Scratchbuilt Southern Pacific Flanger

[12bridge]

Heres one of my latest projects, an SP Steel flanger. These were built (the class I am doing) in 1938. Originally all wood, they have been rebuilt several times. in 1970 they were rebuilt with steel bodies. They are still in service today with Union Pacific, most were just overhauled.

For those who do not know, the purpose of a flanger is to remove the snow and ice between the rails,so it does not derail anything or pop air hoses.

Here is a prototype photo taken by Art Fisher of one, from Espee Railfan.


You can see more here: espee.railfan.net/flangers.html and here: shastaroute.railfan.net/MWFlanger.html

The start of mine: I am using general dimensions off an old Lambert brass model of a wood sided one.


Here is the ride height mocked up with my soon to be snow service SD9. One thing I didn't think of is couplers. I have no idea how I am going to mount them now. Im leaning heavily towards sergeants either way.


The other issue I am debating is who's trucks to use. I want something with brake rigging. Any suggestions?

Paul

[CIOR]

That will look slick when you get it done!

[tankcarsrule]

Paul, looking good!!! The trucks in the photo are 70T roller bearing, so you could use KD 70 tonners, they have brake rigging.

Bobby Pitts

[12bridge]

Thanks for the comments/suggestions. After digging around the Walthers catalog, I think I am going to go with the Exactrail ones. Reasoning being that the Kadee ones lack brake beams and side bearings, which will be visible on my model. The Exactrail ones have this. Also, those real springs don't look like they would hold up to well, but I have never run a pair of KD trucls.

Paul

[mountaingoatgreg]

Very cool...

There are two different styles of flangers that sat at Oakridge Oregon for a long time. A friend of mine and myself took a bunch of photos and even did some measuring. I know Harry Wong and Liz Allen have both been working on trying to build some of these flangers. If you need some more photos I can look through the files for more photos.

[12bridge]

As for the plow, I'm not to sure yet. I may either use brass or reuse the Lambert ones. haven't thought to hard about that yet. I was considering an interior as well.

Greg, More photos would be GREAT! Liz has helped a bunch over on trainorders (I posted these there to.).

[12bridge]

Ill have to pickup a set of the Kadees then. Thanks for the note about the Exactrails and the ordering.

The pad for the bearings would work just as well. There really is no bolster. The sidebearings are supported by there own supports extending down. You can see them better here: shastaroute.railfan.net/Photos/MofWay/SPMW_328_i.jpg

[icghogger]

Excellent Start, Paul, keep us posted on your progress. Have you looked at diesel or steam locomotive plows as a resource? Seems like Precision Scale made something very similar to what I see in the picture. Scratch-building a plow from styrene or thin brass stock should not be too hard.

[Freightrain]

Here is an ex SP flanger #329 that has been freshly painted into UP colors in Oct. 2009

www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=55919

[dmir]

They looked better in SP orange IMO

[mountaingoatgreg]

Paul,

Sorry for the HUGE delay...
Your goodies should be arriving first part of the week.

[12bridge]

Dont sweat it Greg! I havnt been home to work on her anyway!

[DRGW 5398]

Cool...I've been wanting to build one of these to go along with one of the snow fighter GP38-2's, eventually I'll get to it.

Please post more pix as you progress, awesome work so far!