"I am looking to upgrade my new Atlas model for the mid 50s time period
and have several ? How long did the MP subsidiaries retain their
reporting marks ?"

The subsidiaries were merged in 1956 when the MP was reorganized. Complete
change of the reporting marks took awhile after that. Some cars retained their
original subsidiary reporting marks into the early 1960s.

"Did they receive the "Route of the Eagles slogan ?

Yes, both before and after the reporting marks were changed"

The capacity of the Atlas model is 40 tons, is this correct for the
50s time frame or were the car capacities upgraded.

"That I am not sure of, but I think they stayed the same unless changed to
some other service.

Jerry Michels

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I am looking to upgrade my new Atlas model for the mid 50s time period
and have several ? How long did the MP subsidiaries retain their
reporting marks ? Did they receive the "Route of the Eagles slogan ?
The capacity of the Atlas model is 40 tons, is this correct for the
50s time frame or were the car capacities upgraded.

Thanks in advance for your responses
Dave Bachand

Mid 50s still ok for I-GN. "Route of Eagles" slogans started being added in 1949, who knows if or when they all got slogans. Can't answer capacity question.

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by George Hollwedel
310 Loma Verde St
Buda, TX 78610-9785
512-796-6883
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http://www.imrcmodels.com/n/sr/html/GHollSP50SDBoxN.htm
www.imrcmodels.com/n/sr/html/GHollATSFExpressN.htm

Dave:
The MP took full control of the I-GN in 1956 cars started to be repainted
at that time. More problematic for the mid 1950's modeler is starting in
1949 the buzzsaw herald was changed from 25" to 42" and the "Route of the
Eagles" slogan was added. I've had conversations with Ed Hawkins and it was
rare for the older scheme to survive until my 1957 era. If you are modeling
1953 or earlier it may be more likely. you also need a universal power hand
brake for the cars. Some cars did get 50 ton trucks later in life, however,
I do not know how many.

The MP and subsidiaries still had 2928 of these cars in 1957, approximately
10% of their fleet. I need 2 for my layout. I am waiting for Atlas to do
these cars in the later Route of the Eagles scheme.

Brian J Carlson P.E.
Cheektowaga NY

On Nov 5, 2008, at 6:54 PM, David Bachand wrote:

am looking to upgrade my new Atlas model for the mid 50s time period
and have several ? How long did the MP subsidiaries retain their
reporting marks ? Did they receive the "Route of the Eagles slogan ?
The capacity of the Atlas model is 40 tons, is this correct for the
50s time frame or were the car capacities upgraded.

Thanks in advance for your responses
Dave Bachand

Dave,
The MP subsidiary lines continued until 1956 when the railroad came out
of receivership. It took at least a couple of years thereafter for all
of the cars to have the reporting marks changed. Cars repainted after
6/49 received Route of the Eagles slogans and larger 42" diameter
"buzzsaw" emblems. The cars originally had 40-ton trucks. According to
the 4/51 ORER, there were 296 of the original 300 cars (series
17001-17300) still in service. Of these, 265 had 50-ton trucks and 31
cars had 40-ton trucks. According to the MP diagram for these cars,
some 40-ton cars had cast iron wheels while other 40-ton cars and all
50-ton cars had steel wheels. I do not have any information that
specifies the quantity of cars and car number assignments of the
different types of wheels. The 4/51 ORER has a note specifying the 31
car numbers having 40-ton trucks.

The 4/55 ORER provides similar information on the I-GN cars, which at
the time had 266 50-ton cars and 28 40-ton cars in service.

By the way, as far as I can tell all of the M.P. 1932 ARA box cars came
with 50-ton trucks.
Regards,
Ed Hawkins