This page covers flat cars that were used in general service. They were used for carrying loads that would not easily fit in other types of cars and varied in length from forty feet to sixty feet. In the steam era, most flat cars were plain unequipped cars with an AAR classification of FM. Those equipped for special duty were categorized as FMS. Equipment Registers usually included notes as to the commodities hauled. Type FMS cars are generally not included in the charts on this page as they often differ visually.
While the walls of boxcars and gondolas form a truss which helps support the load, flat cars require a heavy underframe which usually consists of fishbelly side or center sills. The lack of side walls also means a lack of panels, so in describing flat cars, three criteria are used: Inside length as indicated in Equipment Registers, type of side sill (fishbelly or straight) and number of stake pockets. For example, a Micro-Trains 45000 series flat car would be described as “50’ F14” in charts.
42’ FLATCARS
RED CABOOSE, MINITRIX and ATLAS
The forty-foot flat car was an obsolete design and in rapid decline by the post-war era. Union Pacific’s acquisition of 800 cars in the fifties were likely the last ones ever built, as well as the last ones to remain in revenue service. Some cars, however, would soldier on in maintenance of way service for many more years. In Worcester, Massachusetts a Reading forty-foot flat car was being used as a boom car for a CSX crane until about 2015.
Red Caboose produced a forty-two foot flat car in N-scale, which features a fishbelly side sill with twelve stake pockets. Unlike earlier models, they have crisp paint jobs and a nice low profile. Both Minitrix and Atlas offered a 40’ flat car in the early years of N-scale. The Austrian made Minitrix model was a twelve-pocket car similar to the Red Caboose model. However, it rode a bit high and the paint jobs were rudimentary; the lettering on many were applied to unpainted black bodies. The black models are marked with an asterisk after the catalog number. Atlas offered an eleven-pocket flatcar that was made in Italy by Rivarossi; but three of the four paint schemes were too modern for the car, leaving only the Reading.
The chart below lists all flat car series with a length between 40’ and 42’. Photos of these cars are few, but those roads I’ve been able to confirm had similar cars are indicated by an “F12” in parentheses. Exceptions are as follows:
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE- Red Caboose 16022 is numbered for one of several series of flatcars with a length of 44’6’. These cars are listed in the 45’ flat car chart below.
CHICAGO & NORTH WESTERN- Red Caboose 16008 is decorated in the “as delivered” scheme, which would be rare or nonexistent in postwar years.
NEW YORK CENTRAL- Red Caboose 16004 is decorated in the black “as delivered” scheme, which would be rare or nonexistent in postwar years. The “S” in front of the number indicated that it was a “System car”.
UNION PACIFIC- Red Caboose 16010 is numbered for earlier series of 40’ flatcars as repainted between 1947 and. However, the UP received 800 flat cars numbered 51000-51799 beginning in 1951. This series won the record for longevity with sixteen cars listed in the 7/1999 Equipment Register. They were equipped with tie-downs for hauling farm implements, though by that time they were most likely paint
45’ FLATCARS
AHM, CON-COR, LIMA, MODEL POWER, MRC and PMI
When longer flat cars began appearing in the 1920’s, the eastern roads began building fifty foot cars for the steel industry. Many western roads, however, opted for shorter cars between forty five and forty seven feet in length. As they approached the end of their service lives, several roads rebuilt them into type FC flatcars, as their length and lower weight capacity made them ideal for hauling trailers.
In the late sixties, Lima of Italy produced an N-scale model of a forty-five foot flat car with fishbelly side sills and thirteen stake pockets. The model was also sold by AHM, MRC and PMI. Chinese made copies of the model are currently available from Model Power. Like most Lima freight car models, I suspect they are compressed versions of longer cars. The models are rather toy like, with rudimentary paint schemes and studs on the top deck to secure the loads, which include cable reels, two Mercedes sedans or two twenty foot containers.
Like the Lima model, the Con-Cor fifty-foot flat car has fishbelly side sills and thirteen stake pockets. However, it is a bit longer than the Lima model but a bit shorter than fifty-foot flat cars from other manufacturers. While some of the roadnames offered could represent 45’ flat cars, most are modern schemes more appropriate for 53’6” flat cars.
The chart below is a comprehensive list of flat cars with a length between 44’ and 47’. Car series with fishbelly side sills and thirteen stake pockets like the model are indicated by “F13” in the ROAD column. For those steam era modelers who would like to letter an accurate model, volume 46 of the Train Shed Cyclopedia contains photos of C&NW and L&N cars. In addition, the Railroad Picture Archives website contains photos of CB&Q and NKP cars. The ready-to-run models are discussed individually below:
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE- Santa Fe acquired two groups of flatcars with a length of 44’6”. Ft-I/J cars first appeared in 1910 and had dual fishbelly center sills that sat just inside straight side sills. In 1924, ACF delivered 500 Ft-M flat cars numbered 97001-97500 which had fishbelly side sills and twelve stake pockets. The Ft-M cars were later modified for piggyback service as both single cars and permanently connected twin units. The font and color of the lettering on Lima/Model Power model is incorrect, while the lettering on the Cor-Cor model would be correct for 1944 or later. Red Caboose 15022 42’ flat car is numbered for a series of Ft-J cars as repainted between 1938 and 1944.
BALTIMORE & OHIO- In 1953, Baltimore & Ohio built a small series of 46’6” flatcars from gondolas. Numbered 8500-8523, they had fishbelly side sills with fourteen stake pockets. Con-Cor 1201D features the large “B&O” adopted on hopper cars that same year, but I’m not sure it was ever applied to flat cars.
BURLINGTON NORTHERN- Burlington Northern inherited about ninety 45’ fishbelly flatcars from the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. Though they were to be numbered 602140-602192, the October, 1975 Equipment Register listed only two cars, while a single car remained in the January, 1979 issue. The Lima/Model Power model might be the most accurate scheme offered on this body style; if it exists. Other than catalog numbers, I can find no other evidence that it was ever produced. The Con-Cor model is decorated in a simplified black scheme.
CANADIAN NATIONAL- In 1929, Canadian National received two different series of 46’ flat cars numbered 660200-660548. In 1957 Canadian National began modifying them for hauling trailers, renumbering them 680000-680269. Between 1968 and 1971, cars were modified for container service and renumbered 634000-634054 and 639000-630136. The general service and piggyback cars were retired in 1972, with the container cars retired in 1983. In 1959, National Steel Car delivered an additional 400 piggyback cars numbered 685000-685399. The last was retired in 1981. Though statistics are plentiful, I could find no photos. The Lima/Model Power model is decorated in the 1961 “Noodle” lettering scheme, so could represent the container cars.
CANADIAN PACIFIC- In 1929, Canadian Pacific received the first of 800 46’ flat cars numbered 300000-300799. They featured straight side sills, thirteen stake pockets and a fishbelly center sill. The last car was retired in 1988. This series is represented by Micro-Trains 44040 50’ foot straight side flat car. In 1958 Canadian Pacific received the first of a large number of 46’ piggyback flat cars from National Steel Car. Numbered 503000-503851 they featured straight side sills with no stake pockets. Thirty piggyback cars, numbered 506000-506029, were equipped for passenger service. In 1977 Canadian Pacific modified 300 piggyback cars for container service, numbering them 521400-521699, conversions continued through the eighties, with the last piggyback car retired in 1996. The Lima/Model Power model is decorated in the red CP Rail scheme, so could represent the container cars, which remained in service until 2002.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL- In 1929, Illinois Central received a series of 200 45’ flat cars numbered 61000-61199. They had straight side sills with fifteen stake pockets. Micro-Trains 44030 50’ straight side flat car is decorated for this series. Illinois Central also owned a series of 47’9” flatcars with fishbelly side sills and thirteen stake pockets. Numbered 61500-61749, they are a close match to the Con Cor 50’ flatcar. Unfortunately, the series was converted to pulpwood cars in 1951, while Con Cor 1201J is decorated in Illinois Central’s 1967 orange “Split Rail” scheme.
PENNSYLVANIA- In 1933, Pennsy’s shops began construction of a 1,500 car fleet of F30a flat cars. An additional 450 nearly identical F30d and F30e’s followed in 1951. They had an inside length of 49’3” with a GSC cast frame, fishbelly side sills and thirteen stake pockets. The Lima/Model Power Pennsylvania flatcar is numbered for Pennsy’s F30a flatcars. Although the later Con-Cor release with catalog number 120103 is numbered for Pennsy’s 53’6” F41 flat car, it could represent an F30a as repainted after 1955. On the earlier Con-Cor 1201B release, the road number is to the left of the name instead of the right.
50’ STRAIGHT SIDE FLAT CARS
MICRO-TRAINS
Micro-Trains introduced their 44000 series fifty-foot straight side flat car in 1977. I don’t believe this model represents an actual prototype, but is an adaptation of their 45000 series fishbelly flat car. Visually, the model lacks one important feature common to all straight side sill flat cars; a fishbelly center sill. In addition to differences in length and number of side pockets, none of the prototypes had the side mounted brake wheel of the model.
Visually, this model best represents the 50’ and 52’ flat cars rostered by the Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Spokane, Portland & Seattle and Burlington Northern. They could be improved by fabricating a fishbelly center sill from wood or styrene and replacing the brakewheel. In the model pictured above, the side mounted brake wheel has been replaced with a vertical brake wheel from a Micro-Trains tank car.
Each roadname is discussed individually below:
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE- In 1929, AT&SF recieved 350 class Ft-O and Ft-P flatcars from ACF. Numbered for series 90501-90850, these fifty foot flatcars had deep, dual fishbelly center sills that sat just inside the straight side sills. Micro-Trains 44060 carries the original as-delivered scheme with an ampersand in the reporting marks, which was dropped in 1938.
BURLINGTON NORTHERN- In the 1970 merger, BN inherited 52’ straight side sill flat cars from NP, GN and SP&S as well as 53’6” straight side flat cars from CB&Q. Micro-Trains 44070 is numbered for BN series 602600-602699, which may have been built after the 1970 merger, but matches the dimensions of former Burlington 53’6” flat cars.
BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE- The Railcar Photos website has a picture of BNSF 576734, the prototype for Micro-Trains 04400122. It is a 56’8 former Thrall bulkhead flatcar with fifteen stake pockets. Like the Southern Pacific cars, it has a much thicker side sill than the model. The July, 1999 Equipment Register does not list this car, but does list series 584789-584820; a pair of 53’6 flat cars that match the dimensions of the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy cars.
CANADIAN PACIFIC- In 1929, CP received the first of 800 46’ flat cars numbered 300000-300799 with straight side sills and thirteen stake pockets.
CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY- Between 1942 and 1968, CB&Q’s Havelock shops constructed a total of 1,800 53’6” flat cars with straight side sills. Micro-Trains 44090 is numbered for series 93000-93399 delivered in 1957 and features yellow lettering, which may not be correct for earlier series. The final series, numbered 93650-93749 was delivered in 1968 and was painted in a green pre-merger scheme.
GREAT NORTHERN- In 1945, GN received a series of 250 52’ flat cars numbered 66000-66249 with straight side sills and fifteen stake pockets.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL- In 1929, IC received a series of 200 45’ flat cars numbered 61000-61199 with straight side sills and fifteen stake pockets.
NORTHERN PACIFIC- NP’s straight side sill flatcar fleet began with a series of 200 50’ flat cars with thirteen stake pockets numbered 60000-60199. This was followed by the first of four series of 52’ cars with fifteen stake pockets in 1936 totaling 1,234 cars numbered 60250-61533. Micro-Trains 44020 is numbered for a 500 car series of 52’ cars delivered in 1937 numbered 60800-61299. Some of the cars were renumbered in the late forties, presumably after rebuilding.
SPOKANE, PORTLAND & SEATTLE- In 1951, SP&S received a series of 200 52’ flat cars numbered 34000-34199 with straight side sills and fifteen stake pockets.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC- In 1968, SP received the first of 700 53’6” straight side sill flat cars with sixteen stake pockets from ACF. Numbered 565050-565749 these cars had significantly thicker side sills than the model, so Micro-Trains 04400110 doesn’t really capture the look of the prototype.
WEYERHAUSER LUMBER- Micro-Trains 44050 is likely a fantasy scheme as the road number is the same as the catalog number. A web search for WTCX freight cars produced a variety of skeleton log cars, tank cars, covered hoppers and woodchip gondolas, but no flat cars. Many of the log cars pictured do not appear in my Equipment Registers; some appear to have wooden center sills and were likely not legal for interchange. The chart below includes those skeleton log cars that were listed in the Equipment Registers.
50’ FISHBELLY FLAT CARS
ATLAS, BACHMANN, CON-COR and MICRO-TRAINS
The era of 50’ flat cars was a short one; first built in the late twenties, 53’6” flat cars became the norm by the early forties. The 150 cars built by Magor Car for the U.S. Army in 1953 were likely the last ones ever constructed. While N-scale models of 50’ flat cars are plentiful, most are actually stand-ins for 53’6” flat cars, a model only recently available in N-scale. The difference in car length becomes apparent when a 50’ model flat car is put next to a 53’6” model flat car. The difference in deck height is apparent also, as all of the N-scale 50’ flat cars are “old school” models with truck mounted couplers and are one to two scale feet too high.
The Atlas, Bachmann and Con-Cor models are essentially the same car with, a riveted frame, thirteen stake pockets, a full wooden deck and a rather oversized vertical brake wheel. All date back to the early years of N-scale. The Atlas model is just under fifty scale feet long, while the Con-Cor model is slightly shorter. The Bachmann car is advertised as a 52’ flat car; though I don’t have one handy to measure.
Micro-Trains introduced their 45000 series fifty-foot fishbelly side flat car in 1975. The model is just over fifty scale feet long, has a riveted frame, fourteen stake pockets, a wood and steel deck and a side mounted brake wheel. The side mounted brake wheel is rather unusual, and presumably used due to manufacturing limitations of the time. Photos indicate that Reading and Western Maryland did own such cars, but ni\either can be the prototype for the Micro-Trains model as both series had welded frames.
The chart below lists major flatcar series with an inside length between 49’ and 52’. In order to keep the chart to a manageable size, the many models standing in for 53’6” cars will be included with the chart for 53’6” flat cars. An asterisk next to a catalog number indicates that the model is not numbered for a different series (usually a 53’6” flat car series). Only type FM flat cars for general service are included, as equipping cars for specific commodities usually changed their appearance. Where known, the “ROAD” column includes a general description of the prototype in parentheses as follows: inside length as reported in Equipment Registers, type of side sills fishbelly (F) or straight (S), cast frame (c), riveted frame (r), welded frame (w), side mounted brake wheel (b) and number of stake pockets. The catalog numbers of Atlas piggyback cars are included, as they can be used as general service flat cars by simply removing the trailers. Additional information for specific roadnames are included below:
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE- In 1929, AT&SF recieved 350 class Ft-O and Ft-P flatcars from ACF. Numbered for series 90501-90850, these fifty foot flatcars had deep dual fishbelly center sills that sat just inside the straight side sills. These center sills were close enough to the side sills that some of the dimensional data were painted on them. Atlas 50’ piggyback cars have an ampersand in the reporting marks, which was dropped in 1938.
MISSOURI-KANSAS-TEXAS- Micro-Trains 45240 represents a 50’ flat car built in 1911 for Katy subsidiary Missouri, Kansas and Texas of Texas (MKTT). No post war information exists for either the road number or length, and it’s unlikely this early scheme would still exist. However, the MKTT did have a small series of 49’5” flat cars listed in the Equipment Registers.
PENNSYLVANIA- Although Atlas released their 50’ piggyback cars with at least fifteen different road numbers representing Pennsy’s F30a, they carry the two-line paint scheme for class F30. Pennsy’s 1,950 F30a,d and e flat cars had a cast frame with a narrow profile, which required the name and road number to be on a single line. Bachmann 17373 is decorated in the single line scheme. Pennsy’s 100 F30’s had a riveted frame with seventeen stake pockets and is represented accurately by Micro-Trains 45140. Micro-Scale 60-1262 contains decals for the F30a, and if you’re ever lucky enough to find one, Alan Curtis Models made a metal kit for the F30a.
UNION PACIFIC- The first two releases of Micro-Trains 45050 were numbered for the 56700-56999 series, a group of 52’6” flat cars delivered in 1938. The yellow lettering is incorrect as an as-delivered scheme, but could represent two series of 52’6” cars as repainted between 1947 and 1953. The third release has the correct white and yellow lettering, but is numbered for the 57000-57299 series, UP’s first 53’6” flatcars delivered in 1941. While the three initial releases incorrectly have the “Road of the Streamliners” slogan on both sides of the car, the 983 02 263 two-pack with M3 tanks is correctly done with the “Serves all the West” slogan on one side.
UNITED STATES ARMY- Micro-Trains 45180 is numbered for series 38016-38665 a group of 650 54’ 16-pocket six-axle flat cars built by Magor Car Corporation in 1953. That same year, Magor also delivered a series of 50’ four-axle flat cars numbered 39500-39649 which had fourteen stake pockets like the Micro-Trains model. In the early seventies, the Department of Defense began using DODX reporting marks. The October 1975 Equipment Register lists only cars with DODX reporting marks, however, the Railroad Picture archives contains a 1980 photo of a USAX flat car.
