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@walt rapp posted:

I've posted several of these KDKA cars celebrating something in each decade - 1 decade per car.  This one reminds us that KDKA was the first radio station.

z - B - KDKA Red First Radio Station

- walt

@walt rapp,

Walt,

An interesting boxcar.

I used to listen to WBZ 1030 in Boston. Especially on clear nights, I could move the dial a bit and pick up KDKA - 485 miles distant.

Happy New Year.

MELGAR

Here is a German Karl Bub boxcar from a little train I acquired about a year ago.  Nothing too special but I liked the looks of it and it is all tinplate thus dating from the early to middle post war period.  I estimate middle 50's.  However, I will share a small secret, its HO!  I know this is the O scale forum but I thought you might like to look a this German beauty
Karl Bub tinplate train box car-edit 1

Here is the full train as I came to me.  Sorry for the background, its the kitchen table!

Karl Bub tinplate train full train-edit 1

Best wishes on a very cold Sunday afternoon.

Don

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  • Karl Bub  tinplate train box car-edit 1
  • Karl Bub tinplate train full train-edit 1

Well, my Acquisition Department has definitely hit the tracks running in 2025!!!

The first two are special runs from Forum sponsor Brady’s Train Outlet. The first is called a Special Passenger Baggage Car and/or Reefer (made for the Chicagoland Lionel RR Club). As best as I can tell, the New Haven never had a train named “City of New Haven”, so I am assuming that it is a pure fantasy scheme, but it just screams New Haven.

IMG_7460

The second is a PRR Woodsided Reefer with some interesting graphics/advertising.

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The second two cars are from MTH - I won them in Forum sponsor Mr. Muffins December auction. They were advertised as used, but, while the boxes show some ware, the cars themselves are pristine.
A couple of years ago, Lionel put out a group of boxcars from the late 1940’s Friendship Train and I really liked them and picked up the entire group and have purchased the additional cars issued more recently. Unfortunately, Ron (aka @CAPPilot) pointed out that MTH also put out some cars several years ago - this showed up in the December auction. Now I HAVE to look for the other MTH cars!!!

IMG_7463

And finally, I really liked the look of this 50’ PS-1 car.

IMG_7464

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Here is a German Karl Bub boxcar from a little train I acquired about a year ago.  .....  However, I will share a small secret, its HO!  I know this is the O scale forum but I thought you might like to look a this German beauty
Karl Bub tinplate train box car-edit 1



Don

@Don McErlean  Don, another unique car.  Looks in good shape.  Thanks.

Also, for the Photo Album forum I don't think scale matters.  A nifty boxcar is, well, nifty in any scale.  We will see what others say.

@Apples55 posted:

...... Unfortunately, Ron (aka @CAPPilot) pointed out that MTH also put out some cars several years ago - this showed up in the December auction. Now I HAVE to look for the other MTH cars!!!

IMG_7463

@Apples55  Paul,  I like that scheme.  Your car, MTH 20-93524, had only one car number.  The other MTH Friendship cars, 20-95321, 20-95322, and 20-95323, had two car #s each.  I do know there was only one Abraham Lincoln Friendship car, represented by 20-95321.  Its car number was 36262.  The other number MTH used, 36267, is fantasy.  However, it does help make a longer train.

20241112_105617

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I picked up this Williams Brass boxcar.  It is a fairly faithful rendition of a modified PRR X29 boxcar with the Youngstown door, dreadnaught ends, and end mounted brake wheel.  It needs to be repainted to the correct color and the lettering is off but overall, I'm very pleased with the quality of this car.

_IMG4156

_IMG4158

For comparison, this Precision Scale X29 represents the as-built appearance with the plate ends, 3 panel door, and top mounted brake wheel.  The color and graphics are also much more accurate.

_IMG4018

_IMG4020

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Last edited by GG1 4877
@CAPPilot posted:

@Apples55  Paul,  I like that scheme.  Your car, MTH 20-93524, had only one car number.  The other MTH Friendship cars, 20-95321, 20-95322, and 20-95323, had two car #s each.  I do know there was only one Abraham Lincoln Friendship car, represented by 20-95321.  Its car number was 36262.  The other number MTH used, 36267, is fantasy.  However, it does help make a longer train.

20241112_105617

Thanks so much for the info, Ron, especially about the Abe Lincoln car - I have the Lionel version and it uses #36262, but I’ll probably still look for the other number!!!

One of my favorites is this Atlas Grand Union boxcar:

IMG_3327

IMG_3326

When I was 5 or 6 years old around 1956, my mother would occasionally take me to a Grand Union supermarket in downtown Mt. Vernon, NY. I thought it was weird that there would be sawdust on the floor of that supermarket.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the purpose of that sawdust was to sop up anything that might spill onto the floor. Arnold

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Thanks Dave for starting us off!   Those boxcars/reefers are really great subjects for us modelers to weather!  Thanks for the inspiration!

Today I'm showing 6 boxcars .. two of which are express boxcars usually found at the headend of passenger trains ... the other 4 are the usual freight train consist of from 1930's through  the 60's and perhaps into  the 70s.  

First is the Milwaukee Rd boxcar with the yellow door and the letters "LRD" which stands for "Load Restraining Device'.   There were movable devices in the cars interior that were movable to custom fit a customers load.  These devices protected the load from shifting while the car was in transit.  The yellow door highlighted this option.   This car is a K line model.

IMG_5863

I've loved this B&O livery since I was a little kid as I first discovered it in Lionel catalogues.  I never had one until my adult years and this one is scale ... actually I have two of these cars as I needed to make up for lost time ... LOL!  This car is a Weaver model.

IMG_5864

The Wagon Top boxcar .. Manufactured in B&O shops during the 1930's.  I used to see these cars on a team track in my hometown during the late 1950/60s.  This model is by Weaver. IMG_5865

This model is by Weaver IMG_5866

B&O Wagon Top REA boxcar.  Could be found at the headend of passenger trains as well as express freights. Yet another Weaver model.  IMG_5869



Here is a B&O express boxcar that could be found at the headend of passenger trains.  This is a K line model.

IMG_5870 The video shows all the boxcars in their respective consists of trains that were typical of the time.

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  • IMG_5866
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IMG_5867
Last edited by trumpettrain

Thanks Dave for starting us off!   Those boxcars/reefers are really great subjects for us modelers to weather!  Thanks for the inspiration!


The Wagon Top boxcar .. Manufactured in B&O shops during the 1930's.  I used to see these cars on a team track in my hometown during the late 1950/60s.  This model is by Weaver. IMG_5865

This model is by Weaver IMG_5866

B&O Wagon Top REA boxcar.  Could be found at the headend of passenger trains as well as express freights. Yet another Weaver model.  IMG_5869

Here is a B&O express boxcar that could be found at the headend of passenger trains.  This is a K line model.

IMG_5870 The video shows all the boxcars in consists of trains that were typical of the time.

WOW thanks Patrick, until you posted these pictures I have never seen a box car with rounded tops! They look so cool and must be hard to find. As I said I have never seen them at any stores or train shows I have been too!

Thanks again!

@mike g. posted:

WOW thanks Patrick, until you posted these pictures I have never seen a box car with rounded tops! They look so cool and must be hard to find. As I said I have never seen them at any stores or train shows I have been too!

Thanks again!

You are welcome @MikeG.  The Wagontop boxcars are not your everyday usual sight, however, they are out there in the market place.  I bought two of mine ( used ) from a vendor at a train show in Timonium Maryland who gave me a deal I could not pass up.   The blue one, I bought from a fellow forumite for a very decent price.   If you're interested in this type of car, check Trainz.com, here on the OGR Forum For Sale thread,  and of course the Bay.  I do see them pop up from time to time, however, even on the used market they fetch a pretty penny.  

Thanks Dave for starting us off!   Those boxcars/reefers are really great subjects for us modelers to weather!  Thanks for the inspiration!

Today I'm showing 6 boxcars .. two of which are express boxcars usually found at the headend of passenger trains ... the other 4 are the usual freight train consist of from 1930's through  the 60's and perhaps into  the 70s.  

First is the Milwaukee Rd boxcar with the yellow door and the letters "LRD" which stands for "Load Restraining Device'.   There were movable devices in the cars interior that were movable to custom fit a customers load.  These devices protected the load from shifting while the car was in transit.  The yellow door highlighted this option.   This car is a K line model.

IMG_5863

I've loved this B&O livery since I was a little kid as I first discovered it in Lionel catalogues.  I never had one until my adult years and this one is scale ... actually I have two of these cars as I needed to make up for lost time ... LOL!  This car is a Weaver model.

IMG_5864

The Wagon Top boxcar .. Manufactured in B&O shops during the 1930's.  I used to see these cars on a team track in my hometown during the late 1950/60s.  This model is by Weaver. IMG_5865

This model is by Weaver IMG_5866

B&O Wagon Top REA boxcar.  Could be found at the headend of passenger trains as well as express freights. Yet another Weaver model.  IMG_5869



Here is a B&O express boxcar that could be found at the headend of passenger trains.  This is a K line model.

IMG_5870 The video shows all the boxcars in their respective consists of trains that were typical of the time.

What a great post Patrick! The pictures with the narrative for each and then the video to top it off. Informative and entertaining.
Thanks for posting.

Well I have started to augment my collection with the Kline small 0-27 boxcars, Why? because they are and indeed may even be the same mold as what Marx collectors call the "Deluxe" boxcars (they had 8 wheels and sliding doors hence deluxe).  I am not sure that is absolutely true but compared side by side with the Marx cars they are very close and in a train highly compatible.  That is especially true in my small layout where anything over a 40 ft car just won't go.

At any rate here is the Kline #5121 0-27 Reading boxcar from 1987-1990 & 1992-1996

Kline 5121 Reading boxcar side viewKline 5121 Reading boxcar quarter view

Best Wishes for a great week

Don

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  • Kline 5121 Reading boxcar side view
  • Kline 5121 Reading boxcar quarter view

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