You mean I didn’t? Tony Thompson

C'mon Tony, tell us what you really think. -- John

Making progress with my Westy flat kit as a SP&S USRA boxcar. All of the wire parts are on sides and ends and A-Line sill steps were manipulated to replicate those used on the prototype. Note how they

Possibly the most offensive of these cars is the claimed "USRA" single-sheathed car. The prototype had three diagonal braces on each side of the door, where the Walthers model has two, mirroring the

Ben Hom wrote: This is all correct. But T.M. went further than Ben summarizes. They also made an outside wood roof, which they put on stock cars and some reefers; they made two single-sheathed

Eric Hansmann wrote: "Three of the four models looked very similar to the old TM cars." Superficially similar, but definitely not the same: - The T-M cars were designed around the basic dimensions of

Gang; I don't have a definitive chronology, but from photos: 1) The white-on-red "one logo" cars lasted to at least 1947, but then go to the: 2) "Orange Lettering on Green + Map" scheme, on both

I grew up right down the road from Santa Fe Springs (Attended Santa Fe High School..the Chiefs!). The orange groves there disappeared in the 1950s but the oil industry was very big going back to the

The symbol on the right side of the car in the first photo is for Zinc concentrate loading. The printing on the left of the door in the second photo is Hide Loading Only …..

Ben Hom wrote: "Actually, I'm trying to come up with any wood-sheathed prototypes with Murphy XLA roofs". Hmmm. PFE reefers from the 1920s? Actually, the fishbelly center-sill makes it a better

Tim O'Connor asked: "Are any of these models recycled Trains Miniature tooling? Like that single sheathed box car?" Sadly, it's all new tooling. Ben Hom

Three of the four models looked very similar to the old TM cars. Eric Hansmann Murfreesboro, TN

Ben Are any of these models recycled Trains Miniature tooling?? Like that single sheathed box car? Tim O'Connor

Tony Thompson asked:"'Dumpster fire' is about right. Do ANY of the four models actually have prototypes? Why would you choose, for example, the roof they have put on three of the bodies?" Going back

It could very well be hide loading. I can't blow up the photo enough to be completely sure. The balance of the lettering reads 'WHEN EMPTY RETURN TO AT&SF RY. SANTA FE SPRINGS CALIF.' I know Santa Fe

What type of loading is specified on the stencil for this car? Thanks. Bob Chaparro Hemet, CA

Recall if you can, or care to, the MR evaluation of the Trix R-40-14 and A-40-19 and you'll have unlocked the key to this riddle of "Why would you choose ...." Marty

I like the car nice work. I do not remember seeing an answer to the original question of the appropriate era (dates) for this car or the orange and green or solid orange. Bill Michael Sent from

Looking good Steve. Well done Fenton -- Fenton Wells 250 Frye Rd Pinehurst NC 28374 910-420-8106 srrfan1401@...

Ben Hom wrote: "Dumpster fire" is about right. Do ANY of the four models actually have prototypes? Why would you choose, for example, the roof they have put on three of the bodies? Tony