I have a LGB / ToyTrain tankcar (94040) that I want to convert in a something more French looking 'wagon citerne'.

Now I was thinking of a tankcar with some text on the sides, for instance a wine transporter, a petrol tankcar or perhaps a milkcar.
I Googled and came across some very nice and colorful examples of brands like Pechelbronn, Socaline, Mitjavile, Pujas, Algeco, Dubonnet, Paul Millet, vins de Postillon and G.R.A.P. Also some nice STEF tankcars (milk transport).
But unfortunately I could not find any nice examples of narrow gauge tankcars...

Did tankcars with brandnames even exist in French narrow gauge? Or were they only to be found as standard gauge cars?
If they did exist in narrow gauge, does somebody has some pictures of some or knows were I can find them?

Other ideas and suggestions to convert the car is a more French looking one are also very welcome!

Paul

Hello Paul

Not sure if this is narrow gauge, but here is a postcard image from www.delcampe.fr



and a more modern type, with bogie wheel arrangement:

Hello Clive,

The black and white picture is exactly the kind of tankcar I'm aiming for (that sign on top is a good idea!). Unfortunately I'm pretty sure these are both standard gauge cars, because they have 2 buffers instead of 1 in the middle...

Paul

Paul there weren't many narrow gauge citernes that I have seen. Those that existed seemed to be for internal or maintenance use like water, local fuel or weedkilling or even a fire tender such as this one in Corsica.
Corsica fire wagon

Most of the metre gauge freight traffic was carried in vans or open wagons as the very nature of these line was short haul produce and not usually bulk liquids.
If you look at old pictures of Tulle for example that had a large provincial interchange yard in the Correze you won't see many or any tankers.

I have looked and can't find much in France. However in Switzerland and Germany it would appear different.

But don't let that stop you building. There's a prototype for everything!

I keep on searching...
I found some pictures of WW1 60 cm gauge (what is too small for my idea) but I did found 1 picture of a tankcar that looks somewhat simular to the ToyTrain tankcar in use with the Chemin de fer de Corse: http://home.nordnet.fr/~lbeaumadier/04/2004.html (see picture 2 under "Barchetta - 2004").

Eggerbahn made some tankers in H0e scale but you can ask yourself how prototypical those are...

I came across many sites today and it looks like "citernes"were indeed not that common in French narrow gauge. Or as Carl states, more used as maintenance cars etcetera.
Mostly it was just a tank build on a flat car (and that is also what the ToyTrain model is...).


But I'm thinking if I can't find any nice prototype I just "make one up"
This one looks very appealing (though the LGB car does not have an brake cab... or not yet!).

This is a Marklin model I found on: Achat.ville.com

On several internetshops they sell those old metal plates (emaille plaques) of this brand and I found some good pictures that I can use to make decals from (just Google "vin Postillon" in the images option and you get some nice examples!).
White tank, so perfect for the thin home made decals.

Or perhaps a I create my own "vins du Paul'

Or a fire tender...

Or.... perhaps I turn it into a maintenance tankcar / local fuel after all...
A local fuel suplier can carry a brand name of course...

Anyway... if anyone find something I'm still interested!


Paul

There were many sucreries and pressoirs plus cidreries specially up here in the north.
Some were served by rail.

I will keeping looking to see if any had tankers.

I've found a new picture in a thread about the Chemin de fer de Provence on: www.passion-metrique.net

Click here and scroll down to the fourth post It's a yellow tankcar, if I read it correct it was used as a weeder once, but Í'm not sure what it is used for now...

And another one in the same thread: click here and scroll down to the 12th picture. Some green tank behind the locomotive.
A tankcar or a tank on a flat car???

We keep on searching

Paul-

Dunno about French tank cars, but here is an idea-

I know that the RhB (Swiss) HSB (German) and some other railways had many meter gauge tank cars going back to nearly their start.

Searching "Kesselwagen" on google.de, turned up:

http://www.buntbahn.de/modellbau/printview.php?t=3243&start=0

http://www.buntbahn.de/modellbau/viewtopic.php?t=9457

http://www.der-lokbauer.de/INFO/Kesselwagen-kurzGross.jpg

...or even look at some standard gauge types as you have done:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Luzna_6.jpg

Now, maybe France did not have narrow gauge tank cars, but maybe your narrow gauge railway does.

So use these pictures and designs to influence your own car, based on design and other cars of the era, so while not real, at least it looks right.

How about this.....

Wagon foudre

or this

Wagon foudre diag.

....and whilst searching I came across this fantastic set of pictures of metre gauge stock, many of which I have never seen before.

Metre gauge pics

....and about half way down there is indeed a metre gauge tank wagon of rather dubious parentage.!

And if you're looking for a base for your model, the cheap "Newquida" tankers are ideal remove the spoof BP decals from the green ones and off you go...

Good suggestion on the Neqida cars.

I have one I have painted grey (common color for Czech tankers) and it improved the model, and have a second one to do. Now to come up with lettering....

I agree with Garrett - if you want a tanker on your voie metrique, go for it. Whether you can find a prototype or not, there's no reason why you can't model one. Although it might be a standard gauge car, the first photo posted (by Clive) looks like a good basis for a model. Make a car to transport some sort of local produce, like Cider, Vinegar, or Olive Oil.

I have to disagree, however, with the Newqida recommendation - and this has nothing to do with where it's made or whether it's a knock-off LGB. First, the Newqida model is based on a more modern tanker and to my eyes, it doesn't look at home with the other sorts of stock typical on small, local railways. But, more importantly, I simply don't find the Newqida tanker a good value. I have one, and the plastic used for the tank is so thin, it's translucent. The overall quality is only fair- you get what you pay for, I guess. (BTW, the Newqida passenger coaches are a good buy- the materials and build quality are both better)

Paulus suggested a Lehmann Toy Train tanker- which is an infinitely better choice. Not only is it more durable and better made, it looks more "voie metrique" to my eyes. You can also buy one on eBay for about the same amount as one of the Newqida cars would cost you.

I find myself in agreement with Bill. i'm currently making a few citernes and having made/bashed the chassis am looking for tin cans of the right dimensions. With a few additions (ladders,lids/taps) and a bit of natural rust it will look the part and for me thats the most important thing. Mind you mine have to look as though they belong in 1910!!

mikey

Thanks for all the good advice!

I've decided to go for a freelance model. Don't know yet if I go for an existent brand or a made up one. Actually, cider, vinegar or olive oil are some great options too (all those choices... It's hard t be a modeler )

I already have the ToyTrain car (the 94040 orange "Lehman Benzin" car, like this one. ) and it indeed does have that "narrow gauge look".
Also a scratch build brake cab on the bordes is considered because that looks so nice


Paul