The more I learn the less I seem to know! I was wondering is there any definitive source of info for old 40’ box cars to make sence of the myriad of different types of roof, end and door configurations.
I know what some of the doors are caled, but I frankly don’t know a “dreadnaught end” when I see it, nor do I know the different roof names. (It used to be so easy to model before I started having to know the difference)
PLEASE! is there a place to quickly/easily learn the different types. If not… Hey that might make a GREAT MR series! One that real modelers could actually use (instead of oggling at someone elses layout).
bashermax@hotmail.com
search on “Neb&w” to find the RPI New England Berkshire and Western web site. Subscribe for $5 a month, read it all there.
Or cruise the Westerfield site and read the descriptions of the cars on that site.
Dave H.
Model Railroader book on Freight Cars by Jeff Wilson is a good source. He also covers wheels, trucks, roof walks and ladders as well as several other things about box cars.
Rail Model Journal’s freight cars volume2 covers boxcars very well,lots of roster info to get correct cars to model, it includes ends ,roofs ,etc.It’s a must own if you’re seriously into modeling.
Dave’s right on target: chech out both the NEB&W and Westerfield for a good grounding on basic car construction, and for what everything is supposed to look like.
This is not so much a reply as it is a comment. A couple of years ago I saw an ad for a Cdn manufacturer of PARTS. Doors, ends, rooves, etc. I thought this was the solution to scratch building any car I may want to duplicate. Build them the way the real railways do. Order doors from the door manufacturer, etc. I don’t recall the name of the company and have not seen them since. But the parts exist. There were pictures of them. I wonder what happened to what I thought was a great idea!
Tichy makes plastic boxcar ends, underframes, and doors, and you can buy any part Westerfield makes as a seperate item. There are a FEW parts manufacturers left in the hobby, but they’re starting to get scarce.