ScaleTrains Rivet 38388 HO Scale BSC F68AH Bulkhead Flatcar “Speed Patched” TTPX 81171

The first production BSC F68-series flat cars, the F68AH, first appeared in 1969. They were initially equipped with 10’, 11” tall end bulkheads with wood facing; wood deck with integral tie-down channels; and steel deck risers. These 100-ton cars came equipped with 36” wheels, trucks equipped with hydraulic snubbers (at opposite corners of the car), and 15” End of Car Cushioning (EOCC) to improve ride quality and reduce dangerous shifting loads.

The early builds featured an “H” shaped fabricated jacking pad at the bolsters. During the final two years of production, this changed to a fabricated box with an integral roping eye. All were built with transverse steel risers in the deck but this feature would start to be removed from the fleet after just a few years of service. While most cars featured a bulkhead face-to-face distance (inside length) of 62’, some cars were equipped with added bulkhead faces over the original bulkheads which reduced the inside length to 60’, 6”.

Well over 1,100 F68AH bulkhead flats were built before production of the design ceased in August 1974. Several are still in service today.

FEATURES:

• New road numbers
• Era: 1991 to present
• Prototype examples with the 1991 Speed Logo have been documented in service to present day
• TTPX Series 81079 to 81178; built 1973-1974
• Road numbers 81123, and 81171
• Patched areas covering original “TT” and “Trailer Train” branding
• Fully-assembled
• Multiple road numbers
• Logo extension panels for “TT” logo
• Modified bulkheads (60’, 6” inside length)
• Now with factory-applied laser-cut wood deck
• No deck risers
• Recessed deck tie-down details
• Photo-etched stainless steel see-through end crossover platforms
• Factory-applied metal grab irons, coupler cut levers, and trainline hoses and connection pipe with silver gladhands
• Late “box” style integrated jacking pads with roping eyes
• Handbrake housing with finely detailed wheel and chain
• Complete underbody brake system with over 18 separately applied parts including air reservoir, control valve, reduction relay valve and retainer valve plus wireform plumbing and trainline pipe
• Durable body-mounted die-cast metal semi-scale long-shank Type E knuckle couplers
• 100-ton trucks with hydraulic snubber and bracket details, rotating bearing caps, and truck-mounted brake beams
• Printed reporting mark and road number on all four trucks
• 36” machined metal wheels with accurately profiled .110″ wide wheel tread
• Operates on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail
• Printing and lettering legible even under magnification
• Weighted to Industry standards for reliable operation
• Packaging safely stores model
• Minimum radius: 18”
• Recommended radius: 22”