Newberry-Columbia Line, SC: Ertl early twentieth century frieght cars

[robert sylvester]

I have mentioned these cars before when on the forum it was discussed about under weight cars. Years ago Ertl produced some highly detailed freight cars from the earlier part of the last century that ran on many railroads at the time. You could have box cars, gondolas and flat cars. They were not like the old blue box or Accurail freight cars and they were not kits. Each car was highly detailed with separate grab irons and other detail parts on the body as well as a complete braking system underneath.

This how they looked shown with the packaging. I bought the complete selection of these cars from a hobby shop in Columbia, SC for three dollars apiece, not bad, so I bought everything they had and walked out with two or three cases full.

Now these cars are very lite-no weights what so ever, but I just loved the detail and liked the way they looked and I wasn't dissappointed. As I examined the rolling stock I was amaized at the detail.

They were even preweathered. I decided that the best way to run these cars was either by themselves or always run the heavier fright-i.e. Kato, Fox and others in front of the consist and run the Ertl cars behind them and it worked. You could add weights inside the box cars but you have very little room under the gondolas and flats for weights.

As you can see here with the detailed braking system. With the wheel sets they track well and I have had no derailments.

Each box car has a wooden floor inside as well.

If you ever see any at train shows or swap meets you might want to purchases some. They look really good, and truly take you back in time.

Thanks,

Robert Sylvester

Newberry-Columbia Line, SC

[doctorwayne]

The Ertl cars are quite nicely-done, and I picked up a couple of low-sided gondolas...

...and a double sheathed USRA boxcar....

...at a train show for two bucks apiece.  The boxcar weighs about 5oz., and it appears as if the previous owner did add some weight to it.

The gondolas were both lettered for Atlantic Coast Line, but I repainted them as CNR cars' with the pre-WWII black paint scheme.  Empty, they are pretty-light, at about 2oz. each.

As I mentioned, the boxcar appears to be a USRA design, dating from 1918, but many of them lasted well into the '50s.  Your's, with the Pheobe Snow slogan represents a Lackawanna car from the '40s or '50s, while this one, from Accurail, and re-lettered with C-D-S dry transfers, represents a similar USRA car as it might have appeared in the '20s or '30s....

Wayne

[SeeYou190]

I do like the Ertle freight cars. I believe I have one each of the gondola and boxcar. Both are awaiting disassembly and repaint.

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I paid more than two or three dollars for mine, but they were worth it.

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-Kevin

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[Pruitt]

I have several of the flats and a couple of the boxcars. I also have their donkey engine load. I wish they had produced a greater variety. Mine also were three or four dollars at a train show - a bargain.