Ken, I am sure this is an open-topped MP coke car. Why it is in Oregon is a mystery. Most pictures I have seen of these cars are from south of St. Louis on that portion of the railroad associated with

I think that finding an MP coke car on the SP Toledo Branch is a little far-fetched. The SP converted several different kinds of single sheathed boxcars into 'hog fuel' (woodchip) cars, including some

still interesting, that it wound up in the backwoods of oregon? ;-) mel perry

Ken & others interested, While the 1950 photo isn’t sufficiently clear to provide a car number, the visible clue is the Murphy end that’s the spotting feature to determine the origin. The MP coke

...an early-style SP Hog Fuel car might be a more likely candidate up in that part of Oregon. The first letter of the road name peeking out under the shadow on the end appears to be rounded; I can't

Tom Madden wrote: Full agreement. Tony Thompson

Well, you can if you look at the eBay listing. There are several other photos, one of which shows the opposite side with several small crates in the door opening. So the large crates were loaded

Except that the Athearn boxcar has centered doors... Thanks! Brian Ehni (Sent from my iPhone)

That’s my point! Thanks! Brian Ehni (Sent from my iPhone)

I have a picture of a train on the S.P. Toledo branch in Oregon taken circa 1949. I would like to know the prototype for the unusual double-sheathed boxcar directly behind the engine. It appears to

We really can't see the crates on the other side of the car. Possibly, on that side the crate is centered in the door. Kind of like paper rolls are loaded. If that's the case, the only thing missing

It illustrates that the cars were not in a pool for the industry and that there were plenty of other sources on empty cars. I did not mean to imply that the cars came into the industry and were

From the prototype model standpoint, the biggest issue is that the boxcar is advertising Shock Control DF, but the craters on the interior are not, at all restrained! Steve Hile

The answer is simple. They’re Athearn boxcars. The top, sides, and ends are one piece, they lift that piece off the underframe, the load is removed, and the body piece is replaced. Done!

My thought was that everything got loaded from the far side. This door was opened by mistake. The tag for "unload from this side" having been lost. OK, I'm just justifying a mistake.

Brian, Exactly! How the heck could the crates be placed that way? you couldn't get the 2nd one in if the 1st one was halfway across the door! Of course, my lovely wife did come up with a possible

Doug Harding wrote: Exactly. Tony Thompson tony@...

I sold a bunch at the last NMRA meet in our area in the silent auction, with compatible couplers and metal wheels. I priced them at $1 apiece thinking someone new in the hobby or a kit could get a

Hey RJ, I mailed out a few K brake units that were in my parts bin. Thanks again. Chuck

Ben You are familiar with the game of roulette? Well, sale prices on Ebay for us amateurs follow that pattern. Mostly, you lose a little... and then every once in a