Dimensioned Locomotive/Railcar Photos?

G

GN1996

Not a real user title.
Hello,

I was wondering if anybody has found dimensioned (or even not) drawings for North American locomotives and railcars. I have searched high low for the better part of the day and to no avail. It would be a preference if they were free, but unfortunately cash flow is non-existent. The main thing I am looking for is drawings of passenger cars and locomotives from the 1900's to 1960's. Even some of the modern stuff would be nice. Thanks in advance to anybody willing to share links or even just information on this stuff.
 
Well, the 1909 edition of the Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice is available as a free download through Google Books at <http://books.google.com/books?id=quZSAAAAMAAJ>. You might be able to download the 1906 edition of the Car Builders dictionary at the same place. There are more recent editions of the volumes (they were combined in the second third of the last century into the Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia) which you might be able to borrow through interlibrary load by consulting with the interlibrary loan librarian of your local public library. If you are looking for specific types of cars, you might try contacting either Model Railroader or Railroad Model Craftsman, telling them what type of car you are looking for, and asking about the availability of plans. Both publications have published dimensioned plans over the years. Also, of value might be the joint NP GN historical archives, <http://www.gn-npjointarchive.org/default.aspx>.

ns
 
If you are looking for passenger cars, I would recommend the Passenger Car Library series of books. Now, they are $35 a book, but they are great. They are split up by either railroad or region and car builder (Budd, Pullman, ACF, etc.). They contain detailed dimensioned builders plans for many passenger cars. (For you I would recommend the Volume 3 book as it is the Western Roads and it contains Great Northern equipment built by Budd and ACF.)
 
Thanks for the replys guys! When I looked at the GN-NP Archives, they gave drawings for some GN diesels, but they were not dimensioned. They do have content that will aid me, however. As for these books, where might a person be able to find and purchase them? Do you think I could get them off Amazon? I would try my local library, but the system here probably would not posess such books. I am going to see what I can find for reference material at an upcoming train show and swap meet. Again, thanks for the replys and have a Happy Easter everybody!
 
http://research.nprha.org/default.aspx

NPHRA.org

This should keep you busy for a while.

Engine books with dimensions, freight car books with dimensions, TRACK CHARTS (No excuses for a FREELANCED NP route), Building diagrams with dimensions, photos, etc...

Look under :

NP Condensed Track Profiles & Charts by Alan Eisenberg

NP Mechanical Drawing Database

--Diagrams of NP Equipment, Structures, Maps, etc.

--Rosters of NP Equipment, Stations, etc.

Check out the other headings...

That should keep you busy in NP stuff for a long while.

Oh yeah, did I mention FREE?
 
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There are some standard dimensions in railroading, that you should probably be able to find fairly easily. Wheels on most equipment for many years were standardized at 33 inches; larger capacity (100 T) cars were standardized at 36 inches; diesel locomotives use 40 inch wheels; intermodal cars often use 38 inch wheels. Guages (distance between the outside of the wheel flanges) were pretty standard, too, in the US mostly 36 or 56 inches. The distance between the rail head and the horizontal Centerline of the coupler is a standard value; and on box and refrigerator cars, the width of the doors is also usually a standard value. From which you can extrapolate other dimensions.

However, with most 3d modeling platforms, there is the capability of using a background reference image and modeling from that, so if you know the drawings are accurately scaled, knowing the exact dimensions is less critical than it is in real models.

But I would urge you to try your local library before much else. While I would not expect your own library will have much material you find useful, but your library is most likely part of a regional system, which improves the chances somewhat and here is the facility of inter-library loan, where your library can borrow a book it doesn't own from a library that owns it. I expect that the reference librarian at your local library is familiar with the practice, and if not, ask to be put in touch with the person in the library system that handles interlibrary loans; I expect that you can get a good bit of information at little cost through this means. And if you can locate exactly what issue and what page plans you are interested in are on, you can even request photocopies of magazine articles through interlibrary loan, too.

For used books, yes, you can get them through Amazon, or Barnes and Noble; both have associations with used book merchants. But my first choice is usually the abebooks site. Vendors who sell railroad and model railroad content will sometimes have more than one volume you want, and you can save some money on shipping if you purchase multiple books from the same vendor at the same time.

Finally, if you are not already aware, there is an email discussion group dedicated to the Great Northern (and two devoted to NP, if you're so inclined), at <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/gngoat/>.

ns
 
http://books.google.com/books?id=gI...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Buildings and Structures of American railroads, circa 1893

Full View, Can be downloaded as a PDF.

Lots of illustrations.


http://books.google.com/books?id=lL...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Maintenance of Way cyclopedia, circa 1921

Full View, downloadable as a pdf.

Lots of Illustrations.


http://books.google.com/books?id=jC...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Locomotive Dictionary, circa 1906.

Full view, PDF version.

Lots of Illustrations.


http://books.google.com/books?id=6w...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Automatic Block Signals and signal circuits. Circa 1908

Full View, PDF downloadable,.

Lots of drawings of Signal equipment.

Semaphores and support equipment.


http://books.google.com/books?id=MS...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Walschaerts and other modern radial valve gears for Locomotives. Circa 1920

Full View, PDF available.

Moe illustrations than can be listed.


http://books.google.com/books?id=yS...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Railway Master Mechanic. Circa 1906.

Full view, PDF available.

Monthly publication, all 12 issues are here. Illustrations and pics of equipment, buildings, cars, etc.


http://books.google.com/books?id=qu...snum=8&ved=0CCAQ6AEwBzgy#v=onepage&q=&f=false

1909 Locomotive cyclopedia of American practice.

More locomotive drawings, cab interior drawings, appliance drawings. More than you can shake a stick at..


http://www.southernrailwaymodeling.com/DrawingsBlueprintsTechnicalData.html

More diesel and steam locomotive plans....

Car drawings, lettering guides, fonts, might keep ya busy for awhile...

Southern railway flavored....


http://books.google.com/books?id=Tm...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

The Railroad signal dictionary. circa 1908

Full Version, PDF available.

Lots of pics and drawings.


http://books.google.com/books?id=1o...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Railroad Signaling:Automatic. Circa 1922

Full version, PDF available.

Pics and drawings.


http://books.google.com/books?id=Z7...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Railroad Signaling. Circa 192. Mcgraw-Hill

Full version, PDF available.

Pics and drawings.


http://books.google.com/books?id=sd...&source=gbs_slider_thumb#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Cotton Belt locomotives.

Limited preview. Lots of pics. Read a little one day, come back the next and read some more.


http://www.fcix.info/

Click "reference sheets".


http://www.ericsrailroadcarhistory.com/

Click on "Eric's car of the month" also "Eric's Research tools".


http://www.dgcasdorph.com/

Click on "Freight car journal"


http://www.readingmodeler.com/modules.php?name=Downloads

The Reading Modeler Website.

Check out the signs section.


http://www.sooline.org/publications/drawings/cars/cars.html

SOO line historical society.

Painting guides. Check out the various sections. Locomotive drawings, caboose drawings, freight car drawings.


http://www.mopac.org/pic_paint_diagrams.asp

MOPAC painting and drawings.
MOPAC historical society.


http://southern.railfan.net/

Click on Southern Documents. Locomotive, freight car, and passenger car diagrams.


http://climaxlocomotives.com/drawings/
(Bottom of page)

http://www.craftsmanshipmuseum.com/Hiraoka.htm

Climax Locomotive drawings.


http://www.locomotivehorns.info/

Locomotive Horns Website. Drawings and sound samples!


http://crcaboose.railfan.net/index.htm

Cabins and cabeese of Conrail. Lots of drawings and info.


Pennsy fans rejoice:

http://prr.railfan.net/

Definitely fill a dvd off this site.


For my Canadian friends:

http://jbrail.railfan.net/Drawings.html

CN and CP drawings


Too much to list... NKP locomotive book, N&W locomotive book.. W&LE....maps....

http://www.railsandtrails.com/



http://www.illinoiscentral.net/

Rosters, locomotive books, drawings...


http://www.bnsf.railprices.com/

Click on customer tools.

Clicking on Network maps, then BNSF system, will get you the entire BNSF system map.

Clicking on customer tools, equipment information, then carload equipment takes you to a page where all of their railcar types are listed.

Click on the one you are interested in.

Then click on the Diagram.

You get a drawing, dimensions, and notes.

Very awesome.


I was mucking about looking for drawings and plans and tripped across these:

http://www.johnstownamerica.com/Coke-Coal-Railcars.htm

http://www.johnstownamerica.com/Inte...e-Railcars.htm

http://www.johnstownamerica.com/Ore-...e-Railcars.htm

http://www.johnstownamerica.com/Industrial-Railcars.htm

Click on the individual car, look down towards the bottom of the page. Click on drawing....

Has a nice spec sheet too.


http://ebook.lib.hku.hk/CADAL/B3139551X/

1919 Car Builders cyclopedia online.

Doesn't seem to like Firefox though, use I.E.

Each individual page can be downloaded as a pdf, but not the whole manual at once.

NEW!

Lots of B&O C&O Drawings, Hinton, Thurmond, coal towers, etc:

http://www.wva-usa.com/newsite/www.wvrailroads.com/drawings/thurmond-coaling-tower/


C&O Historical society

lots of stuff in there mag, lower left of the home page, lots of drawings....

http://www.cohs.org/


Freight car equipment: A reference...1910

http://books.google.com/books?id=d5i7nt0Vsz4C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false


Nice little reference for some Pennsy engines and cars.....

The Pennsylvania railroad: Modern Locomotives and cars 1939

http://ia700401.us.archive.org/9/it...Cars1939PennsylvaniaRailroad/albany00alba.pdf


Car Builders Dictionary from 1916:

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924032183216

Lots of Freight car drawings.

The railroad pocket-book: a quick reference cyclopedia of railroad information
http://books.google.com/books?id=HhUx85xep4cC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

The railway locomotive: what it is and why it is what it is
http://books.google.com/books?id=N7...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

First aid to the disabled locomotive engine, air brake and air signal
http://books.google.com/books?id=ZypMAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Locomotive appliances
http://books.google.com/books?id=LP...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The modern locomotive
http://books.google.com/books?id=Bg...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Locomotive hand-book From Alco Products, Inc
http://books.google.com/books?id=2L...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Steam locomotive construction and maintenance
http://books.google.com/books?id=_7...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Cars, their construction and handling
http://books.google.com/books?id=Fy...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The locomotive of to-day
http://books.google.com/books?id=6U...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The slide-valve and its functions:with special reference to modern practice in the United States; with ninety diagrams and illustrations
http://books.google.com/books?id=qO...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Encyclopedia of railroading, Volume 1
http://books.google.com/books?id=Jq...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Modern locomotive valves and valve gears
http://books.google.com/books?id=tM...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Railway maintenance engineering with notes on construction
http://books.google.com/books?id=ds...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

A Field Guide to Trains of North America
http://books.google.com/books?id=Zv...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The Railway engineer, Volume 29
http://books.google.com/books?id=SI...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The boys' book of locomotives
http://books.google.com/books?id=lM...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false


The Greenbrier companies posted drawings and dimensions for the freight cars they build, look under manufacturing:

http://www.gbrx.com/Manufacturing_Home.php?expandable=0
 
Locomotive valves and valve gears, with a special treatise on valve setting:an explanation of the construction and action of the plain slide valve, the piston valve and the gears which operate them, as applied to locomotives, based on notes used in schools for apprentices, Pennsylvania railroad
http://books.google.com/books?id=TK...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Steel rails: their history, properties, strength and manufacture, with notes on the principles of rolling stock and track design
http://books.google.com/books?id=n9...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Railway master mechanic, Volume 4
http://books.google.com/books?id=hB...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Freight car equipment: A reference book for car men on freight car work, describing and illustrating ... the different kinds of freight cars now built and various devices used in their construction and repairs
http://books.google.com/books?id=d5...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The railway locomotive: what it is and why it is what it is
http://books.google.com/books?id=uf...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The car-builder's dictionary: an illustrated vocabulary of terms which designate American railroad cars, their parts, attatchments, and details of construction. Five thousand six hundred eighty-three illustrations
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ah...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Heating and lighting railway passenger cars ... Fully explained and illustrated
http://books.google.com/books?id=N2...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Railway construction
http://books.google.com/books?id=Kq...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Maintenance of way and structures
http://books.google.com/books?id=5-...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Reinforced concrete railway structures
http://books.google.com/books?id=6V...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The carman's helper
http://books.google.com/books?id=iW...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Modern locomotive valves and valve gears
http://books.google.com/books?id=RZ...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The locomotive up to date
http://books.google.com/books?id=Xs...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Locomotive cyclopedia of American practice, Volume 1
http://books.google.com/books?id=NO...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The railway signal dictionary
http://books.google.com/books?id=vpJAAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Buildings and structures of American railroads
http://books.google.com/books?id=gI...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Maintenance of way cyclopedia: a reference book covering definitions, descriptions, illustrations, and methods of use of the materials, equipment, and devices employed in the maintenance of the tracks, bridges, buildings, water stations, signals, and other fixed properties of railways
http://books.google.com/books?id=lL...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Locomotive cyclopedia of American practice, Volume 2
http://books.google.com/books?id=qu...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Automatic block signals and signal circuits: American practice in the installation and maintenance of signals electrically controlled, and operated by electric or other power, with descriptions of the accessories now regarded as standard
http://books.google.com/books?id=6w...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The Walschaert and other modern radial valve gears for locomotives
http://books.google.com/books?id=MS...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Railway maintenance engineering:with notes on construction
http://books.google.com/books?id=Gr...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Railway signal engineering (mechanical)
http://books.google.com/books?id=UU...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

A course of instruction in steel freight car design: Arranged for students specializing in railway mechanical engineering
http://books.google.com/books?id=au...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Cyclopedia of locomotive engineering, with examination questions and answers: a practical manual on the construction, care and management of modern locomotives, including boiler construction, valves and valve gears, indicators, locomotive equipments, including headlights and mechanical stokers. Special chapters on the air brake
http://books.google.com/books?id=_b...ce=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
 
Wow nothing like getting buried alive in info (not that thats a bad thing of course).

The 75th anniversiary DVD set of Model RR Magazine has all plans ever published in it but its around $200.00.

Ben
 
Wow! :eek: Thanks Ben, Chris, and Mjolnir for all of that information. I am going to be quite the busy fellow this week.
 
Shoot some loco classes and I'll see what I can find!

I managed to find some British experimental locos like Big Bertha, Turbomotive and Bulleid's 'Leader'. I may have similar luck with experimental American locos.
 
Thanks cap, but I'm looking for North American drawings. An idea of what I am looking for includes: as many drawings as possible for Great Northern passenger cars, drawings for GN's R-1's and R-2's as well as drawings of their S-2 class 4-8-4.
 
I would suggest you try making something in 3D and getting it into Trainz befor you get into making a loco, it's a lot harder than it looks.
 
whitepass said:
I would suggest you try making something in 3D and getting it into Trainz befor you get into making a loco, it's a lot harder than it looks.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is my plan. I am going to start out making a few scenery objects, then I will try a simple freight car, then I want to do a caboose which I have some great ideas I want to do with it. After those, I want to try more rolling stock or even a simple diesel locomotive. Then comes the steam engines. I still have quite a way to go first.

Does anybody know if there is a way to draw in Blender by entering co-ordinates to draw from point to point?
 
GN1996 said:
Thanks cap, but I'm looking for North American drawings. An idea of what I am looking for includes: as many drawings as possible for Great Northern passenger cars, drawings for GN's R-1's and R-2's as well as drawings of their S-2 class 4-8-4.
Click to expand...

I know you want American stuff, I just haven't looked for any yet as British is just where my interest lies.

Edit: Is this the S-2 you want? http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/images/steam/GNS2_2584Diagram.JPG
 
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