Hello friends, when did B&M start to paint box cars blue with black doors? I am interested in a 1937 AAR 40' box car in that paint but need to know the earliest date possible to use it. Many

Bill, What you might be looking for is entitled "Kitbashing White Elephants" by G.J. Michels, Jr. in the April 1996 RMC. It covers InterMountain reefer kits and PFE 45698 and 44739 aluminum

Everything points to the car being repainted and serviced in July 1951. (There is another date in the upper left hand corner of the side, where painting dates are often stenciled.) Someone forgot

The February 1987 RMC has an article by Thompson & Hendrickson named PFE Ice Reefers Steel Cars Pages 86 thru 95 There is a photo of 44739 on page 88 Al Smith Sonora CA

Brian, That's the reweigh date, and of corse the brakes and brake reservoir was checked and the bearings repacked at the same time. Regards, Bruce Bruce Smith Auburn,​ AL

Looks like PLT - - BREX PLT could be the BRE’s Plattsmouth, NE shops. Lenny Ohrnell

Not quite. The date stenciled on the air brake reservoir is the date of last periodic air brake servicing (which would become Clean, Oil, Test, & Stencil at some point in the future). PLT is

Bob That's the brake service date - "LT" probably means "lube& test" in that context. The general shop date stencil is for 1951 as well, butthis is clearly a car built in the 1930's. -- Tim

Dry ice is just as poisonous - CO2 instead of CO, but they're bothdeadly. -- Tim O'Connor Sterling, Massachusetts

Yes, sorry, it's 7484. And the date is Dec 30, 1934.Location Sidney, Nebraska. I just gave the PHOTO image link. For the full databaseentry, you can wade into the Otto Perry collection! I found it by

Blame orthochromatic film, which turns orange and yellow almost the same gray tone as the black lettering. Meanwhile, the white in the herald practically jumps off the car. Back to the placard, it

After blowing up the images I found the built date and the builder stenciled on the air reservoir [see attached]. Bob Witt

Thanks again to those who responded to my question on the PFE R-30-4 article in the Railroad Model Craftsman from the 1980's. I have one more question Concerning an article from the same time frame

Blame the B&W photo. Looks like PFE 7484. Thanks! Brian Ehni (Sent from my iPhone)

7-51 isn’t it? Thanks! Brian Ehni (Sent from my iPhone)

3a.

The truck springs are showing an empty car or one with a very light lading. There is enough space showing in the springs to be Kadee trucks! Gary Laakso Northwest of Mike Brock

Revisiting an old topic, since a picture came across my Pintrest feed today. There are quite a few articles on herringbone gears on the web; just type "herringbone gear" in your search engine and

By adjusting the contrast you can see the stenciling. Bob Witt

I don't know enough about PFE cars to comment on whether the underframe is at all unusual, but I am sure others can. But there is a car number (7484), making it part of the 7101-10121 series,