Whoa its been a long time since Ive been here.
Anyway I recently went to the local hobby shop to pick up some supplies to continue working on my layout.
Browsing through the kits I noticed a SP&S boxcar and picked it up.
So here is my question, what is the function of a double sheath boxcar?
Thanks for any help.
A double sheath box car(as that Accurail USRA car you were looking at) is no different than any other basic box car. The only real difference is that it has outside sheathing over the bracing structure. Accurail also makes a model of the USRA ‘single sheath’ or ‘outside braced’ boxcar. Refridgerator cars were ‘double sheathed’, as the usually has some form of insulation between the inside and outside sheathing. I hopes this helps…
Jim Bernier
Oh I purchased it!
So its basiclly a Reefer?
And thank you for the help.
No - it just has ‘double’ sheathing. A reefer would have insulation and ice bunkers at the ends of the car(with roof hatches for loading the ice). Single sheath boxcars only have the interior sheathing that the load rests against. Double sheathing was almost universal back in the days of all wood construction. As steel bracing was introduced, someone figured out that they really did not need sheathing on both side of the bracing. Single sheath or ‘outside bracing’ became very popular after the turn of the century, but the USRA had similar box car designs with both construction forms. When all steel construction really got going, double sheathing(with sheet steel on the outside, and wood on the inside) became popular again. By the 1960’s, single sheath steel boxcar designs again became popular(and is what is seen a lot today). Modern boxcars have vertical steel members with thin sheet steel attached to the back of the member, and then plywood attached to that(interior of the car).
Jim Bernier
Oh, I get it now
feels ignorant
These ones Im guessing were from around the 1950’s as that was when the SP&S was still in full swing.
OK, thanks again for clearing that up
The USRA double sheath box car was from about 1918! Quite a few copies were built in the 20’s and they lasted intact into the late 40’s and 50’s. The C&NW rebuilt some of theirs with ‘kits’ to make them into all steel cars. The ‘give-a-way’ was that steel frame piece at the bottom of the car side, runs the entire length of the car…
Jim Bernier
Rrg, I feel like a noob…
Thanks for more help…
JC–just picked up one of those little fellows myself–SP&S and all. Isn’t it a little honey? Accurail does the best wood detailing I’ve seen yet–except for the real material, of course. If you want it to REALLY roll, plop in some P2k wheelsets–they fit perfectly.
Tom[:D]