40' box cars

[Anonymous]

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).

[e-mail]

[dehusman]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[orsonroy]

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.

[Anonymous]

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!

[orsonroy]

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.