Boxcab or box cab kits or plans needed

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm a newbie to trains.com and I have read a number of interesting posts that tell me you may be a great resource.

Basically, what I need are plans or copies of articles on scratch-building a GE-IR-Alco Boxcab diesel or any other boxcab diesel switcher for that mater. I know there was a two part article in the April & May 1956 Model Railroader for a start. There have also been a few articles in RMC in the past (way past). Where, short of the Library of Congress, can I get copies of those articles.

I know that MDC issued a Boxcab Diesel kit in HO because I bought one, but what I want is an N Scale Boxcab. Do any of you know of anyone who made a kit or even a finished boxcab locomotive in N Scale? Has anyone scratch-built or kit-bashed a boxcab in N scale.

What I hope to do is just create the shell and drop it on, for example, an F3B chassis or an early switcher chassis or anything else that is approximately the correct size. It does not have to be an exact copy down to the last rivet. I know it should be, but I am 67 years old and only have another 25 years or so to go };-}}.

Help, help,

Chuck Howerton in Sequim Washington.

[jrbarney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by howertoncp
. . . .
Basically, what I need are plans or copies of articles on scratch-building a GE-IR-Alco Boxcab diesel or any other boxcab diesel switcher for that mater. I know there was a two part article in the April & May 1956 Model Railroader for a start. There have also been a few articles in RMC in the past (way past). Where, short of the Library of Congress, can I get copies of those articles.
. . . .

Chuck,
Welcome to the MR Forums !
You should be able to get a photocopy of the MR article at:
[e-mail]
or, for either article, from the NMRA's Kalmbach Memorial Library:
http://www.nmra.org/library/
The NMRA's photocopy rates are reasonable, even if you're not a member. And, RMC's Web site is at:
http://www.rrmodelcraftsman.com
Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

Many thanks Bob,

I will check into those sources tomorrow. I actually tried it on MR and could not find the way to get the reprints. I will look forward to sharing whatever I find with others who are interested in BoxCabs.

Chuck Howerton

[marknewton]

Chuck, I can't help you with your N-scale boxcab question, but this gentleman might:

http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/boxcabs.html

Another interesting boxcab site is:

http://my.execpc.com/~jcampbel/ageir.html

All the best,

Mark.

[pcarrell]

I've actually been working on one in N scale. It's not quite done but I'll take a shot or two tonight of it and post it. It's pretty straight forward. It's a steam boxcab kind of like this one;


(this image came from http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/boxcabs.html )

It's basically a small steam switcher with a passenger car body grafted on.

It's not what most people think of when they think of a boxcab, but I like it.

[pcarrell]

OK, it's now about 5 or 6 hours after my last post and I've gotten home and taken some photo's of this steam boxcab project.

Now I'm not a photographer as you can tell by these photo's, but I think you'll get the point.

This is basically a Bachmann 0-4-0 that I cut the cab off of and then shortened a Bachmann old timer passenger car and have grafted it on to the loco. This project still has a long way to go, but I think you can see where it's going.





Not if you are after something more along the lines of a traditional diesel boxcab, I'd find a diesel loco with the same wheelbase and scratchbuild a body for it. A steel boxcar might be a start on that.

[Jetrock]

Interesting...those look like the "steam dummy" locomotives used for city streetcars before the advent of overhead electric trolley systems: they were basically small steam locomotives disguised in a small streetcar "shell" to be less visually jarring, and to avoid scaring horses on the street. Once electric streetcars came into general use, steam dummies were sometimes sold to logging lines who used them as lightweight logging locomotives.

[marknewton]

Steam dummies, eh? Here's two I've worked on:




They're both Baldwins, built in 1891 for the New South Wales Government Tramways in Sydeny, Australia. 103A remained in passenger service until 1943, while 100 was sold to the Wanganui Tramway in New Zealand in 1914. Both are preserved and operational.

All the best,

Mark.

[dknelson]

Actually P Carrell's model more closely resembles some of the inspection locomotives of the late 19th century, with a passenger car body mounted over the boiler of a small steam locomotive. It was probably a hot and uncomfortable ride but nicely elevated and a good way to inspect the ROW.
As far as box cabs go in N scale, don't overlook the kitbashing possibilities of European models. Distant memory reminds me of an article, and I cannot remember if it was MR, RMC, or the NMRA Bulletin, that kitbashed a boxcab body out of caboose shells.
Dave Nelson

[pcarrell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dknelson

Actually P Carrell's model more closely resembles some of the inspection locomotives of the late 19th century, with a passenger car body mounted over the boiler of a small steam locomotive. It was probably a hot and uncomfortable ride but nicely elevated and a good way to inspect the ROW.

Dave Nelson

I was thinking the same thing as I was making it. The body sat up higher on the chassis then I intended, causing me to think of that.

[dknelson]

Somewhat to my amazement Wikipedia has a photo of an inspection steam locomotive!!
http://www.answers.com/topic/inspection-locomotive

Dave Nelson

[dknelson]

Found it -- the old article I was thinking of (see earlier posting above) that shows how to make a boxcab diesel out of Athearn caboose shells. March 1983 Model Railroader page75, an article by Bill Lorence.
Dave Nelson

[Newyorkcentralfan]

Dave Nelson wrote:

"Found it -- the old article I was thinking of (see earlier posting above) that shows how to make a boxcab diesel out of Athearn caboose shells. March 1983 Model Railroader page75, an article by Bill Lorence."

Maybe a bachmann gas electric or trolley could be used to power it.

[rrinker]

QUOTE: Originally posted by pcarrell

OK, it's now about 5 or 6 hours after my last post and I've gotten home and taken some photo's of this steam boxcab project.

Now I'm not a photographer as you can tell by these photo's, but I think you'll get the point.

This is basically a Bachmann 0-4-0 that I cut the cab off of and then shortened a Bachmann old timer passenger car and have grafted it on to the loco. This project still has a long way to go, but I think you can see where it's going.





Not if you are after something more along the lines of a traditional diesel boxcab, I'd find a diesel loco with the same wheelbase and scratchbuild a body for it. A steel boxcar might be a start on that.

Very neat! Eliminate the tender and what you have is very near the Lehigh Valley's Dorothy inspection loco. although it was a 4-2-4 built like a Forney engine with a tender over the back truck http://lvrr.com/index.php?album=%2FA-LV%20Steam%20Engines%2F&image=lv-300-dorothy.jpg


--Randy

[pcarrell]

rrinker,

You're right, it is quite close. Wouldn't be that hard to do at all.

I did mine because I had a Bmann 0-4-0 and a Bmann old time passenger car, some glue, a xacto knife, and some time. It was actually kind of fun. Now if I can ever get around to finishing it and the Bmann 4-4-0 camelback I'll be in good shape. I know they'll never be real good runners, but they make real good yard queens!