50' combination door (plug + sliding door) boxcars

[msprater]

When were 50' plug and sliding door box cars first manufactured? I have a model of FEC 5002 with a built date of 7/62. I need to know when these cars first appeared on the rails -- particularly on the FEC. Thanks.

[rrandb]

It does not appear in my copy of Seth Bramson's "Speedway to Sunshine" (the history of the FEC) 1962 summary of Equipment as of Dec. 31, 1962. It may have not been bought new. What color is it. Specifically the color and style of the hearald. Are the doors a seperate color from the rest of the car.

[CShaveRR]

Good question!

I always say that when I don't know the answer.

However, the combinaton-door cars were probably the invention of a western railroad in the 1950s. UP had them at least as early as 1956.

The Florida East Coast didn't have any very modern box cars (or any 50-footers) as of the January 1965 issue of the Official Railway Equipment Register. However, FEC 5001-5015 were in the April 1966 issue. I should be able to find out something about box cars built new at that time, but I can't find anything on these--which suggests that they might have been rebuilt from some other railroad's cars. Companies such as the Chicago Freight Car Leasing Company were "stretching" old 40-foot box cars into 50-footers, and it's conceivable that FEC obtained some cars like this.

[rrandb]

The confusing part is the built date as of 7/62 and yet was not on property as of 12/31/1962 While the FEC was notorious for trying to save a buck 3 years old is pretty new for used equipment. If these cars are red with white doors I might have a better answer. [2c]

[Anonymous]

If the Box Car is about 40 years old they should stil be around on the rails with the actual build date on the consolidated stencils. They could be in use today or sittling on a siding for sale to the highest bidder.

Scale model companies sometimes reuse data on the cars - that can be confusing. [%-)]

A higher end model will have the accurate data.

[rrandb]

Even more confusing is they have no problem painting and selling cars and engines that railroads never had. I ordered a GP9 from W_____S. When it arrived in correct FEC colors I was startled to find it was short nosed and had a (non-removable) dynamic brake blister. All FEC GP9's were high nosed and never had dynamic brakes. Go figure.

[CShaveRR]

I think the point I was trying to make is that the 7/62 build date on the model is totally bogus, whether it was built or rebuilt for the 1965-66 timeframe when it first appeared. Compared to your "FEC GP9", a bad build date is relatively insignificant to some folks.

A query to the appropriate historical society might be in order.

[msprater]

Thanks for the info so far. To "rrandb": The car is a very dark blue, including the doors. The letters "FEC" are in large, block, sans-serif font on the upper right end three side panels. "Florida East Coast" in capital Times New Roman in 3 lines appear on the far left three side panels, with "FEC 5002" in two lines below that. To the right of that is a block containing the phrase "Specifically equipped car. When empty, return owner or lessor over service route" in caps. All lettering and reporting marks are in white. There is no herald per se. The car has Pullman Standard PS-1 ends (as described in the May issue of "Model Railroader" magazine). If the built date is bogus, I can scratch that and then only need to know if such cars were running on FEC circa 1958 for modeling purposes.

[CShaveRR]

Mr. Prater, the answer to that question is unequivocally "no"--FEC didn't have any 50-foot box cars of any type in 1958. You'd have to scratch a lot more than the date! As I mentioned, these cars, under these numbers, first appeared during 1965 or early 1966.

[rrandb]

Even more confusing to my possilly addeled brain is that,,,,,,. well never mind I am confused. I would take the 1966 rooster date as accurate though the stenciling and paint are still apropriate for 1958. There were a couple of makers of acurate 40' boxcars that were available pre painted. Con-cor and Athearn used to make some. The "Speedway to Sunshine" heralded boxcars come to mind and are accurate for 1958. CShaveRR~ Does your ORER show them as Plug/Slide door 50' cars or just as a # and lenght. Thanks and enquiring minds want to know. [2c]

[CShaveRR]

It doesn't show them specifically as plug/sliding combination doors, but does show the width of the opening as 14 feet--which would certainly indicate double doors of some type in that era.

[rrandb]

Thanks . My brain is feeling better already. msprater Where on the FEC are you modeling in 1958? I lived along there right of way then and we still had street running in Cocoa?