Usually, I just skim through the Lionel catalog for NYC and NH items (and marvel at Lionel's ability to raise the price of track each year BUT that's another topic for another time) and saw a "new" production New Haven waffle-sided boxcar. I guess that I really haven't paid much attention to 'waffle-sided' before and was wondering if , in real life, these are being used and for what purpose - as opposed to regular sided boxcars. I did try to find out on the inter-net but was not successful. If you know, I'd appreciate the info. Also, how many 'waffles', that is, boxcars, do you have? As always, many thanks.
The Waffles contain bars or posts for wrapping load restraining straps.
Notice that they are at different heights for restraining loads, depending on the freight car builders's design.
The Denver & Rio Grande Western nicknamed their Exterior-Braced 50' Double-Door Boxcars with Waffle-Sides "Woodpackers" for hauling lumber. They even had a woodpecker graphic next to the name.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Well first off, I've seen the real thing within the past couple weeks, in CSX, Norfolk Southern and CP Rail.
My understanding of the Waffle Box Car is that the real railroads and industries they served were looking for a quicker way, more cost effiecient way to load box cars - or more specifically to secure the loads inside. Normal box cars required extra labor using various devices inside the cars to secure loads. The Waffle style box car was a result of stronger, better steel... the waffle indentations made for much easier securing of loads inside the car. This was a big advantage to the automotive industry. Wrapped and secured pallets could be fork lifted into the box cars and then more easily secured to prevent damage. This, to my understand, was the real motivation behind the development of the waffle side box car. Most of the real ones were at least 50 feet in length.
Lionel introduced their semi-scale waffle box car in 1995, similar in size to the traditional 6464 style box car, reflecting more of a 40 ft. box car. Lionel has made these in Seaboard (early Seaboard scheme), Denver & Rio Grande, Chessie System, Louisville and Nashville*, Seaboard (SCL Family Lines scheme)*, Green Bay Route, Chicago & Northwestern, CSX, D&H, Santa Fe (from add-on pack) and the current New Haven. All have plastic trucks except * which have sprung die-cast truck.
I personally love the Lionel Waffle Box Car for its modern look (no roofwalk, shortened side ladders) and have nearly all of the above, some custom repainted into Norfolk Southern, CPR, Lehigh Valley and Conrail. No other company has introduced any kind of modern looking box car for the tradtional market. Although the K-Line 765-series modern welded steel box car (done in EL, MILW, SOU, D&H, I love NY D&H scheme by K-Line) is more scale proportioned, it still looks very good in a consist of 6464 sized box cars. It nicely mimics a high cube box car on a smaller layout. There's also the Lionel MPC developed Hi-Cube box car.
brianel, Agent 027
"Praise the Lord. I may not have everything I desire, but the Lord has come through for what I need."
Illinois Central or ICG Waffle-Sided Box Cars have been common the GTW-CN since 1992.
The IC and WC Waffle-Sided Box Cars have become even more common since the Canadian National mergers.
Lionel has made the 1960's Illinois Central Waffle-Sided Boxcar. I had to get one at Riders Hobby Shop, plus the Norfolk Southern 2-Bay Open-Top Hopper.
I like to load strawberries in waffle cars!
[couldn't resist]
fifedog wrote: I like to load strawberries in waffle cars![couldn't resist]
Pass the syrup!!!
It is a cool looking car.
underworld
What's funny is that just today I was at Fayette Mall in Lexington, Kentucky and behind the mall runs a rail-line, and parked on a siding was a CSX navy blue Waffle-sided boxcar. I had read this thread earlier and so when I saw it I just cocked my head to the side and said, "Hmmm, what do ya know about that..." Anyways just thought I'd share. Carry on.
*edit spelling correction*
ATSJer wrote:What's funny is that just today I was at Fayette Mall in Lexington, Kentucky and behind the mall runs a rail-line, and parked on a siding was a CSX navy blue Waffle-sided boxcar. I had read this thread earlier and so when I saw it I just cocked my head to the side and said, "Hmmm, what you ya know about that..." Anyways just thought I'd share. Carry on.
It would be much appreciated if the people at LIONEL made the Waffle-Sided Boxcar in the current Bright Red scheme for Canadian Pacific, the Wisconsin Central scheme, and the Guilford-Maine Central White scheme. Those have to appear in the next 2 Catalogs.
Rock Island's ROUTE ROCK White body with Blue and Black Graphics Waffle-Sided Boxcar would be a colorful addition to a 1970's and 1980's era layout. The Rock Island Waffle-Sided Boxcars still in their original 1966-1970 era scheme had the road number and reporting marks patched over by CNW in 1980.
Andrew Falconer wrote: It would be much appreciated if the people at LIONEL made the Waffle-Sided Boxcar in the current Bright Red scheme for Canadian Pacific, the Wisconsin Central scheme, and the Guilford-Maine Central White scheme. Those have to appear in the next 2 Catalogs.Rock Island's ROUTE ROCK White body with Blue and Black Graphics Waffle-Sided Boxcar would be a colorful addition to a 1970's and 1980's era layout. The Rock Island Waffle-Sided Boxcars still in their original 1966-1970 era scheme had the road number and reporting marks patched over by CNW in 1980.Andrew
Suggestion......... Why don't you e-mail them your idea ?
Chuck
I already have sent them some suggestions.
They just needed to be posted on the forum.
Get the thoughts out there on the screen.
Vote for the next O Gauge Waffle-Sided Boxcars from LIONEL.
UPDATE: I pre-ordered the Lionel New Haven Waffle-sided Boxcar. It arrrived today and is a beautiful addition to my NH Boxcar collection. Thanks for all your information.
PS. A personal note. The joy of receiving this new car has been over-shadowed by the tragic events at Virginia Tech. Let's keep those families in our thoughts and prayers.
If you must know.
Waffle-Sided Boxcars from LIONEL that I got over the past decade:
D&RGW Rio Grande
Green Bay & Western
Chessie System C&O
Seaboard System
Chicago & North Western
Illinois Central
Santa Fe ATSF
The latest Lionel waffle-sided boxcars have had enhanced graphic schemes for the Southern Railway, Norfolk Southern, Great Northern, and BNSF.
I would still like a Glacier Green painted Great Northern Waffle-side boxcar.
Andrew:
Wow! ........ My post goes back to 2007......Glad to see your continuing interest...Thanks for the update.
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