Doing stuff again.

[Lemosteam]

I don’t think it is part of the truck, I think the pipe comes up from the under frame and tees into the air lines. Looks, like a lever at top. Maybe a pressure relief valve?

[garethashenden]

Would it be on both sides of the car or just this side by the brake wheel end?

Just the one side. There are some more GR/GRa pictures in this presentation and you can see its only on one side. https://speedwitchmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/PRR-Transition-Gon-Fleet.pdf

[Chris333]

It is just close by the truck, but it is a brake release of some sort. Tripple valve maybe?  Retainer valve?  I *think* there is only one close to the brake wheel.

[garethashenden]

Its the retainer valve. The triple valve is one of the components under the car.

[peteski]

[Sokramiketes]

Question for the freight car people. Coming up from the truck is some sort of brake release valve thingy. You can see it clearer in this proto photo:
https://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/images/GR_gon/GR_Load.png

Would it be on both sides of the car or just this side by the brake wheel end?


Going crazy waiting for more resin to show up... 

Just one retainer valve per car.  On a typical boxcar there's one next to the brake wheel on the car end. 

[Chris333]

OK next item on the agenda... who has an Alps printer?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eMDzoqGvaxQFgxuH6

That link should be the full size for N scale I used to draw them.

Trade decals for prints   

[Dave V]

https://k4decals.com/collections/gondola-decals/products/pennsylvania-railroad-gondola-white-circle-keystone-decal-prrgck?variant=39901170892959

[Chris333]

OK that will work for the rebuilt car.

I'd still like to do the original with arch bars and stake pockets.

[Chris333]

The older car should have archbar trucks. Does anyone know what the bolster offset is for MTL trucks?  I can just move the hole to make up for it on the older car and leave it centered for the newer car.

[Stolen Moment]

On that strange lever thing: isn't that a cut lever?  Several of the slides show it pretty clearly sticking into the lift ring on the coupler.

If there's one on the left side (looking at the end) at both ends of all(?) cars, the brakeman(?) can stomp on it (one foot in the stirrup, perhaps) to uncouple the cars without getting in between the cars.

The local commuter rail coaches have these things.  People are very surprised when I tell them what they are...

[Lemosteam]

Chris, my only issue with your design is the sideframe members.  They are clearly stamped with a very large bend radius for the entire length of the upper and lower bends as shown in the images.  Your model shows a sharp edge on them both.  I would guess that to be about a 2"-3" bend radius.

[Dave V]

Last night while looking for parts for a locomotive project I found my Traincat brass PRR GRa gon kit. And decals.

...and an Alan Curtis F30D TOFC kit that may as well have been a giant gold nugget!

[Chris333]

The frame is rounded on my model, but maybe not enough. The rounded side board is because this is the same layer as the inner deck that was creating a lip due to suction.




I also have the Traincat model.


I took the side stakes off to do the decals


BTW if Keystone Details is planning to do this car I will put it aside and wait. I have plenty other stuff to work on.

[Chris333]

Tried AI again. This time Gemini. Asking where can I find Ma&Pa Doodlebug #62 drawings. It gave me this :

1. Key Books & Reference Volumes
The Ma & Pa: A History of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad  (by George W. Hilton)

What it contains: Widely considered the definitive history of the line, this book includes official side and end elevation drawings/diagrams specifically doodlebug #62, alongside locomotive elevations and historical photos.

I have this book and there are some steam loco drawings, but not "specifically doodlebug #62"     Is this why we need data centers?

There is a HO brass model of it on ebay for around $130. Might just buy it to measure and then try to resell it...