Idler Flat Car


An idler flat car is a dedicated flat car that is used as a “spacer” between cars and/or engine rather than to haul goods. Usually where there is a car float one or more is used so that the engine, which weighs a lot, does not have to go on the transfer bridge or car float. Some mistakenly say engines never go on car floats but sometimes that is how they are transferred to different areas just like the cars are. The Bronx Terminal had at least one. In their case it was also to be able to see better. With a boxcar directly behind the engine the view was blocked. Having a flat car give some view before that first boxcar so they could see what they were doing and have better safety. The transfer bridge is so long I don’t see not taking the engine onto it but with the idler flat the engine should not need to go onto the car float to reach the string of cars to pull off.

Below are a bunch of pictures documenting my build of a B.T.S. kit. Even with adding Liquid Gravity the car is still very light, about an ounce lighter than NMRA Standards. I might add a “box” or two that are actually tungsten weights but so far it pushes and pulls fine. I still need to add lettering and some light weathering. I would also like to add the handrails that I’ve seen on the prototype (although it looks like a steel frame not wood frame flat car) but not necessarily needed for an idler flat. I have a second flat car that I 3D printed that I might also use as another idler flat but not sure yet.