Boxcar Sunday, Let's see your boxcars.

Hello Box Car Fans...LeapinLarry and Apples 55 maybe we can keep this going, but it was just the 3 of us last weekend.  Larry, I can see you really like the L&N and living in Tenn I can see why.  I really liked that L&N stock (horse) car, it looks like the logo on the left side is .....Kentucky Horse Farm (can't make out the first word).  We lived in Dayton, Oh for many years (I was Air Force and stationed at Wright Patterson AFB )  and I remember taking our kids to the Kentucky Horse Farm for a day trip, they loved it and the animals were magnificent.  Apples 55, those are neat box cars but I was interested in your comment on the "new" couplers.  Has Lionel changed their coupler??

Anyway Larry thanks for the compliment on my box cars of old.  I agree, these old tinplate things are so far from scale, but to that young person on Christmas morning, I will bet it didn't matter at all.  I know in 1947 when I was 3 I got my first Lionel set (a work train pulled by the PRR steam turbine loco) and all I can remember is the I could make it go around the tree all by myself (OK Dad was standing by)  !!

Don

@Don McErlean posted:

Hello Box Car Fans...LeapinLarry and Apples 55 maybe we can keep this going, but it was just the 3 of us last weekend.  Larry, I can see you really like the L&N and living in Tenn I can see why.  I really liked that L&N stock (horse) car, it looks like the logo on the left side is .....Kentucky Horse Farm (can't make out the first word).  We lived in Dayton, Oh for many years (I was Air Force and stationed at Wright Patterson AFB )  and I remember taking our kids to the Kentucky Horse Farm for a day trip, they loved it and the animals were magnificent.  Apples 55, those are neat box cars but I was interested in your comment on the "new" couplers.  Has Lionel changed their coupler??

Anyway Larry thanks for the compliment on my box cars of old.  I agree, these old tinplate things are so far from scale, but to that young person on Christmas morning, I will bet it didn't matter at all.  I know in 1947 when I was 3 I got my first Lionel set (a work train pulled by the PRR steam turbine loco) and all I can remember is the I could make it go around the tree all by myself (OK Dad was standing by)  !!

Don

Don;

There have been two threads recently discussing this issue... it appears to be related to a redesign of the truck, but my issue is primarily with the coupler. While they have have eliminated the thumbtack coupler, the replacement leaves much to be desired. You can browse these threads for more detail...

On the first thread, the relevant discussion begins on page 2.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/got-milk-4?page=2

https://ogrforum.com/...-truck-design?page=1

Here’s a very old Wood Craftsman kit Reefer car I restored last year. The sides are paper and I added some details to it.

                        Weathered item# 1,952...

Boxcars for this fine Sunday!

@lee drennen posted:

Here’s a very old Wood Craftsman kit Reefer car I restored last year. The sides are paper and I added some details to it.

Nice detail work, Lee...I remember my parents having "Dutch Cleanser" around the house...

Steve. Outstanding work as always

Cliff. Great pic nice caption

Patrick. Another great pic thanks for sharing

Paul. I remember my Mom as well using the cleanser too. Thanks for the complement.

Hello BxCarSun fans, great pictures all.  I really liked the "Old Dutch Cleanser" car Lee.  Many years ago, I had one of those on my HO layout and it was a classic then.

Today, I am going to sort of follow up my post last week on "Variations"...Last week I concentrated on Lionel and this week I thought I would post for Mr. Marx using his 6" box and refrigerator cars.  These can be common although some I will picture today are quite unusual (never use "rare" for Marx).  They came in a incredible variety, were manufactured in one form or another from 1939 to 1956 so they are just FUN to collect.  Here are my examples this week:li

The PRR adopted a distinctive scheme for its merchandise cars in the late 1940's, most of these were 40 foot cars.  Marx produced this car for a number of years post war, and this example dates from 1954-1955.

This non sliding door (door is just lithographed) B&LE boxcar in brown was produced by Marx both pre and post war and was available from 1936 until 1947

In discussing merchandise service, who could neglect the famous "Pacemaker" service provided by the NYC.  This service was inaugurated in 1946 and lasted into the late 1950's when LCL service was declining and NYC was concentrating on "piggy back" TOFC service. This car by Marx dates from 1954-1956.

This one is a local favorite of mine because the Cotton Belt Route served the town of Gatesville, Tx just a short 5 miles from my home.  In fact one of the bordering roads to our development is still named the "Cotton Belt Parkway".  This SSW car was made by Marx during the pre-war years 1939-1942.

OK so this isn't a box car but a refrigerator car, but it sort of looks the same right!   The Fruit Growers Express 6" box car was made by Marx for one year only, 1954.  It is the most scarce of the cars pictured here and carries a Heitshaw scarcity (S) rating of S6  (S10 being the maximum scarcity rating).  How did I end up with such a valuable collectable car?  I could claim skill and cunning but I think "dumb luck" would be closer (LOL).

Finally who could neglect the Baltimore and Ohio especially since while serving the Navy I was stationed just south of Baltimore. This sliding door car is also a pre-war version dating from 1939-1942  (they made post war versions as well and you have to date the cars by the type of couplers they carry).

Well I hope you had some fun looking over these little guys.  No where even close to "scale" they are just toys but colorful and fun to collect.

Best Wishes

Don

Good Morning Boxcar fans. Here’s a old All Nations car I restored a couple years ago. I repainted it and added some Microscale decals. Enjoy your Sunday and be safe next week.

Rusty

@trumpettrain posted:

Boxcars for this fine Sunday!

"Good Morning, What is this "B O" you peak of" <g> Always Tip Top, thanks

Boxcars found on the Free State Junction Railway for this fine Sunday!

@trumpettrain posted:

Boxcars found on the Free State Junction Railway for this fine Sunday!

Very cool shots Patrick

Here’s a pair of MTH waffle side boxcars I just finished painting and lettering for CSX.

Well its BxCrSun and Patrick what really great shots, the photos are really well done.  Cool shots and great cars everyone.

My input for today is in two parts.  The first is a tribute to Mitch and Miggy with their Giraffe infestation or what Miggy says is..."their reproducting like wabbits!"  LOL !  So I thought I would post a couple of special giraffe cars from Lionel, taken from their time of providing special cars around Christmas to the "Toys R Us" chain.  They made many more cars for this firm, especially a series of plug door small boxcars also featuring "Geoffrey" the giraffe but they were not animated the giraffe was just part of the livery on the car sides.

Here are the two giraffe type cars that Lionel made for the Toys R Us chain

First up is the Toys R Us , Lionel # 7912 , named "Geoffrey's Star Car" produced in 1982-1984 (uncatalogued)

N

Next up is the Lionel # 7914, named "Geoffrey's Carnival Carrier" available from 1985 -1989 (uncatalogued) .  In case you are wondering, yes there was a #7913 Giraffe car, but it was not a Toys R Us car but was named for the "Turtleback Zoo"

N

OK I couldn't resist.  Here is a lithographed, tin plate, giraffe car from Japan.  See those giraffes are just getting everywhere!!

OK enough for the giraffes for now, for the second part of my post today, in more traditional keeping with our Boxcar Sunday theme, here is a Lionel O-27 sliding door boxcar called the "Lawn Chief" car that was made for True Value Hardware.  This was uncatalogued and I believe was made for one year only 1990.

Have a great week everyone, Best Wishes

Don

Well, Don McErlean is exactly correct, box car Sunday’s roll around fast, from his tinplate 4 axle merchandise cars, B&LE, NYC, Fruit Growers Express, B&O, all very colorful, then to Animal Carriers, Toys R Us, Giraffe Transports... Wow, always a thrill to see his additions to this fun thread, rare Gems, aTrue Value, (humor) then Trumptrains realism of men at Work, trying to make a living during this pandemic, so cool, many beautiful boxcars lined up, ready to roll, and Jeff78rr with really beautiful CSX Waffleside box cars, and Lee Drennen showing an All Nation car he refurbished beautifully is a Wow, and Rusty Trague showing those beautiful Rail Box cars we see running the rails everywhere... Everyone’s pictures are awesome... Today, it’s Century Club Day, these are oldies but goodies.... (I did not mean to show pictures of the hudson, I do not know how to delete them, sorry) Happy Railroading Everyone

@leapinlarry posted:

Well, Don McErlean is exactly correct, box car Sunday’s roll around fast, from his tinplate 4 axle merchandise cars, B&LE, NYC, Fruit Growers Express, B&O, all very colorful, then to Animal Carriers, Toys R Us, Giraffe Transports... Wow, always a thrill to see his additions to this fun thread, rare Gems, aTrue Value, (humor) then Trumptrains realism of men at Work, trying to make a living during this pandemic, so cool, many beautiful boxcars lined up, ready to roll, and Jeff78rr with really beautiful CSX Waffleside box cars, and Lee Drennen showing an All Nation car he refurbished beautifully is a Wow, and Rusty Trague showing those beautiful Rail Box cars we see running the rails everywhere... Everyone’s pictures are awesome... Today, it’s Century Club Day, these are oldies but goodies.... (I did not mean to show pictures of the hudson, I do not know how to delete them, sorry) Happy Railroading Everyone

Thanks for the complement Larry. I like those Lionel cars. I just bought my first Lionel advertisement car this week I post it ASAP.

Happy Boxcar Sunday. Here’s a couple “Keystones” for today

Great scene, Lee...I like the Edsel wagon and the Pennsy boxes!

'Hi neighbor...have a Gansett!"  Did my part in the early days

Thought I would add a few. Pics.................Paul 2

Paul. Thanks for the complement

Paul.2. Great looking boxcars thanks for sharing

Wow, where’s Don McErlean, usually he’s one of the first posters on Box Car Sunday, so, hopefully he’ll chime in later with an unusual unique oldie but a goodie, just kidding, so here’s some box cars I have been operating.... Happy Railroading Everyone

Well Larry, here I am better late than not at all ! Had to spend this morning (and early afternoon) with the "tax man".  You will all be disappointed to learn that spending too much money on toy trains, model trains, and train layouts is not, at this time, considered a viable tax deduction !!

So in keeping with my post habit, here is a little group of pictures trying to illustrate the growth of realism that Lionel went through in the pre and early post war period.

First the little 4 wheel 805, dating from as early as 1927 and available in various color combinations until 1934.  This is the smallest of the boxcars except for the very small 1514 "Winner Lines" boxcar of 1931-32, the depths of the Great Depression

Here is the "smaller line" of O'gauge boxcar, the 655.  These cars evolved from the later series of 4 wheel cars, with changes primarily to the frame in order to mount the 4 wheel trucks.  Introduced in 1933 with manual couplers and 1938 with automatic (the 2650 series, the "2" designating the coupler change). This guy dating from about 1933-34.

Next came the magnificen't, 800 / 2800 series cars.  The cars underwent many changes over the years of production but by and large were introduced in 1926 and kept in production until the war halted the manufacture of toys in 1942.  There were changes to colors, the elimination of the "plates" for rubber stamping, and many changes in couplers.  This was about the longest running series of O' gauge freight cars and is considerably larger than the 650 series.  However, both then and now, it was also considerably more expensive.  Now Lionel also produced two series of "Ives Transition" cars, lithographed and very colorful.  These were (my opinion) somewhat more realistic in shape being longer and not as high, but Mr. Cowen never really liked lithography and felt it "cheapened" the line when compared with the enamel cars.  I posted a number of 1679 cars previously and have at least one example of the larger 1719 cars.  These however never really earned the love of Lionel, Introduced in 1932 they were never cataloged, and never reintroduced post war.

Finally, introduced almost immediately right after the war, in 1946 Lionel clearly showed the progression towards realism. These 9 1/4" long cars were produced from 1946 - 51and ended just prior to the beginning of  Lionel's well known 6464 series cars introduced in 1953 at 10" long.  The 6464 series cars, in many road names and colors lasted until Lionel ceased production in 1969.

Well that's my input for today.  Sorry I was late fellows.  Best regards and have a happy and healthy week (wife and I finally got COVID shot #1 on Friday!)

Don

Don McErlean, wow, you arrived, and with some real beauties, so nice as always. The Tinplate cars are nostalgic, the Baby Ruth is the beginning of realism and the actual candy bar is still one of the best snacks to date. Happy Box Car sunday... As far as taxes, mine are next Saturday, Switcher Saturday.

Wish I had .05% of Jeff78rr's talent for railroad modeling.

@Don McErlean posted:

Well Larry, here I am better late than not at all ! Had to spend this morning (and early afternoon) with the "tax man".  You will all be disappointed to learn that spending too much money on toy trains, model trains, and train layouts is not, at this time, considered a viable tax deduction !!

So in keeping with my post habit, here is a little group of pictures trying to illustrate the growth of realism that Lionel went through in the pre and early post war period.

First the little 4 wheel 805, dating from as early as 1927 and available in various color combinations until 1934.  This is the smallest of the boxcars except for the very small 1514 "Winner Lines" boxcar of 1931-32, the depths of the Great Depression

Here is the "smaller line" of O'gauge boxcar, the 655.  These cars evolved from the later series of 4 wheel cars, with changes primarily to the frame in order to mount the 4 wheel trucks.  Introduced in 1933 with manual couplers and 1938 with automatic (the 2650 series, the "2" designating the coupler change). This guy dating from about 1933-34.

Next came the magnificen't, 800 / 2800 series cars.  The cars underwent many changes over the years of production but by and large were introduced in 1926 and kept in production until the war halted the manufacture of toys in 1942.  There were changes to colors, the elimination of the "plates" for rubber stamping, and many changes in couplers.  This was about the longest running series of O' gauge freight cars and is considerably larger than the 650 series.  However, both then and now, it was also considerably more expensive.  Now Lionel also produced two series of "Ives Transition" cars, lithographed and very colorful.  These were (my opinion) somewhat more realistic in shape being longer and not as high, but Mr. Cowen never really liked lithography and felt it "cheapened" the line when compared with the enamel cars.  I posted a number of 1679 cars previously and have at least one example of the larger 1719 cars.  These however never really earned the love of Lionel, Introduced in 1932 they were never cataloged, and never reintroduced post war.

Finally, introduced almost immediately right after the war, in 1946 Lionel clearly showed the progression towards realism. These 9 1/4" long cars were produced from 1946 - 51and ended just prior to the beginning of  Lionel's well known 6464 series cars introduced in 1953 at 10" long.  The 6464 series cars, in many road names and colors lasted until Lionel ceased production in 1969.

Well that's my input for today.  Sorry I was late fellows.  Best regards and have a happy and healthy week (wife and I finally got COVID shot #1 on Friday!)

Don

Don. I like that baby Ruth car a lot and thanks for the History lesson I never knew that

For this fine Sunday.  Pennsy REA boxcar is being unloaded.

Good Morning Boxcar People. Today I have a old AHM PFE Reefer on a side track with some company. Enjoy your Sunday have a safe week.

Boxcars for this fine Sunday!  

Hi everybody!  It's Boxcar Sunday again!  My son picked these up recently and I know they're not boxcars but I needed to share them with all of you.  Rivarossi O gauge 2 rail European reefers.  Light as a feather and scale wheels. I  need to add about 8-9 ounces  for better tracking and also figure out how to change the wheels.

German beer car and an Italian refrigerator car. Enjoy!

I lost the Italian.  Here it is.

When I decided to base my layout on the Pennsy in the late 40s (1949), I concentrated my buying on PRR equipment.  I soon realized that trains made up of all Pennsy equipment did not look right because there were no foreign roads represented.  Freight cars from foreign roads made up 45% or more (depending on year) of a Pennsy train, so I needed to start buying non-PRR equipment to balance out my trains.  Also, boxcars (mostly 40') made up only 40% or so of the fleet so I needed to look for other types of cars - that is for another topic.

Here are a few of my non-PRR boxcars:

The Tucker (fantasy, but the correct years) and UP are Weaver.  The rest are Atlas.

I have several B&O Wagon Tops on order.  Hopefully Atlas will get around to building them.

@Don McErlean posted:

...this week I thought I would post for Mr. Marx using his 6" box and refrigerator cars.

Those are fun.  My late brother, Jim, was an avid Marx collector and historian when he was with TTOS.  He had a very colorful wall full of these cars.

@CAPPilot posted:

When I decided to base my layout on the Pennsy in the late 40s (1949), I concentrated my buying on PRR equipment.  I soon realized that trains made up of all Pennsy equipment did not look right because there were no foreign roads represented.  Freight cars from foreign roads made up 45% or more (depending on year) of a Pennsy train, so I needed to start buying non-PRR equipment to balance out my trains.  Also, boxcars (mostly 40') made up only 40% or so of the fleet so I needed to look for other types of cars - that is for another topic.

Here are a few of my non-PRR boxcars:

The Tucker (fantasy, but the correct years) and UP are Weaver.  The rest are Atlas.

I have several B&O Wagon Tops on order.  Hopefully Atlas will get around to building them.

Ron. A beautiful line up. I like the NYSW car and thanks for sharing the History on the PRR. I never had known about that

PW!

Hi everyone, well its a BoxCarSun again, and I have a somewhat varied offering today.  Since I usually post "old" stuff, I thought I would start with a scene I set on the L&S just for fun.  OK I know that there is not a box car in sight, but I thought this one might be fun.  It seems that "General Door & Sash" ran low on lubricating oil and asked the L&S to expedite a bulk shipment to the factory.  Unfortunately the factory spur is occupied with a flat of lumber now unloading, so they decided to off load what they needed in the local company's oil truck to take it to the factory.  The 815 Sunoco alluminum tank car dates from 1932.

OK back to "box" cars, my official input today is not all that old.  It dates from 1994 and I had to show it because it just arrived for being incorporated into my layout.  Its the Lionel 6-16131 Texas and Pacific refrigerator car.  It said "Texas" on it so I couldn't resist acquiring it for the layout (we live in Waco, Tx).

Here is a little video showing my other new acquisition, the Lionel # 2295 0-6-0 steam switcher (Lionchief 2.0) moving the new refr around the layout.

Here's hoping everyone has a good and healthy week.  Best Regards

Don

P.S.  Cappilot - thanks for the complement on my Marx 6" cars, just toys but fun to collect.  Lee Drennen - your work on the UP tractor trailer that you showed in the Automobiles thread was really great.  Thanks for posting.

My postwar favorites...

Just in the nick of time...