I wrote an article about upgrading these cars that was published in the July-August 2009 issue of O scale Trains. I used a Des Plaines metal runnng board, Chooch ladders and grabs, scratch built corner steps, San Juan brake gear, and Intermountain trucks. I modified the side sill. See the photo below.
The Atlas Trainman model is very similar to the Atlas/Roco model from 1972 except that the Trainman car has a nice see through running board, the Roco underframe is replaced with a less detailed metal underframe, and the Roco trucks are replaced with AtlasO trucks.
Eight foot doors were the least common door size on postwar AAR box cars. Only about 15% of the postwar AAR cars had them. Here is a list of the cars that had 8 ft doors from Ed Hawkins:
RDG 107000-107499 Superior doors
NJI&I 100-149 Twelve panel welded sides
NJI&I 150-199 Twelve panel welded sides
DT&I 14300-14549 straight sill between bolsters
WAB 6000-6299 straight sill between bolsters
PRR 70400-71899 X43c
GN 21940-21949 straight sill
PRR 86901-87650 X46, overhanging diagonal panel roof
WM 4201-4450 Twelve panel welded sides
CP 55200-55524
CP 55525-56024 Superior doors with ribs
Larry Kline
