Dateline: March 2026
While at Big Boots and Western Railroad this past month, I realized that I needed a small utility flat car to use during the work week. Something simple that I could put my tools and supplies on and tow around during the work week as needed. I had a spare pair of trucks in storage that I could use but needed to build the frame, floor, and purchase some couplers. This is what I built.
Tear-down
The first thing I did was disassemble the trucks that had been in storage. For some reason, I didn’t paint the wheels when I originally built it so they had accumulated some surface rust. That situation was easily corrected.
Disassembled for paint
Frame and Floor
The frame and floor were next. The frame is standard 1×2 rectangle tube with ears welded to it. The floor is a scrap piece of 3/4″ plywood I found in storage. I added sills to the sides for support and to keep stuff from easily sliding off.
Final Assembly
This is the final assembly. It isn’t anything grand and special but it will make a great little utility car for the work days. I will add some letting at some point just to identify the railroad.
Center rail 
Frame mockup 
Simple flat car (without couplers)
