OK piggyback trailer experts, help me out....

[randgust]

Wonderful shot of the Super C crossing over the Topock River bridge in 1972....

http://abpr.railfan.net/february99/02-11-99/atxsf5944billweibel.jpg

(that's the only two 'non-blued' FP45's in 1972, the 5944 and the 5942).

I'm working on all those side-door mail Flexivans, and even the flatcars,  but take a look at the 7th trailer back with those horizontal ribs.  What the heck is that thing?   I've seen them in a lot of shots, never close enough to identify what the heck they were.  I think I'm finally past the various Flexivan mysteries, but that particular kind of trailer is a complete and total mystery to me.    Anybody know?  I certainly have never seen anything modeled that looked like that.

13th trailer back in this shot appears to be the same thing:
http://en.citizendium.org/images/d/d8/Super_C_1971.jpg

[prbharris]

I'm no expert, but I have not seen this before either - and looking at my research material cannot see anything like it elsewhere. The vans do not have the 'FlexiVan' logo branding on their side, though. I think that most FlexiVan trailers were identified in that way, especially in the early days.

I do not know if there is anything like that on the market either - but would be happy to have a look at some thing like that if these vans ran on Mark I and II FlexiVan cars, such as ours, if more info is posted!

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[Spades]

I'm an amature.

http://www.hankstruckpictures.com is a great resource

Could it be a livestock trailer?  Some 70's pictures.: http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/martin_phippard_seventies.htm

There this from Google books:https://books.google.com/books?id=jf2bUsK8NZcC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&dq=1970%27s+tractor+trailer&source=bl&ots=j5t6gpngNG&sig=wmkSVApzFujW23RzIYrhVDnpJYk&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tS36VOiDDsXeoATl4YHgAQ&ved=0CE8Q6AEwCw#v=onepage&q=1970's%20tractor%20trailer&f=false

[Spikre]

 
   Randy,
    that sure looks like what was known as a "Waffle Side Dry Van".
  Mont Switzer did a bash of an Athearn 40' van to one about 20
  years back in Mainline or MRJournal .
  cant offhand recall which as Mont did alot of vehicle/trailer articles
  over the years.
   those type vans were generally painted Red similar to PRR red,
   and were usually lettered for REAZ.
   if the article is found will post where it was,check the back issues
  list in Mainline, or Trailer article list in RMJ.
       Spikre
       

[BruceStikkers]

I agree with Randy and think I have seen some of these lettered for northeastern/midwest roads.

Bruce Stikkers
St. Joseph, IL

[randgust]

Spikre - that guy was one prolific writer!!!!

I have a Kalmbach login so I can search the magazine index.    Does this sound like it?


Modeling A 40' Parcel Trailer

by Switzer, Mont 

from Mainline Modeler February 1997  p. 38 

He wrote a lot of stuff though, that's just a guess.

I can't find anything anywhere on REAZ.   I'm guessing a 40' parcel trailer for REA Express???  That certainly would make sense on the Super C.  It would also make sense that they seem to be typical only on the early ones, didn't REA go out of business in the early 70's?

Update:  Searching my library, I found a picture dated 1969 that shows a pig train outside Chicago, and about 20 trailers back, one of those trailers, and it most certainly is a reddish-brown boxcar red color.  Can't read any lettering.  "High Green to Marcelene", McMillan, page 84.  Another on page 100 (Super C), and it looks like one behind it that is PC green.   Page 139, another brown one in the Super C.

Still can't locate one decent shot of the actual trailer, but knowing it was red/brown sure helps the spotting.
 

[Roger Holmes]

Randy--What are you using for side door Flexi-Vans?

[jagged ben]

Looks like a different roadname but see the one on the left in this pic:
http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/GNRHSNewby/GNRHS.Newby.Bk4img170.jpg

Looks exactly like what Spikre described.

[randgust]

Stone Creations makes a resin Flexivan container that's about the right size, side doors, but kinda rough, needs work.

Trainworx makes a good Santa Fe "Piggyback" red scheme Flexivan trailer with the side door that's darn good right out of the box.

Trainworx also has undecorated Flexivan trailers and Micro-Scale has the NYC decals (including the US MAIL placards)so I ordered a bunch direct, couldn't find them anywhere.  They are supposed to do that themselves but I'm tired of waiting.

That GN shot....wow, bingo.   XTRZ?   What the heck is that?   If it is XTRA lease, it's the oldest one I've ever seen.   I looked it up, the company started in like 1957, can't find a picture of a trailer like that by searching, but wow.... that may be it.   

[jagged ben]

XTRZ is XTRA leasing.  Still very much around.

For your target, see also...
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227094
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/227095

Those may also be XTRZ.  Hard to tell in black and white if they are the same as the GN photo.
I have at least one other photo of a brown XTRZ like that in my collection.

 

[Spikre]

 
   Randy,
    think the Parcel Van article was either building the TK Models Cast
  lead UPS style van,or the RPP UPS style van[now Athearn RTR,no more
  kits].
   look for something that says " Building a Waffle Sided Van",but cant recall
  which mag it was in ??
   REAZ was bought from REA and still should be a lesser of vans,but maybe
  they folded in the recent past ?
  look for Flexi-Van container trailers and lease vans today,some may be
  marked MDT.
    the vans were outside post with the extra long stifferners going down the sides.
  for years piggyback trailers were Over Built compared to Highway vans.
  the Waffle Sides were one attempt at an invincible van.
     the Z vans were another approach to extra strong trailers.
        Spikre
         

[randgust]

Wow, bingo.  Those are two wonderful shots.   You can get a rib count off of those shots, and the color off of the GN shot, so as I am NOT necessarily a rivet counter, and I've got a bunch of surplus Con-Cor/Roco trailers for parts, I may just try to make a master here with some add-on styrene strips.    Drawings would be perfect, but I'm a 'don't wait for perfect to get here' guy.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Ah Ben nailed it. I knew it reminded me of something but I couldn't place it. One of the intermodal books has a good photo. Off to check my library.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

That was fast. Biggyback Color Guide Vol. 1 by Morning Sun.
Inside front hardcover: Dorsey ad featuring three waffle trailers in XTRA
Page 25: August 65, three quarter shot of Dorsey trailer. ELZ 205013. Part of an XTRA lease series 200075-200124
Page 54: Dec 65, Angle shot of B&OZ 200580
Page 117: Early 60, Angle shot of XTRA 270949 by Highway
Page 118: Mid 60's, Rear 3/4 shot of MILZ series 205085-205109, XTRA 270473

All trailers appear to be owned and managed by XTRA and leased to various railroads. All are red/maroon and even appear to have the reporting mark plates located on the same panel. Roof appears to be silver, front is flat (no ribs). Rear has either double or quad latch, depending on builder. Rear bumper is also painted red. Dorsey vans have no sidestill. Highway trailers have drop down notches for markers, signals and over the wheels.

I highly recommend the Piggyback books from Morning Sun. Both books have very rare photos of early intermodal

[prbharris]

Micro-Scale has the NYC decals (including the US MAIL placards)so I ordered a bunch direct, couldn't find them anywhere.  They are supposed to do that themselves but I'm tired of waiting

We have the FlexiVan decals for NYC, PC and Milw vans too.

Contact me direct. I also think that Stone Creations has some that we delivered to him last June.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com