It's 1985, Which coal Wagons...

[Marleyman]

It is 1985 and I am putting together a Coal Delivery. I want to Load and Unload the Coal Wagons. Which ones should I use for that year? The HAA Freightliners were not introduced back then. Am I limited to the Hopper HAA? I would like to use 100 ton wagon's if they are realistic for the period mostly so that the Train is 20 wagons long, not 40.

[alexnick]

The HAA/HEA would be your most prototypical options for the era.

There might have been some 21t hoppers still around (I know they were in use in the early 80s from video footage). I have no evidence for 16t hoppers in use that late, unless maybe away from the mainline networks on freight lines.

I have seen varying train lengths depending on route and traction.

AN

[malkymackay]

16t wagons could still be seen kicking about in the mid 80's - http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diese ... 4133230927 & HTV were still in use too - http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue-diese ... 4133230927
The Airbraked HAA & derivitaves would have been the norm for merry-go-rounds. Number of wagons could be anything upwards from the low 20's.

[Marleyman]

I have gone with the HAA's 30 of them, hauled by the 'Grid' 56 on The Central Route in 1984... I don't want the player to be bored to death unloading them. That is why the 100 ton Freightliners would have been great except for the 'time travel' bit

I have two drops on the scenario so 15 unloads at each drop should keep the interest from failing and I have limited the loading to just 6 wagons. Thanks for the advice, I really need to find out dates for all these wagons and coaches. Think I will add that to my project list.