Blackstone Models D&RGW 6000 Series Flatcar Review

The Rio Grande's flatcars were a versatile platform for transporting a variety of goods and raw materials. In later years, they were also frequently used as idler cars for long pipe loads traveling in gondolas.

Manufacturer: Blackstone Models

Each of the six cars offered in this release is factory weathered. In addition to the weathering, cars feature varying degrees of "sun fading" on the paint beneath the weathering. A previous release, now sold out at Blackstone Models, offered four additional D&RGW numbers, one RGS and a painted but unlettered car. Features common to all models include:

• Die-cast metal and plastic construction
• Seperately applied wire detail parts
• Detailed brake rigging
• Kadee couplers
• Historic profile of the cars
• Completely Ready to Run

The Denver and Rio Grande purchased at least 98 flatcars from American Car and Foundry in 1887. At least ten of the cars were sold to the Rio Grande Southern in 1892 to help with the construction of the connecting line. Those cars were retained on the RGS roster as work and revenue equipment.

The Rio Grande also made frequent modifications to their flatcar fleet, converting them into tank cars, gondolas, idlers and work cars as needed. Such was the versatility of this most basic freight car. When in revenue service, the cars carried lumber, manufactured goods, machinery...anything that couldn't be loaded in a boxcar or gondola.

Hard use and multiple rebuildings reduced the active roster of 6000 series 30 foot flatcars to a mere 14 cars by 1942 when they were sold to the U.S. Navy. The carnumbers reproduced by Blackstone are among those 14 cars.

- Historic data from Jeff Johnson's excelent data sheet included with the models.

The 6000 series flatcar features all of the attention to detail that sets Blackstone Models at the top of industry. The car is finely finished with seperate wire grab irons, brakewheel, coupler cut levers and a full brake system on the underframe.

The cars come finished in a variety of weathered paint versions. The sun takes its toll on paint, changing a deep red to a light red to a brown over the years. Blackstone has recreated this effect on several of its models, including these flatcars. The results are very effective and represent a commitment to detail not found anywhere else.

One common problem with any flatcar model is weight. At only 30 scale feet long, these tiny narrow-gauge cars look like they would be light as a feather. In fact, thanks to a cast metal floor, these cars are comparably weighted to the other cars Blackstone has produced. The trucks are exceptionally free rolling. Even without a load, you should be able to put one of these cars at the front of any reasonable narrow-gauge consist without fear.

Like the prototype, you have a model that could be very easily modified to represent a variety of uses, or take on a plethora of interesting loads in revenue service.

The sky (or at least the top of your tunnels) is the limit on these cars. If you want to model one of the converted maintenance-of-way or similar Rio Grande conversions, your best bet would be to try and find one of the painted / unlettered versions from the first run. You could also remove the roadnumber from one of the cars in this series.

For loads, photographs and your imagination can be your guide. A variety of commercial loads are available, including several made for HOn3 cars by Micro-trains. Standard gauge load models could also be potentially modified for these small cars.

If you choose to leave the car empty, a little extra weathering and some scraps from previous load bracings would be a simple but important addition.