The entry in the UTLX listing is very cryptic, consisting of INSULATED LATEX at the top of the column with the car numbers. There are a number of car groups with INSULATED, but this series is the only

The car number in question would be, I believe, 157189. I will look up the complete number series from home later. The location is the RI's Silvis yards and shops. The picture in interesting because i

As has been stated, the RI USRA double sheathed boxcars (Westerfield and Accurail models) were numbered 155000 - 157499 (2500 cars.) Beginning in the late 30's, 800 of these cars were rebuilt into all

Gene, According to Tony Thompson's SP Boxcar Book, B-50-20 were built in late 1940 and early 1941 by three different builders (500 each for General American, Pressed Steel Car and Bethlehem) numbered

Back in June of 2007 there was a flurry of messages surrounding the possibility of a quality model of one or more phases of helium cars along with separate decals. Jay Miller did a terrific presentati

Gene, The underframe on these cars has some features in common with the UTLX X-3 underframe, although the tank support casting are not very close. I have one in my pile to try and see if it could be e

Its called Steel Swing Door & Rebuilds Table.doc It took me a while to find, too. Steve Hile

Bernd, Specifically check out message 26025 from the SMTC archives. It has some specialties listings for R-40-23. The R-40-10's had wood running boards when delivered, although some did get steel expe

I just had my first close look at the new Intermountain 70 ton trucks (under a RI covered hopper) and I am wondering what some other opinions on them might be? My first impression is that the relief i

I know that Ron brings some to Naperville, when he comes. But he does not bring a huge pile like Martin. I shared some table space with him last year and he was cleaned out of boxcars, fairly quickly.

I was interested to see the plans and detailed photos of the FGEX car in the July MR. BUT, I was disappointed that they did not include a picture, either vintage or recent, of the car or car type that

Clark, The UTLX decals you saw are from a set that I sell in addition to my Rock Island sets. I can send you a list if you contact me off list at shile@... I moved these photos from the fil

No, the RI did not use this special logo on any other cars. They were used on 2000 PS-1 boxcars as well as 1000 ACF welded side box cars, both 40'6" IL built in 1951 and 1952. Regards, Steve Hile

I have (pending approval) uploaded builders photos (courtesy of UTLX) of both Class X and V UTLX tank cars of 6500 gallon nominal capacity. You may notice that the Class X car is actually older than t

Under the heading of what the country needs is a good 5 cent cigar (or heavy duty flat car): I wonder why no one has offered the GSC cast steel depressed center car that a bunch of railroads seemed to

Was surfing for something entirely different and ran into this image on Flicker. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3328442021_238d85fdbc.jpg Steve Hile

Sorry to be so late to comment on this topic. We were out of town last week. The group of gondolas pictured as going to the AC&Y do not appear to be original Rock Island cars. According to the diagram

Does anyone have an email address for Keith Retterer that they could share with me, off-list, if appropriate. Thanks, Steve Hile

Rock Island 93000 - 93048 were built by the RI in 1956 and were fishbelly sides. They had 17 stake pockets with one in the center. There were McLean Fogg strap anchors between the stake pockets. Actua

Intermountain did a batch of these cars for the Mid-Continent Region NMRA a few years ago with 4 road numbers. The ones listed in the flyer do not replicate at least the one that I have. We provided t