I picked this kit up at a swap meet recently:
It was a bit of an impulse buy. A few questions:
Most of the photos of X29 REA boxcars I can find on the net have dreadnought ends, this model has riveted ends. Also, most photos I've seen have a lot more in the way of reporting marks. Is this an accurate model for the period I want to model (1950ish).
The other side of the model, which I didn't see before I bought it:
It looks like someone tried to remove the 'Seaboard' from this side. Whatever they used left some 'smudgy' marks on the model. Do you think if I re-applied a 'Seaboard' decal it would look alright, especially after weathering? How dirty did these cars get? On the one hand they were at the front of the train, which means lots of smoke and cinders, but they were also part of passenger consists, so you think they'd be kept relatively clean.
So, basically:
1) Is the model accurate for the period (1950) and prototype (SAL)?
2) If the model isn't accuare the period/prototype, or if I end up re-applying the 'Seaboard' on one side, is there anyway to do this without repainting the whole model.
Thanks
My guess is someone attempted to kitbash a Walthers X-29 boxcar into a car representing a Seaboard express boxcar. Most likely they started with an undec kit and painted and lettered it; I suspect the smudged area may be where one decal didn't work for some reason and the builder removed it. I would think you can add the "SEABOARD" decal there, snuggle it down with Solvaset, and have it turn out well. With a light weathering, should look fine.
An express boxcar or reefer not used in interchange service - in this case, one only used on Seaboard Air Line trains - wouldn't need the otherwise required data a freight car would normally have. So you could use this on a Seaboard train, but it wouldn't really look right on another railroad's train. However, it may be whoever was working on it didn't finish decaling it - maybe SAL did have some similar cars that had full data on it. If so , wouldn't be hard to add the data with decals.
The model is approximately correct. The ends should be flat plate, not dreadnaught. But the SAL prototype was not an X-29, but an ARA 1932 design. The cars look kinda similar. Atlas makes the proper model for a "normal" SAL version. As in, general freight. In 1943-45, 55 cars were modified for express service. Numbers were 700-754. Contrary to what Stix said, the cars WERE used in interchange service (see below).
There are 3 photos of the SAL express cars in Theodore J. Culotta's "The American Railway Association Standard Box Car of 1932". Two of the photos are dated, one in 1959, and the way-cool one (because it's right behind a New Haven Alco PA) in 1957.
Strikingly obvious in the photos are ventilation panels on the side of the cars. A proper model of these cars would HAVE TO have these.
The lettering on the X-29 model appears correct. And I suspect replacing the missing lettering with a decal would be successful.
So, yer choice is accepting a kinda close car in hand. Or a fascinating kit detailing project--after buying the proper Atlas model.
I recommend doing both! With the present one as a stand-in until the exact one is completed.
And thanks for pointing this model out. I had no idea that this car existed. I might have a fit and try one myself.
Ed
I am absolutely SHOCKED that I could find a photo of one of these cars online. And a FANTASTIC photo. The ventilator in prominently placed on the side--you can't miss it:
PERFECT! Thank you!
This was really bugging me, because I know I had seen this particular car before. Turns out I was remembering a video right here on MR:
http://mrv.trains.com/videos/expert-tips/2010/06/the-operators-video-special-mail-and-express-train-car-models
Turns out the vents on the side are not part of the kit, in the above video Andy mentioned he had to scratchbuild them.
Interesting, I'm guessing there was some exception for cars generally used in passenger service from having to have data (built date, reweigh date, weight and height data etc.) to be able to run on other railroads? I'd guess they would generally have only been seen on passenger trains, not in freight trains however?
wjstix Interesting, I'm guessing there was some exception for cars generally used in passenger service from having to have data (built date, reweigh date, weight and height data etc.) to be able to run on other railroads? I'd guess they would generally have only been seen on passenger trains, not in freight trains however?
I expect the data cited above would be required for cars operating in "free-roaming" interchange service: A guy needs a car. A guy sees a car. A guy loads a car. Thousands of railroad employees might have to deal with that car.
I don't think these cars operated that way. While they perhaps traveled over several railroads, as did passenger cars, they were not in free interchange. It appears most were leased to REA to do with what they will. And I don't think that included the "guy" mentioned above.
I am sure if REA felt the need to know data, it was revealed. But it didn't need to be proclaimed on the car side for the edification of a large assortment of railroad employees. And shippers.
These cars would certainly generally have been used on passenger trains. It cost a few extra bucks to set them up for that service, and it would be money wasted (and cars unavailable) if they were used in freight service.
Exceptions to this rule gleefully accepted. Especially if it's photographic.
Just to be clear, freight cars in interchange service (i.e. not limited to use by it's owner railroad on that railroad's tracks) were required by federal regulation to have the built / rebuilt / reweigh dates, light weight, load limits, dimensions etc. displayed on the car. Railroads didn't just add it just because they thought they or someone else might like to have it on there.
But ya, as I think back, I've seen plenty of pics of express / mail trains with baggage cars, express boxcars & reefers, RPOs etc. of several railroads in the same train. So apparently passenger equipment (which it seems includes boxcars or reefers designed for passenger train service) weren't covered by those regulation.
wjstix Just to be clear, freight cars in interchange service (i.e. not limited to use by it's owner railroad on that railroad's tracks) were required by federal regulation to have the built / rebuilt / reweigh dates, light weight, load limits, dimensions etc. displayed on the car.
Just to be clear, freight cars in interchange service (i.e. not limited to use by it's owner railroad on that railroad's tracks) were required by federal regulation to have the built / rebuilt / reweigh dates, light weight, load limits, dimensions etc. displayed on the car.
No, I think it was not federal regulation. It was the AAR. Which was not a government agency. It was an ASSOCIATION of American Railroads.
Railroads didn't just add it just because they thought they or someone else might like to have it on there.
I think that is exactly why they added it. They DID think someone would like to have it on there because that someone needed to know the information. And it was presented right before the person who needed it. In a standardized format. Which made it easier to interpret.
Main point I was making is it's not optional. UP or BNSF can't just decide to paint over all the data on it's freight cars and still expect other railroads to accept them in interchange. You're right, it's AAR that sets the standards, but all AAR members have to agree to follow them.
Main point I was making (regarding railroad car lettering) is that dimensional data IS optional for cars operating in passenger service. And that that option is rarely exercised.