Does the big bold phrase Shock Control on Santa Fe boxcars refer to cushioned underframes (in which case I have some retro-fitting to do) or to damage free load protective devices inside the car, in which case I am fine? Most cushioned underframe cars say "cushioned underframe" but not these Santa Fe cars.
Dave Nelson
A quick search on the interweb yeilded the following.
Topeka shops installed a 10-inch travel “Shock Control” sliding center sill underframe in a Bx-66 Class box car in June 1958. Numbered, 10001 and reclassed as a Bx-77 with a new Indian red and black paint scheme with a large Santa Fe herald and new advertising slogan “DF with Shock Control” splashed across the car side, this car ushered in a new era in box car construction. From then on, nearly all new classes of Santa Fe box cars were fitted with either a Shock Control, or a Super Shock Control underframe, introduced in 1961. The last box cars built new for Santa Fe were 200 XF food loading car in Class Bx-211 outshopped at Santa Fe’s Topeka shops in 1981.
Joe
I think this picture of the car I built says it all!
Rick Jesionowski
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If I remember correctly "DF" refers not to 'damage-free' but to 'dunnage-free', the system of brackets, bars, and later bulkheads that helps secure freight longitudinally in a partly-loaded car. It is completely different from "Shock Control" (which as noted was a cushion-underframe arrangement mitigating longitudinal shock and buff/draft excursions).
I don't know how different the visible extension (or visible behavior on buff or draft) would differ from a car with, say, Hydra-Cushion, but yes, I think you would have to model it.
(I had a college roommate who claimed to be a 'Hobo Jr.' who was holding forth on his experiences and then asked me "what's up with that Hydra-Cushion? Those cars don't seem to ride any better than those without it...")
Were these 40 foot, 50 foot or both? and what was the car series for the Bx-211 box cars?
According to my research...
"Shock Control" is the product name of hydraulic cushion underframes developed by the Keystone Railway Equipment Company, and there were both SCSC and EOCC. For some reason only AT&SF displayed largely the name on thire freight cars. So, AT&SF cars equipped with PS Hydroframe-40 and ACF's Freight-Saver were not drawn it. "Shock Control" appeared in 1958. "Super Shock Control" appeared on introduction with 18" traveling stroke in 1961 and ATSF filed for trademark registration in 1963. By 1986 ATSF painted the cars with cushion underframe to Indian red.
DF, DF-2, DF-B and DF-C are trade names of the Evans Products Company for thire loading devices. Whether DF stands for Damage Free or abbreviation for Dunnage Free is not clearly founded. The following image was quoted from the Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia 1966 edition.
The magnified image
Thank you, fellows, I have my answer: Shock Control means cushioned underframe so I need to extend the coupler pockets on those cars. I have a supply of the Walthers plastic after-market cushioned underframe coupler pocket (cast in a light brown that needs paint and weathering). I am aware Detail Associates [amended post: it's Details West] makes a more, well, detailed one in metal that screws on rather than is cemented as with the Walthers, but for now I will go with what I have.
Thanks again, guys.
Kadee makes a neat model of a 50' PS-1 with functioning, sliding center sill:
http://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2008/08/kadee-ho-boxcar
I wasn't aware of the "working" cushioned underframe until after I had placed the car on the track. What a neat surprise!
Regards, Ed
caldreamer Were these 40 foot, 50 foot or both?
Were these 40 foot, 50 foot or both?
Both. "Super Shock Control" in 40', 50', 60' and 86'.
and what was the car series for the Bx-211 box cars?
612000-612199
Ed
Shock Control was the brand name for Santa Fe's cushioned underframe freight cars. Later in the 60s, under the Super Shock Control brand they not only bought equipment fom Keystone but also Hydra-Cushion and other suppliers.
Also, a DF car may or may not have a cushioned under frame, it is a car with side rails that crossbeams can lock onto to keep loads from shifting. There were later more specialized variations such as Load Dividers (LD) and Safety, or Side Loaders (SL).
The Indian Red cabooses with the large yellow circle-cross were also Shock Control equipped (so the bright red Athearn cabeese are not correct) The unequipped cars of the 60s were painted mineral brown with just the ATSF marks and the small circle-cross reflectors along the bottom of the car.
So "DF" means "damage-free" and "SL" means "side load?"
The car I had as a kid said "DF." I always avoided models that said "SL."
Shock Control So "DF" means "damage-free" and "SL" means "side load?" The car I had as a kid said "DF." I always avoided models that said "SL."
They're just the brand names of the particular load restraint devices (loading straps, restraint bars, or movable bulkheads) installed inside the cars.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
cv_acrThey're just the brand names of the particular load restraint devices (loading straps, restraint bars, or movable bulkheads) installed inside the cars.
Thanks for clarifying. I always thought these letters were mysterious!
Overmod Note in this connection that it still isn't resolved whether "DF" is supposed to mean 'dunnage-free' or 'damage free' or both -- it's the brand name "DF". Doesn't have to 'stand' for anything...
This is almost as mysterious as the the little triangle-in-the-circle symbol appearing on Columbia/CBS record labels beginning in the 1980s!
It's like the Tootsie Pop - one may never know. Even on that Evans brochure, it could go either way. They use DF as their brand, and since many of their devices are more or less permanent in the car, they allow for restraining the load without additional dunnage. But at the same time, they say on there that their products reduce damage to lading..
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
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