Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

MR&T1027, Athearn 50-foot outside-braced RailBox boxcar

9768 views
28 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
MR&T1027, Athearn 50-foot outside-braced RailBox boxcar
Posted by BN7150 on Friday, March 1, 2019 4:24 AM

Does anyone know the generality of this model? I cushionized the couplers and added ACI labels, COTS and yellow dots.

MR&T1027

MR&T1027

MR&T1027

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, March 1, 2019 5:30 AM

Did a lilttle research and this is what I was able to find:

"The Athearn "Railbox" is a Plate B ACF 5077cuft car. The only main discrepancy (other than the doors/door tracks) is the roof, which should be a diagonal-panel type.

Original Plate B owners include RBOX (lots), TP, MP (original and ex-RBOX), BN (ex-RBOX), SP (ex-RBOX), ATSF (ex-RBOX), SBD (ex-RBOX), and a few other secondhand owners. "

So it appears replacing the roof if you are going for prototype accuracy.  If not, being a stand-in, use as is.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, March 1, 2019 5:56 AM

I want one to go with my Model Railroader anniversary cars.

I am slowly building a weird collection of these types of freight cars.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Friday, March 1, 2019 8:07 AM

I am sorry that my explanation is inadequate. I would like to know the circumstances of release of this model. Does anyone know the year and purpose released? The attached image is page 209 of "Standard Guide to Athearn Model Trains." There is nothing in the necessary information there.

Standard Guide to Athearn

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Saturday, March 2, 2019 11:42 AM

Maybe try an email to the magazine staff.  Somebody there might be able to give the info you seek.

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Saturday, March 2, 2019 12:33 PM

I'm not familiar with that particular Model Railroader/Kalmbach "tribute" car, but in years past sometimes it was Kalmbach/MR (or Trains magazine) itself that would offer such cars for sale, not the company that made the "source" kit such as Athearn or Model Die Casting.  And in some cases it might have been just decals that were offered.

The Kalmbach logo on the car is one that they used up to the 1980s or so.  Ditto the typeface for the words Model Railroader.

The car number, 1027, was the street number for Kalmbach Publishing before they moved to their current location.  There was a sort of craze about the number - some commercially available MR&T diesels were number 1027, and Trains magazine would print just about any photo a railfan took of a locomotive or car with the number.

Perhaps Steve Otte will notice this thread and look into their archives for info.

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Monday, March 4, 2019 11:09 AM

This Tracks Ahead boxcar is probably a excluded model from Kalmbach family. Tracks Ahead is a series of TV programs, and sales of this model were announced in page 10 of the Dec. 1997 issue of the MR magazine.

Tracks Ahead model

Tracks Ahead model

Tracks Ahead

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Canada
  • 1,820 posts
Posted by cv_acr on Monday, March 4, 2019 11:18 AM

The MR&T of course is the Kalmbach/Model Railroader staff's in-house club layout.

Kalmbach has several times over the years commissioned custom runs of models in MR&T schemes. This is likely simply one of those (they have often also been available for the public to purchase) and may not be related to any "special" event or commemoration.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Friday, December 11, 2020 3:10 PM

 Does this book mention the boxcar "MR&T 1027"?

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 6:20 AM

I recently acquired this model. Anyone have information about this?

I would like to delete this comment because the forum is inappropriate, but I can't. I'm sorry.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,885 posts
Posted by maxman on Thursday, September 29, 2022 8:17 PM

BN7150
I would like to delete this comment because the forum is inappropriate, but I can't. I'm sorry.

Don't know what you mean by "inappropriate"' but you can always just edit your post and delete what you want.

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,255 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Friday, September 30, 2022 3:29 PM
I too am unsure as to how your comment is inappropriate, but will comment that my sources attribute the reporting mark CNWX to the Canadian Wheat Board.
Green River soft drink is a genuine product, and was very popular in the Midwest.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Saturday, October 1, 2022 9:07 AM

Thanks to that, I found very close information in the Sept. 1979 issue of MR magazine. It's an N scale wood reefer, but I think it's highly possible that the HO scale was also manufactured by Con-Cor at the same time. Certainly it seems to be a soft drink, and Pepsi is also lined up. I don't know "Bevo."

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Saturday, October 1, 2022 9:50 AM

Whoa! I also discovered the HO scale in the Nov. 1982 issue of MR magazine. I already owned a Pepsi car.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,885 posts
Posted by maxman on Saturday, October 1, 2022 8:51 PM

BN7150
I don't know "Bevo."

Found a couple references to "Bevo".

First, it is the name of the long-horn steer that is a mascot for the University of Texas.

Per the "net", "the name "Bevo" was a play on the word beeve, which is not only the plural of beef, but long used as slang for a cow or steer destined to become food.  The name might be thought of as Beef-o.".

Second, and more likely given that the names on the other cars are beverages, according to Wikipedia "Bevo was a non-alcoholic malt beverage, or near beer, brewed in the United States by the Anheuser-Busch company beginning in the early 20th century. Bevo enjoyed its greatest success during the time of Prohibition, when beerwine and distilled liquors were made illegal for thirteen years."

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Sunday, October 2, 2022 6:13 PM

Thanks, maxman, for the idea about "Bevo." The N-scale reefer has just been put up for sale on ebay. "Dad's Root Beer" car has a few N and HO.

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Canada
  • 1,820 posts
Posted by cv_acr on Monday, October 3, 2022 9:37 AM

will comment that my sources attribute the reporting mark CNWX to the Canadian Wheat Board.

Starting in 1973...

It could have been used by someone else years earlier (although my sources for reporting marks list don't indicate any previous usage).

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Canada
  • 1,820 posts
Posted by cv_acr on Monday, October 3, 2022 9:41 AM

maxman
Don't know what you mean by "inappropriate"

Probably he didn't mean to post it as a reply to an existing thread.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Thursday, October 20, 2022 11:45 AM

I recently took over an old collection and found this one. The model is a 36-ft wood boxcar from MDC-Roundhouse. The lettering such as "Old Colony & Western Ry." and the "OC&W" mark are decals. Does anyone know about this scheme?

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Canada
  • 1,820 posts
Posted by cv_acr on Thursday, October 20, 2022 12:57 PM

Google brings up an "Old Colony Railroad" and an "Old Colony and Newport" but no "Old Colony and Western".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Colony_Railroad

It's either REALLY obscure or it's someone's custom road name (most likely the latter).

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 7:03 AM

Thank you Chris. I found a layout article called Old Colony & South Shore R.R. in MR magazine. It was Oct. 2004 issue and the layout was built by Cliff Coutinho. Now let's offer a new challenge :-)

Is the next scheme according to the prototype?


Atlas 40' wood reefer stock#20003092

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,255 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 12:30 AM
Well, my sources indicate that the reporting mark NWX was used by the North Western Refrigerator Line Co and its various guises from 1930 to 1984.
 
It would appear that the Storck Brewery brewed and labelled “Storck Club Beer” in the 1950s. (I’ve never quite got my head around when advertising on railroad freight cars was actually banned!)
 
Finally, this link states that this Atlas reefer car was a “fantasy scheme.” Though my observation is that these fantasy beer schemes are quite popular with some modellers in their own right.
 
 
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Thursday, October 27, 2022 3:02 AM

JaBear, your research skills are excellent.

Is this also a fantasy? The original box is missing and I believe it's Accurail/Branchline.
Marshfield Beer Accurail
4951

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,255 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, October 27, 2022 4:15 AM

BN7150
JaBear, your research skills are excellent.

Hmm Hmmm, thank you but I must admit that that I’m really struggling with this car.Bang HeadBang Head

What I’ve found is that Marshfield Brewing Company used “Paul Bunyan” in its logos from 1950 to 59. The Marshfield Premium Beer label on NWX 14330 appears to be from 1957.
 
If I am correct that Billboard advertising was banned in 1937, then my conclusion is that this is another “fantasy scheme”.
 
As to the manufacturer of this car, I’m at a complete loss. I thought I was on to a winner when I found this site but no! Though I do note that the last time this site was updated was back in March 2010, so…??
 
 
Just a thought, were HO scale freight cars still coming out with X2F horn hooks after 2010??
 
Cheers, the Bear.Smile
 
EDIT. After spending a few coffees worth of time today comparing on line photos, I’d strongly suggest that an Accurail 4800 Series 40’ wooden reefer is the donor kit.

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,885 posts
Posted by maxman on Thursday, October 27, 2022 8:52 AM

From the Trainz website, https://www.trainz.com/products/atlas-20003092-ho-storck-club-beer-nwx-40-wood-reefer-3799.

Says it's a fantasy scheme.

Or you can call Atlas and ask.

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
  • 6,255 posts
Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, October 29, 2022 4:15 AM

BN7150
The original box is missing and I believe it's Accurail/Branchline.

After spending a few coffees worth of time today comparing on line photos, I’d strongly suggest that an Accurail 4800 Series 40’ wooden reefer is the donor kit.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 7:43 AM

Thanks for the replies, maxman and JaBear.

I didn't know anything about "Paul Bunyan", so this is very useful idea.

Accurail 4800s and 4900s wooden reefers are indistinguishable.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Kyoto, JPN
  • 250 posts
Posted by BN7150 on Monday, November 28, 2022 6:41 AM

Let's provide a topic for everyone who has too much free time.

Do you know what the next model is?

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: Canada
  • 1,820 posts
Posted by cv_acr on Monday, November 28, 2022 9:40 AM

Zoom in on the logo on the right.

It's a "convention car", sold or given out at an NMRA convention/event.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!