I believe the refrigerated boxcar fleet in the mid 1950s was still more than 50% wooden side cars.
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My ratio is 2/3 wood sides and 1/3 all steel.
None of my cars have wooden frames or ends.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
As I have mention I recently bought a United Models Santa Fe 1950 class 2-8-0 and decided to model a freelance Santa Fe branch line set in 55/56 in Louisiana or Missouri. I will be using Accurail 40' cars.
I have studied several on line photos of 55/56 and had mixed results..My own 1956 railfan experience is questible at best since as a eight year old I was more interested in taking photos of PRR fading steam and shiney new diesels. A sad trend that would follow me several decades of my railfaning.
So,my plans call for a end of the branch line switching layout complete with station,water tank and house track/team track with three other industries of which one will require inbound loaded reefers(Santa Fe,NP and PFG).
So.... Should I use a combination of wood and steel cars or all steel?
Been decades since I modeled a steam era layout and to be honest I'm a tad beyond my dieselized ISLs experiences..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"