As some of you know, State Highway 99 in the California Central Valley still parallels the former Southern Pacific (now UP) mainline in many areas. Years ago while traveling that route I saw a hotbox on an SP beet train going in my same direction.

 

It was quite a sight with bright flames and sparks shooting from a damaged journal, trailing black and gray smoke for a hundred yards or more.

 

I've though about modeling a lot of things but never a hotbox...until now.

 

The First Quarter 2017 issue of the free on-line NYC Modeler has a detailed, richly illustrated article by Dean Apostal on just such a project, starting on Page 29. Here is the link:

 

https://nycshs.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/nycentralmodeler_2016_4q2.pdf

 

And to see a hotbox on a model freight train, check out this link:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z969DN_gjE

 

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA