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Well BxCrSun fans, I am back home in Texas so will be gathering up some new photos for various threads, but today after reviewing everyone's post, I just feel that I should take you back some, before all those beautiful scale cars.  After all, toy or even model trains have been around for some time.

Here is an American Flyer boxcar from1930-35 or around 90 years ago.  This little guy has been ready to haul whatever the RR wanted for nearly a century.  I can imagine that before mid-century last, some young person was thrilled with this car and clearly imagined whatever load they were moving in it, the American Flyer 3012 boxcar.  No fancy livery here, in fact they didn't even spell out American Flyer Lines...just A.F.L.  Note...its "outside braced" like the custom boxcars shown by Krieglok above but not even close in prototype appearance.

AF 3012 Box - side viewAF 3012 Box - end view

@Dave Ripp.- Just for fun and comparison, from 1970, here is the Lionel version of your handsome Weaver box car. Just 40 years later than our little American Flyer car above, quite a bit of progress No?

Lionel IC boxcar 1

Best wishes everyone.  Hope you have a great happy and healthy week.

Don

Attachments

Images (3)
  • AF 3012 Box - side view
  • AF 3012 Box - end view
  • Lionel IC boxcar 1

Well BxCrSun fans, I am back home in Texas so will be gathering up some new photos for various threads, but today after reviewing everyone's post, I just feel that I should take you back some, before all those beautiful scale cars.  After all, toy or even model trains have been around for some time.

Here is an American Flyer boxcar from1930-35 or around 90 years ago.  This little guy has been ready to haul whatever the RR wanted for nearly a century.  I can imagine that before mid-century last, some young person was thrilled with this car and clearly imagined whatever load they were moving in it, the American Flyer 3012 boxcar.  No fancy livery here, in fact they didn't even spell out American Flyer Lines...just A.F.L.  Note...its "outside braced" like the custom boxcars shown by Krieglok above but not even close in prototype appearance.

@Dave Ripp.- Just for fun and comparison, from 1970, here is the Lionel version of your handsome Weaver box car. Just 40 years later than our little American Flyer car above, quite a bit of progress No?

Best wishes everyone.  Hope you have a great happy and healthy week.

Don

Very nice Don, It's amazing how good the old tin cars held up. I had books on them as a kid but didn't have availability. Now I've had lot's of chances to buy some but at 59 I don't dare start another collection. I'm a ait absessive so I'd go crazy buying once I started.

Last edited by Dave Ripp.
@hokie71 posted:

Don, the problem with the Nathan's car is I think of this (and I think his record is about 20 more than 63?):



I love the Nathan’s reefers (I have 3). I grew up in Brooklyn, and have eaten at Nathan’s in Coney Island many, many times - 364 days of the year you won’t see that homage to gluttony!!! Funny this came up today… I’ve been helping my brother in northern Westchester after major surgery and we were looking for something quick for dinner Friday - picked up a 6-pack of Nathan’s franks from the supermarket. Not as good as Coney Island, but quite tasty!!!

@Arthur posted:

Nice, I have been waiting, hoping Atlas or MTH would do a Long Island single sheathed boxcar, mentioned it to some of the dealers for a special run but no takers so far.

Arthur,

My LIRR car is a Weaver car I painted a couple years ago. K4 sells the decal set, which is actually intended to use on a 36’ OB car. My friend, who is from Long Island, often makes mention of that fact when he sees my car!

Tom

Today I have something a little unusual, its what makes collecting so much fun for me.  This is a variation on what later becomes a rather common boxcar, in this case the X6004 PRR "Baby Ruth" box car.  The X6004 was made in one year only, 1950 and it is somewhat unique in that it has "Scout" trucks but fitted with magnetic couplers vice the Scout couplers.  In addition, unlike the X6034 that followed it in 1953, the logo for "Baby Ruth" is not solid lettering but only outline lettering.  Candidly its easy to see, when you compare the two cars, why Lionel "filled in" the letters in the later car as its much more prominent.

Here she is the X6004, PRR "Baby Ruth" boxcar.  This version came only in orange with blue lettering (very dark blue almost black) and the product name was only in outline not solid letters.

Lionel X6004 box car side

Here is a closer view of the product end of the livery.  Note that the letters are outline only and the "E" in enjoy and the top corner of the "B" in Baby Ruth are missing.  I don't know if this is a common factory error or just wear and tear on this car.  After all its 72 years old.  Note the "Scout" trucks with Scout side frames but with the magnetic couplers.  All date from 1950.

Lionel X6004 box car Baby Ruth end

Here is the PRR logo end of the livery and a closer view of the Scout trucks with magnetic couplers.

Lionel X6004 box car RR logo end

Well here's hoping you enjoy the rest of your weekend.  Dave, Krieglok, Sitka, and Patrick great pictures.  SIRT - super detail and beautiful modeling work...sorry for the extra text guess its just my nature .

Best wishes

Don

Attachments

Images (3)
  • Lionel X6004 box car side
  • Lionel X6004 box car Baby Ruth end
  • Lionel X6004 box car RR logo end

Thanks Bill - here is a little more information if you don't have it.  In 1950, the X6004 came as part of a single set, the set # was 1461S.  The car came in a box marked "6004" (no X) .  Set 1461S consisted of a 6110 locomotive with smoke and magnetraction, 6001T non whistle tender, 6002 black gondola, X6004 box car, 6007 SP style caboose.  It came with 8 curved, 3 straight, 1 uncoupling track and a 1012 35 watt transformer. My collectors reference comments that this is a scarce set because it contained (like the X6004) several 1 year components.

Again thanks for your comment

Don

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