Car markings

[asciibaron]

ACI labels, CON and COTS stencils, plate designators etc... is there a resource that details these various markings, when they were introduced, when they were abandoned, and what they mean?

ACI (automatic car identification) info here:
http://www.icrr.net/aci.htm
http://www.nakina.net/other/aci/aci.html

here's some info on required markings
http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=209

the plate diagrams can be found the ORER

-Steve

[wm3798]

I can't help you with specifics, but from the photo references I have, ACI's started appearing in the mid to late 1960's, and fell out of favor by about 1980.

The black/white lube stencils started appearing in the mid 1970's.

More detailed information would be welcomed by this little model railroader too.

Lee

[ai5629]

I'm thinking off the top of my head here, but I'll offer it any way.  I agree with the ACI's appearing in the mid to late 60's.  I want to say around 1966 or 67.  I think they were abandoned around 1979.  As far as COTS (lube plates), these started in late 1971 or early 1972.  Initially, a lube plate was a single square/rectangle  with all the "COTS" information listed in it.  This changed to a split rectangle or two squares in maybe 1974, possibly late 1973.  This was the standard used until the middle of 1981, at which point it changed to a much smaller lube plate consisting of a small rectangle divided into four sections.  This lasted for a couple of months.  It then changed into a small square with three sections.  This is still the type used today.  Any more thoughts are appreciated, as I am just rambling here.  These thoughts are purely from person observation.  Thanks.

[Mark5]

I didn't understand Steve's question, as the 1st link he posted has the answer. ???

[asciibaron]

I didn't understand Steve's question, as the 1st link he posted has the answer. ???

not all my questions are answered - i found some info on the ACI - missing info on the CON/COTS (filled in by ai5679) and other markings -

i just found the AAR B and C plate diagrams
http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/index2.htm?GNE_AAREquipmentDiagrams.htm

and here

http://www.nmra.org/standards/sandrp/gauge.html

and even more awesomely here

http://www.emdx.org/rail/Gabarit/ComparaisonGabaritsEuropenEtAAR.pdf

since i'm modeling 1967, i need to know when the COn and COTS were added since so many cars that would have been around in 1967 have the CON or COTS labels on them - and if what ai5679 says is true, i am in for a few headaches if i want to buy some of the autoparts boxcars.

for me, being close on a car design is ok, but if the car markings are of the incorrect type for the period, well, that just ruins the point of modeling a specific year.

-Steve

[Mark5]

Well, yeah, ya can't have those consolidated stencil boxes in 1967. I would prefer for most models, that the manufacturers depict them as they were at the time of the most recent paint rather than bringing them forward in time.

I have bought cars that had the right paint scheme for my era, only to find on close inspection that they were shopped 15 years after my era.  :

Here's some more info:

http://www.hosam.com/mod/rsdet.html

I'm still pondering the nightmare of adding ACI labels to my locos as my layout is loosely based in 1973.

[asciibaron]

Here's some more info:

http://www.hosam.com/mod/rsdet.html

that's the good stuff!  great link.

-Steve