Help Identifying O Gauge Freight Car That Look Like A Pipe Boxcar

I think what you refer to is a helium tank car. here's one of many photos online:

I believe you're describing a helium tank car.

Thank you so much Chris & Bob. That's the car. Now the question is, how has this for sale?

I am looking at an O scale kit for a Navy Helium Car in a 1940 Vanden Boom brochure. Vanden Boom was a short-lived Kansas City hobby shop that promised fantastic kits such as cabooses l would like to get my pink paws on.  However, some of them were from other sources such as Walthers who were not credited, and l doubt if others were produced.  But, l think l have seen the helium car kit, and it was by Walthers. Another kit pictured is a flat car with 15 chlorine tanks. And many others to drool over....

I've always wanted to build one of these. Ambroid made a kit and here is a copy of their plans.

Looked on ebay and saw HO version for a few dollars.  Looks like an interesting kitbash project.  If I needed another rr car or other hobby project, NOT, I could be tempted.  The car would be a unique and interesting addition to a freight train.  Hope you can find one.

PRB did this car in brass, sold mine on the bay.

Brother_Love posted:

I've always wanted to build one of these. Ambroid made a kit and here is a copy of their plans.

Yes, in HO.  One could extrapolate from those plans to scratchbuild an O scale version; I had considered at one time.  There are a plethora of details lacking in that kit that would be glaringly absent on O scale

There was a kit in O scale from Hawk. I've seen a few built and recently even one unbuilt.

There were 3 scratchbuilt ones on a table at the Chicago meet.

I understand that the brass imports (at least 2) other than being a bit pricy, are also quite weighty.  That can be solved with an application of disposable income; gravity on the other hand is a cruel mistress.

That Hawk kit is probably what is shown, uncredited, in the Vanden Boom catalog. Hawk made other interesting kits, such as those for the Denver and Salt Lake.

I saw one of these cars in B&O's Eckington Yard (Washington D.C.)back in 1970 when I worked as a yard clerk in that yard.  The yard is gone now.  I have no idea why it was in DC.  It was only there once in the nine months that I worked there and we had no customers that would have been using helium.  I was told that this car weighed less when it was full then when it was empty.

Joe

mwb posted:

Brother_Love posted:

I've always wanted to build one of these. Ambroid made a kit and here is a copy of their plans.

I understand that the brass imports (at least 2) other than being a bit pricy, are also quite weighty.  

Weighty just like the prototype cars.  Art imitating life!

Does it have magnetraction to keep it from floating away?