HO scale Lumber Loads for 1960s through present day by Wheels of Time

Now you have a fleet of bulkhead flatcars and plain deck flatcars, it's time to load them up. Making realistic lumber loads is difficult. So we thought we take the pain out of making them. We do the hard part. You get to have the fun part. Assemble them in stackable and modular fashion in the manner you like.

• Interlocking pieces to build a lumber stack. Modular to fit a bulkhead or a plain deck flatcar.
• Load lumber stacks in brick-like-fashion on flatcar.
• One Wheels of Time lumber load will work for all makes of HO scale flatcar. It will fill a HO scale 62-ft Wheels of Time bulkhead or plain deck flatcar nicely.
• A two-box of Wheels of Time lumber load will fill two 62-ft flatcar 5-high, or about three 53-ft 6-in flatcars. (see below for loading diagram)
• One lumber load in a box includes: 14 pcs of 8-ft long stacks, 14 pcs of 12-ft long stacks, 12 pcs of 14-ft long stacks, 12 pcs of 16-ft long stacks, 2 pcs of vertical sticker 2 -bar, 3 pcs of vertical sticker 3-bar.
• Requires removing part from sprue, assembly, painting and adding banding. Glue, paint and banding are not included.

Prototype is based on lumber loads from 1960's to today.

Wheels of Time lumber loads

 

 

GET the PDF Brochure - Click Here

** NEW -  Loading Diagrams for Plain Deck Flatcar and Bulkhead Flatcar.

These are patterns to help you load the lumber stacks on the car. Obviously there are main combinations more than what is shown.

PDF - PLAIN DECK LOADING DIAGRAM     PDF - BULKHEAD LOADING DIAGRAM

 (To have a HO scale PDF loading diagram, in the print dialogue box, make sure (1)  ACTUAL SIZE is selected under SIZE OPTION (2) LANDSCAPE is selected under ORIENTATION)PNG image of Lumber Diagram for Plain Deck FlatcarPNG image Lumber Loading for Bulkhead Flatcar

Tips for assembling the kit.  PDF PNG

Fun video showing the assembling of the kit - done by my nephews - okay they are not hard core modelers. :-)

Item #	HO scale Lumber Load	Price	Status - see below (PayPal will debit account immediately)
987001-L	Lumber Load for one 62-ft flatcar stacked 5-high Plate C (No Retail Box in a bag.)	20.00	sold out
987001	Lumber Load for one 62-ft flatcar stacked 5-high Plate C	22.99	sold out
987002	Lumber Loads for two 62-ft flatcar stacked 5-high Plate C or about three 53-ft 6-in flatcars (see 53-ft 6-in loading diagram below)	43.99	sold out

 

 

 

A brief background on loading lumber on railroad flatcars - Loading lumber on flatcars and bulkhead flatcars changed in the 1960's from the 1950's.  Due to mechanization -  forklift trucks - stacks of equal lengths of lumber were piled together, banded and fitted with runners. Each stack or lifts were then loaded on-board the flatcar. Vertical stickers (vertical pieces of wood) were placed at the half-way point on the car to allow the forklift operator to properly load the car.  Each lifts were placed in a "brick-like-fashion" and banded together. This allowed more stability during shipment. Interestingly, the loads were not banded or tied to the flatcar itself.

Animation: HO-scale Lumber stacks being loaded in brick-fashion on flatcar.

Animation: HO-scale lumber into lumber stacks by Wheels of Time.

*** FAQ***

1) What do I need to finish the kit?

Flush cutters or Xacto knife

Black quilting thread (to simulate the metal straps)

Canopy glue for holding the black quilting thread

CA glue

Hot melt glue (helpful in holding load to deck on non-Wheels of Time flatcars.  Wheels of Time flatcars has a steel substructural and therefore you can insert a small magnet on the deck layer of loads to hold.)

Paint

Magnet (optional) to hold load on Wheels of Time flatcar in lieu of glue. Neodymium Block Magnet 3/16" L x 3/16" W x 1/32" H (K & J Magnetics, Item No. B3301)

2) What is it made out of?

The lumber loads are made of ABS plastic - used in plastic injected molds.  It will be molded in a brown-yellow color.

3) Can you show us some photos of flatcars carrying lumber?

Below are a few prototype Links on outside websites of Flatcars and Trains with Lumber

Santa Fe train at Bealville, CA

Southern Pacific train at Bealville, CA

Southern Pacific bulkhead flatcar with lumber

MILW Road bulkhead flatcar wth lumber

Golden West Service bulkhead flatcar with lumber

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