body" cars. Also the ACF 60' Cars from Atlas could also be used in GM Service (or Chrysler Service). Also many other types of cars were used in auto parts service. Frames were delivered in 52' Gons with a rack to hold up stacked frames, the NKP had flat cars that were outfitted with bins for hold nuts and bolts that went into the manufacturing of cars. The ACY shipped tires from Goodyear etc in Akron in both 40' and 50' Boxcars.

If you get a chance see James Kincaid's articles in Mainline Modeler regarding the various 60' and 86' Auto Parts boxcars along with the miscellaneous cars I noted.

Rick J

[fr8kar]

Thanks, Rick. I have seen the Walthers, IMRC and Atlas cars you're talking about. I don't have any now, but that may have to change.

These days the plant assembles Yukons, Suburbans and Escalades, and the frames are transported on specially equipped flatcars. I wonder if the B body frames were transported in gondolas or on flatcars?

[Great-Northern-Willmar Div]

Feb 1, 2015 8:42:05 GMT -8 fr8kar said:

Thanks, Rick. I have seen the Walthers, IMRC and Atlas cars you're talking about. I don't have any now, but that may have to change.

These days the plant assembles Yukons, Suburbans and Escalades, and the frames are transported on specially equipped flatcars. I wonder if the B body frames were transported in gondolas or on flatcars?

I used to see frames on TTX flats all the time on the GTW. The frames headed west and the TTX flats were empty heading east.

[kentuckysouthernrwy]

In the Lansing, MI area on the GTW or NYC/PC there used to be lots of frames here on TTX cars, too. They were in stacks of a dozen or so strapped down parallel to the car, several stacks per 85' flat. I don't remember ever seeing any stacked like dominoes in gons as shown in some photos but never say never.

Parts were in big hi-cubes, lots of GT blue 85 footers and a few shorter but still long cars, ~70'(?). Auto racks for cars were tri-level and even the open cars often had side barriers on them. Don't recall the eras the cars became more enclosed.

[Spikre]

RC,
"America's Driving Force"
C-1998 by Wm K Walthers.
Editor - Laura Sebastion-Coleman.
there was a reprint around 2010,may be the better
version to try to find ?
on page 00 there is a photo of 1957 Fairlanes on the assembly
line,but they are IDed as "Early 60s Models".
so check to see if the reprint corrected that.
it is a good overall view of the Auto Industry,but a number of
plants listed like the "NUMMI" plant are gone now.
also some of the Car Brands are Kuput also.
Spikre

[fr8kar]

Thanks, Spikre, I'll keep a lookout for that book.