I enjoyed the original article in the New York Central Modeler, as well as Jack Burgess’ article in Model Railroad Hobbiest. I witnessed several hot boxes on the former AT&SF and when working on the C&NW, and they could be quite a sight, complete with smoke and, in the case of burning waste, emitting actual flames.
Mr. Burgess’ article also makes mention of the fact that a hot box could give off quite a smell, and I recall that one way to notify a crew on a passing caboose that there was a hot box in their consist was to hold one’s nose and point toward the front of the train.
