This page details how I construct custom flatcar lumber loads for my model railway. While significantly more work than a pre-made molded and painted or printed resin or plastic load, the result is a more realistic looking three dimensional load with actual spacers and gaps between rows and strapping. It also avoids the cookie cutter look by making every load a little unique from each other by varying the exact combination of bundle sizes and the locations of any gaps or spaces in the rows. It also means I’m not limited to whatever larger lumber companies are featured on commercially available lumber loads, and I have lumber graphics specific to the smaller mills that were actually served by my railway.

Printable graphics for several different lumber companies are provided at the bottom of this page, below the instructions. Feel free to print these and use them to create your own loads. (In fact if you do, I’d love to see them!) There’s also a blank template for which you can create your own graphics or download company logos from online to make your own variations.

The general technique can also be adjusted with different size blocks to model wrapped engineered joist and drywall loads.

Instructions

Wood blocks:

1. Choose a nice, piece of wood, preferably a good quality scrap of pine, with no warps and square edges.
2. Rip into strips on a table saw or band saw 4 scale feet (13mm for HO scale) by 2 1/2 scale feet tall (8.5mm for HO) for standard size bundles. (Fits four rows to a car.)
   Some bundles are wrapped to 2′ (5 rows) and 3 1/2′ (3 rows) heights.
3. Cut the strips into blocks matching the bundle lengths.*
4. Sand any burrs and splinters from the edges.

*Real sizes for scale bundles:

Dimension	N	HO	O
(Height) 2′	3.5mm	7mm	12.5mm
(Height) 2.5′	4.5mm	8.5mm	16mm
(Height) 3.5′	6.5mm	12mm	22mm
(Width) 4′	7.5mm	14mm	25mm
(Length) 8′	15mm	28mm	50.5mm
(Length) 10′	19mm	35mm	63mm
(Length) 12′	22.5mm	42mm	76mm
(Length) 16′	30mm	56mm

Paper wraps:

1. Print out the selected graphics file on regular white paper.
2. The printed graphics show black marks at each end; use this as a guide to cut out the graphics into strips using a sharp hobby knife and straightedge
3. Cut the strips to length with a small square to wrap the various sized blocks.
   1. 8′ (HO: 44 mm)
   2. 10′ (HO: 51 mm)
   3. 12′ (HO: 58 mm)
   4. 16′ (HO: 72 mm)

Bundles:

1. Apply glue to the back (un-printed) side of the paper wrap using a standard craft glue stick.
2. Center a wood block of the matching size on the edge of the long side of the paper and press down.
3. Fold the wrap over the long sides of the block, making sure it glues down securely. Use your fingers to get a sharp crease in the corner of the paper that extends out past the end of the block.
4. Using a sharp hobby knife, cut along the inside of the folded corner beyond to separate the sides and top of the overhanging wrap into separate flaps.
5. Fold the side flaps in first. (Re-apply glue if necessary.)
6. Fold down the top flap over the end. (Re-apply glue if necessary.)
7. If the paper wrap extends below the bottom surface of the block, trim flush with sharp knife to complete.

Assembling the loads:

Note: Spend some time studying older photos of lumber loads on standard flatcars or this actual Conrail reference guide to see how the bundles are staggered and strapped together. In the model world, the load is all glued together, but in the real world it’s all held together with strapping, so the bundles are staggered so that bundles beside each other are connected by being strapped to the one above or below in order to unitize the load. At minimum, each end of any bundle should be strapped to one above or below it.
For modern centre-beam cars, the central truss structure and ratchet & cable tie downs standard to the car means the bundles can be stacked and secured with no staggering, although some staggering may still occur when different lengths of lumber are included in the same load.

1. Cut the bearing pieces for the bottom of the load, short spacers for between the rows and longer ones for between the halves of the stack from scale strip wood. I used 2×6 strip wood for my spacers, but mills might use various stud sizes from 2x4s to 4x4s. The diagrams in the Conrail reference guide linked above show either 2×4 or 2×6 pieces as standard to use for these spacers.
   The bearing pieces (bottom spacers) should be the width of the car. Short spacers between levels can be just the width of the lumber bundle. The vertical stabilizers/spacers should be about 10 1/2 scale feet, or a little taller than the stack of bundles.
2. Glue the small spacers to the bottoms of the lumber bundles with white glue, except for the bottom row which should rest on the longer bearing pieces.
3. Assemble the bottom row by gluing bundles together end to end. Use glue sparingly. Make sure the row stays straight.
   (Assembly of the bundles may be done on the car in question to ensure a good fit. Avoid glue drops or place a piece of waxed paper on the flatcar deck to protect. Don’t glue bundles directly to the car – the load will be removable when done.)
4. Assemble the second, third and fourth rows as above, gluing them to the top of the lower row. You may assemble each side independently, or at the same time, gluing the bundles to the vertical centre spacers.
5. Let the glue dry before moving to the last step.
6. The strapping on the model load is represented with 1/64″ wide black Chartpak graphics tape (obtained online from an art/graphics supply store), which actually roughly scales out to about 1.5″ wide, not too oversize. I applied this after the load was assembled and glued together using tweezers and a pin to insert the tape in between the layers. Apply a drop of glue with a pin or thin toothpick in a hidden place if necessary to secure the tape, so the natural adhesive doesn’t loosen.
7. Add the guide rails along the sides of the loads; these should be out of 2×6″ stripwood and will be glued to the tops of the extensions of the bearing pieces that stick out beyond the sides of the bundles. Add short retainer stakes to several of the side pockets.

Related Blog Posts

• Wrapped Lumber Bundle
• Assembled Newaygo Load
• Conrail Lumber Loading Reference Guide
• Lumber Traffic on the ACR

Printable Lumber Wrap Graphics

Unless specifically stated, all graphics are sized for printing for HO scale standard size 2 1/2′ tall bundles although you can play around with your own graphics and logos to print out wraps for larger or smaller bundles. To ensure that the graphics are printed the correct size, make sure the “Print Actual Size” option is selected in the printing options. (Note – The PDF viewer built into Edge on Windows 10 doesn’t have the “Print actual-size” option and will always shrink to fit. The alternative Reader app also has the same problem.  If you’re on Windows 10, either use the Excel spreadsheet files, or download and install the actual Adobe Acrobat Reader application (free), so you have full control over scaling when printing.)

Note: I’ve noticed some possible issues with Internet Explorer trying to download the XLSX links off the site. Not sure why, since it’s just a link to an Excel file and Microsoft’s own browser should understand that. If you do get a page of gibberish opened up in your browser when clicking on one of those links, right click on the link and “Save As” or try an alternate browser like Chrome or FireFox.

Dates in the listings below preceded with ‘~’ may be approximated based on photographic sightings, and may be applicable for a larger date range than stated.

Blank Excel Templates

Make your own wraps for freelance names and logos or other companies not provided here using these blank templates.

HO Scale

XLSX (HO scale 2’0″ bundle height – 5 rows)
XLSX (HO scale 2’6″ bundle height – most common, 4 rows)
XLSX (HO scale 3’6″ bundle height – 3 rows)

O Scale

XLSX (O scale 2’6″ bundle height)

N Scale

XLSX (N scale 2’6″ bundle height)

Company Graphics By Region

• Maritimes & Gaspe Penninsula
• North-Eastern Quebec (north of St. Lawrence R)
• Southern Quebec (south of St. Lawrence R)
• Ontario and North-West Quebec
• Central Canada (Manitoba & Saskatchewan)
• Western Canada (B.C. and Alberta)
• Canada-Wide & International (generally larger companies)
• United States

Gaspé & Maritimes

Gaspe region and atlantic provinces.

Cedrico Lumber (Price, QC) – ~2013
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Fornebu Lumber (Bathurst, NB) – ~2013
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Irving – ~1999-2004
[HO 2’6″] PDF – Prototype
(Artwork file courtesy Andrew Castle)

Temrex (Nouvelle, QC) – 2009-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (Taylor Main)

Twin Rivers (Plaster Rock, NB) – ~2011-2012
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

North-East Quebec

St. Lawrence north shore east of Quebec City.

Boisaco (Sacre-Coeur, QC) – ~2015
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Donohue Inc. – ~1991 (to Abitibi-Consolidated in 2000)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (Matthieu Lachance)

Uniforêt (Port Cartier, QC) – ~2004
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Southern Quebec

Montreal-Quebec City and south of St. Lawrence River.

ARBEC – 2015+
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Clermond Hamel (Saint-Ephrem-de-Beauce, QC) – ~20xx?
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Clermond Hamel – ~2014
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Clermond Hamel (125th Anniversary) – 2015
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Matériaux Blanchet (Saint-Pamphile, QC) – ~2015
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Portbec Forest Products (Quebec, QC) – ~2015
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Northern Ontario & North-West Quebec

Northern Ontario and Abitibi-Temiscaming.

Chantier Chibougamau (Chibougamau, QC) – ~2013-2017
[HO 3’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Domtar – ~2000-2010 (sold sawmills to EACOM in 2010)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype
[HO 3’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Dubreuil Forest Products (Dubreuilville, ON) – ~1989-1995
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Dubreuil Forest Products (Dubreuilville, ON) – ~1997-2007 (closed 2007)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

EACOM – ~2011-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

E.B. Eddy Forest Products – ~1980s-1990s (to Domtar in 1998)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (CV)
[O 2’6″] PDF | XLSX

Kirkland Lake Forest Products (Kirkland Lake, ON) – ~2017
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Protoype

Lecours Lumber (Calstock, ON) – ~1999
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (CV)

Lecours Lumber (Calstock, ON) – ~2013
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Longlac Lumber Inc. (Longlac, ON) – 2015-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Malette Timber (Hearst, ON) – 1989-1997 (now Tembec)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Nakina Forest Products (Nakina, ON) – ~2004 (closed 2008)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Nakina Lumber Inc. (Nakina, ON) – 2018-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Newaygo Forest Products (Mead, ON) – 1974-1984 (closed 1985)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (CV)
[O 2’6″] PDF | XLSX
[N 2’6″] PDF | XLSX

Normick Perron (Amos, Senneterre, QC) – ~1994
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (CV)

Olav Haavaldsrud (Hornepayne, ON) – ~2015
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Rayonier Advanced Materials – RYAM – 2018-present (was Tembec)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Scierie Landrienne Inc. (Landrienne, QC) – ~2013
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Scierie Landrienne Inc. (Landrienne, QC) – 2015-present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Tembec – ~2000-2012
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Tembec – 2012-2017 (to Rayonier Advanced Materials 2017)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype
[O 2’6″] PDF | XLSX 

White River Forest Products (White River, ON) – ~2017
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Manitoba & Saskatchewan

Edgewood Forest Products (Carrot River, SK) – 2012-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Alberta & British Columbia

Aspen Planers (blue logo) (Merritt, BC) – ~2007
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Aspen Planers (red logo) (Merritt, BC)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Babine Forest Products (Burns Lake, BC) – ~1990-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Canadian Forest Products (CANFOR) – ~1990
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (Craig “BNML2″)
[O 2’6”] PDF | XLSX

Canadian Forest Products (CANFOR) – ~2003-2006
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype
[O 2’6″] PDF | XLSX

Canadian Forest Products (CANFOR) – ~2010-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Canadian Forest Products (CANFOR) Red – ~2015-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype
[O 2’6″] PDF | XLSX

Carrier Lumber (Prince George, BC) – ~2013
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Conifex Timber (Fort St. James/Mackenzie, BC) – ~2014
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Decker Lake (Burns Lake, BC) – ~1995
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Decker Lake (Burns Lake, BC) – ~2005-2012
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Dunkley Lumber Ltd. (Hixon, BC) – ~2003-2012
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Finlay Forest Industries (Mackenzie, BC) – ~1980
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Finlay Forest Industries (Mackenzie, BC) – ~1990 (to Abitibi-Consolidated in 2000)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Finlay Premium (Mackenzie, BC) – ~1996 (to Abitibi-Consolidated in 2000)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Foothills Forest Products (Grande Cache, AB) – ~2016
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

International Forest Products (INTERFOR) #1 – 2011-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

International Forest Products (INTERFOR) #2 – 2011-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Nechako Lumber (Vanderhoof, BC) – ~2010
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

parallel55 (Prince George, BC) – ~2004
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Riverside-TOLKO (Kelowna, BC) – ~2005-2015
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype
[HO 3’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Skeena Sawmills (Terrace, BC) – 2013-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Slocan Group (Quesnel, BC) – ~1990
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (Craig “BNML2″)

Slocan Group (Vanderhoof, BC) – ~2004 (to CANFOR in 2005)
[HO 2’6”] PDF | XLSX – Prototype
[O 2’6″] PDF | XLSX

Stuart Lake Lumber (Fort St. James, BC) – ~1980s
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype
(With assistance from A.J. Shewan)

Stuart Lake Lumber (Fort St. James, BC) – ~1996-2004 (closed 2007)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

TOLKO – ~1990
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

TOLKO – ~2005-2015
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

West Fraser – ~1974
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

West Fraser – ~1986
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

West Fraser – ~2004-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Westar Timber (Watson Island, BC) – ~1986
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Country-Wide & International

Larger companies operating in multiple provinces or cross border.

Abitibi Bowater – 2007-2011 (renamed Resolute Forest Products in 2011)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Abitibi-Consolidated – 1997-2007 (to Abitibi-Bowater, 2007)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Abitibi-Consolidated (Finlay Premium) – 2000-2007
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Canadian Wood Products
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

iLevel Lumber (Weyerhauser) – ~2009
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Kruger – ~2005
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

MacMillan Bloedel – ~1995
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Resolute Forest Products – 2011-2017 (was Abitibi-Bowater)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Resolute Forest Products – 2017+ (was Abitibi-Bowater)
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Weyerhaeuser ‘Shed-Pak’ – ~1972
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Weyerhaeuser Building Products – ~1976-1985
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (CV)
[O 2’6″] PDF | XLSX

Weyerhaeuser Lumber – ~1985
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (Craig “BNML2″)
[O 2’6”] PDF | XLSX

Weyerhaeuser Lumber – ~2004-Present
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype – Model (Tim Nicholson)

United States (West)

American lumber companies.

Clearwater Paper – ~2011
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Idaho Forest Group – ~2014
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Potlatch – ~2005-2017
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype

Simpson Lumber Co. – ~2005-2012
[HO 2’6″] PDF | XLSX – Prototype