Storzek Soo Line boxcar converted to a NOT&M boxcar

Models, Resin Freight Cars, ,

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Charlie Duckworth returns with another interesting build summery.

History
In 1921, American Car & Foundry (AC&F) built 500 single sheathed boxcars for the New Orleans, Texas & Mexico Railroad. These cars had peaked roofs and wood ends with steel bracing. The Missouri Pacific added these cars to their boxcar fleet when they acquired the Gulf Coast Lines railroads in January 1925. The cars were repainted into the parent company’s standard with the revised ‘Mopac buzz saw’ (the revision being the addition of ‘Lines’ to the logo) now appearing on the sides of the newly acquired GCL and I-GN equipment for the first time.

Although the cars only had 8-foot high interiors, they lasted quite a long time with 451 still on the roster in 1948. Due to a shortage of cabooses on the Mopac during WW2, 90 of these boxcars were converted to war emergency cabooses with personnel doors and windows added to the carbody. After the war, many of these cabooses were transferred to maintenance of way service.

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Helper Service – Streator pt 1

Layout Design,

Helping others plan their layout is a fun activity which doesn’t cost anything. At least it doesn’t cost me anything; some of my friends though might have a different opinion. I’m currently helping with a layout concept based on the Wabash Railroad’s Streator branch. This was a line which originated from a small yard on Wabash’s Chicago/Decatur main line at Forrest, Illinois, and headed northwest to Streator Illinois.

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Fun Builds – 2

Resin Freight Cars

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Here’s a freight car I built straight out of the box with no additions. This HO scale CB&Q, 50-foot, single-sheathed automobile car is an old Speedwitch media kit. I pretty much followed the instructions to the letter for the build.

The car was weathered with various washes of Testors Model Master paints with a final dry brushing of the base color. Sometimes it’s fun not to think and just build.

– Frank

The RPM Experience

Models, Resin Freight Cars, RPM,

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Bill Welch shares observations and tales from the recent Railroad Prototype Modeler meet held near St. Louis. Click on any image here to see a larger version.

It is has been over week since returning from the St. Louis RPM meet in Collinsville, IL, and thought I would reflect on my experience as this was a new meet for me. The Convention Center is small and easy to get around and there is plenty of parking. Food and drink were available at a decent price and nearby are several chain restaurants. Attendees were scattered around in three or four hotels/motels. Getting there from the airport was easy and there was very little traffic to negotiate once you are at the CC.

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