-----Original Message-----
From: benjaminfrank_hom [mailto:b.hom@...]
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 8:18 AM
To: STMFC@...
Subject: [STMFC] Re: Athearn Express Boxcars

Rich Ramik asked:
"Is the car correct in terms of be an accurate model?"

RPC Volume 6 is definitely a good one-stop source for information on Express
Boxcars, including a comprehensive roster and lots of photos. The bad news
is NONE of the Athearn cars are exact matches for their prototype:

#92251/2 C&O: Prototype is a 6 ft door PS-1. RPC Vol 6 p 17.

#92253 FEC: Car is of 1937 AAR design, but prototype has 10 ft IH and
4/5 Dreadnaught ends. Wine ventilators were added after the cars entered
service. RPC Vol 6 p 22.

#92255 SL-SF: Car is of 1937 AAR design, but prototype has 10 ft IH and 4/5
Dreadnaught ends. Branchline Yardmaster #8016 is a much better bet if
you're looking for something quick, though you'll need to come up with
Allied Full Cushion trucks. RPC Vol 6 p 29.

#92257 SP: SP Class B-50-24. 10 ft IH Postwar AAR boxcar with Improved
Dreadnaught Ends and ACR. Were any SP express boxcars painted in the Lark
TTG scheme? RPC Vol 6 p 30.

#92259 T&P: Car is of 1937 AAR design, but prototype has 10 ft IH and
4/5 Dreadnaught ends. RPC Vol 6 p 37.

#92261 WP: Car is of 1937 AAR design, but prototype has 9 ft 6 in IH and 4/5
Dreadnaught ends. Branchline Yardmaster #8044 is closer.
RPC Vol 6 p 35.

YMMV regarding the usefulness of these cars. On the one hand, the paint and
lettering on these models will be very nice, and Allied Full Cushion trucks
for the cars that had them. (The two Branchline models are real nice too.)
On the other hand, you still have the 50- year old tooling of the
Globe/Athearn boxcar to deal with, claws, running board, and all. There's
also the sticking point of paying premium price for a built-up car that
Brianna Smith can assemble in five minutes. (I'm sure she'll be happy to
assemble your Athearn blue box kits for $15 apiece. Bruce, don't get any
ideas.)


Ben Hom




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