MTH recently produced models of 40-foot USRA wood-sided double-sheathed boxcars.
I preordered New Haven 78000 (20-99327) and, after receiving it, was so impressed that I ordered two more similar cars – New Haven 78006 (also 20-99327) and New York Central 161523 (20-99325). These cars are highly detailed and have some small delicate parts. Each of my three cars had a small part that had come off and was floating in the box - a roof-walk end-support, a corner step, and a brake-wheel. All were easily reattached using a drop of styrene cement on the first two. I particularly like the detail of the rollers that support the lower edges of the doors.
During World War 1, U.S. railroads were under control of the United States Railroad Administration (USRA) that developed standard designs to expedite the production of steam locomotives and freight cars, including single and double-sheathed wood-sided boxcars with steel underframes, ends, side-frames and roofs. The double-sheathed cars had a substantial fishbelly underframe that is nicely detailed on the models, as is the wood grain on the sides. The New York Central car shows a build date of January 1919. By 1920, 24,500 double-sheathed cars had been delivered, and many remained in service through World War 2.
MELGAR
