When did the Santa Fe go to the small circle crosses on their hoppers?

[wcfn100]

I was looking at getting some more ATSF hopper cars and I'm seeing some early 70's repaints with the small circle crosses along the bottom of the sides.  I model 1966-68 and was wondering if these crosses started within my modeling era, or was it not until the 70's?

Thanks,

Jason

[Ron McF]

Jason,

without referring to my books (which I can't access at present) for a date, the Santa Fe started using these reflective markers sometime around 1958-1960. 

I model 1960 on my layout, but try to avoid buying cars with these markers (and the large, round "Santa Fe" car-side emblem which was introduced around the same time) because, IMO, they look more modern than the era I'm trying to represent.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2883315

Regards,
Ron

[wcfn100]

Well here's what happened, I found a listing for a block of ATSF ballast hoppers and I thought it'd be neat to have since it's a body style I don't presently own.  Atlas has made three releases of ATSF cars; as-delivered, repaint and late repaint.  The late repaint I don't need to worry about but other two are at opposite end from my modeling era (1968).

I did some research and I think I could use the as-delivered scheme if I remove the periods between the reporting marks and, of course, put a newer shop date on it.  It's the repaint ('72) with the circle crosses that I didn't know, but I think I would just remove them and the back date the shop date.  There's not a lot of pictures of these cars considering the following the ATSF has.

I haven't pulled the trigger because right now the first run cars from years ago are priced on e-bay higher than what I could get a new run for.  I might just wait for Atlas to rerun the schemes unless I can find a good deal before that.


Jason

[Ron McF]

I'm also waiting for Atlas to rerun their Hart ballast cars in the ATSF scheme without reflective emblems, and hopefully with "ATSF" instead of "A.T.S.F."

My Santa Fe Painting and Lettering Guide (Hendrickson) says that the round reflective emblems were used from 1958 till 1971 when they were replaced by white reflective rectangles.  It appears that they were applied to new cars, and cars that were completely repainted, but not necessarily to other cars, including those that had repair work done.  For my 1960 setting, I'm using cars with "A.T.S.F." with the excuse that they haven't been repainted for a long time.

Regards,
Ron