Tim O'Connor wrote: Yes, UP objected that RI was a competitor of theirs in the Midwest. Both SP and UP objected to the fact that there was no convenient PFE shop facility near RI territory, and that t

Steve Hile wrote; Don’t forget that Rock Island approached PFE about 1950, asking if they could get the same deal the WP had (buy the reefers, let PFE run them, receive payments for use). I wrote abou

Bob Chaparro wrote: It’s assigned to passenger ice needs at Oakland Pier; the photo was taken at West Oakland. Photo and info is in my Box Car book, Vol. 4 of the series _Southern Pacific Freight Cars

Clarence Zink wrote: I think this is backwards. You can only get clear ice by very slow freezing, so all the dissolved air can escape. That’s called “consumer ice.” People want clear ice to put in coc

Tim O'Connor wrote: No, none of the ledger columns for this class show roofing. I interpret that to mean that new roofs were applied along with steel side sheathing. Tony Thompson

Tim O'Connor wrote: Luckily the SP Car Ledgers still exist. Tony

The SP Car Ledger shows that SP 31802 received steel sides in 1950. By that time, it had also received AB brakes, a geared handbrake, and U-section trucks. Tony Thompson tony@...

Tim O'Connor wrote: Thanks, Tim, good answer. SP replaced trucks on older cars with quite a variety, possibly whatever was on hand. Tony Thompson tony@...

The old “D&H Caboose Red” is certainly not a bright red. Instead, it is a rich chestnut kind of boxcar red, and happens to closely match the color SP used for freight cars before and after the transit

kevinhlafferty wrote: My advice has been, and is, throw away all parts sprues. The body moldings are fine, the rest is trash. Tony Thompson tony@...

Really interesting model, Fenton, and nicely finished. I agree with those who think it could be nice mini-kit. Tony Thompson tony@...

Allen Montgomery wrote: Allen, the model looks excellent. It is almost a dead ringer for the H-70-2 class on Southern Pacific. Any chance some of the bodies will be for sale or trade? Tony Thompson to

Jay Styron wrote: Good point, Jay! But also don’t forget what one former employee told me about such stencils: "Sure, we’d follow it if it was convenient." Tony Thompson tony@...

Johannes wrote: The B end is modeled as a corrugated end, should be Dreadnaught. I think maybe the builder was misled by the Cyc drawing, which just shows the end ribs in profile like corrugated ones.

Tim O'Connor wrote: But with the wrong end. Tony Thompson tony@...

Robert G P wrote: Bob, you probably mean “waybills," not manifests. My blog contains lots of examples of both prototype and model waybills. Here are just two you might enjoy. https://modelingthesp.blo

I don't know if the Athearn part can be obtained from Athearn, but look for part no. 15512 for the platform (plastic) and 15513 for the railing (bent steel wire) Others in this group may have that inf

My observation from 15 or so years of hanging around contests is that the sure way to win a popular vote is to include figures, such as a couple of guys on a flat car, wrestling with a load. Even a ha

Eric Hansmann wrote: Very true, Eric, and I would add that the experience of TRAINING judges is quite instructive, too — you have to realize what you do and how to do it, so others can follow. Tony Th

Having served 5 years as a Contest Director for an NMRA region (Pacific Coast) and having been a judge in NMRA national contests, I do know contests and judging. I happen to have been one of the folks