If I were to have just one L&N box car on a circa 1953 layout, what type of box car should it be?

The L&N fleet was 50% steel cars in 1950, so I imagine an AAR car would have been the dominant type. Single sheathed cars were about 19% of the fleet, with double sheathed cars accounting for 30% of the roster. Pretty good mix.

Did the L&N have a signature box car?

Aaron

On May 15, 2012, at 11:08 PM, Aaron Gjermundson wrote:

If I were to have just one L&N box car on a circa 1953 layout, what
type of box car should it be?

The L&N fleet was 50% steel cars in 1950, so I imagine an AAR car
would have been the dominant type. Single sheathed cars were about 19%
of the fleet, with double sheathed cars accounting for 30% of the
roster. Pretty good mix.

Did the L&N have a signature box car?

Aaron,
If based purely on quantity, then the L&N box car for 1953 should
probably be a PS-1. L&N had 2,000 40' PS-1s built in 1950-1951 with 6'
door openings and 2,200 more built in 1952 with 8' door openings.
Another 1,000 40' PS-1s with 8' door openings followed in late 1953 if
this falls within your time period. The road also had 1,344 1937 AAR
box cars built in the early 1940s and 1,800 10'-6" AAR box cars with
4/4 Improved Dreadnaught Ends built in 1946-1947. Models of these cars
have been produced by Kadee, Red Caboose, and Branchline Trains (now
Atlas), respectively. However, if "signature" means "distinctive to
L&N" then these common cars aren't what you're looking for since other
railroads had thousands of these types of cars.

If "signature" means a box car unique to L&N built in significant
quantities, then your answer may be the 40' steel rebuilds of 1923 ARA
single-sheathed box cars. From 1939 to 1941 L&N rebuilt approximately
2,500 1923 ARA box cars as 10' IH all-steel box cars (equivalent to
1937 AAR box cars in capacity). They received 10-panel riveted steel
sides, Murphy panel roofs, and new Youngstown doors, but they were
distinctive in appearance using original ends (two different types,
Murphy and Dreadnaught) that were extended. The Jan. 1953 ORER lists
2,454 of these cars in series 93000-97099. The Sunshine kits 64.10
through 64.13 replicate these cars in HO scale.

Perhaps a difficult decision if you must limit yourself to just one L&N
box car.
Regards,
Ed Hawkins

Aaron Gjermundson wrote:

If I were to have just one L&N box car on a circa 1953 layout, what type of box car should it be?

For my 1953 layout, I have for L&N a 1937 AAR box car and a PS-1.

Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705 www.signaturepress.com
(510) 540-6538; fax, (510) 540-1937; e-mail, thompson@...
Publishers of books on railroad history

Aaron --
I'd agree with Ed and Tony that a PS-1 or perhaps a 1937 AAR boxcar would
be a most likely L&N representative for a 1953 era layout.

But for L&N's "signature" boxcar, consider their 36-foot double-sheathed
car. At nearly 6000 cars, these cars were L&N's most populous steam-era
design. Built between 1913 and 1923 and spread across several builders and
number series, they were initially about evenly split between standard boxcars
and ventilator boxcars; the ventilators were to standard boxcars in the
early 40s.

Over 2700 of them were still operating in 1948, with mass retirements
occurring in the early 50s. If you want something a bit more distinctive than
the commonplace PS-1, these are cool looking little cars, and a respectable
number were still running in 1953. Sunshine's kit #85.1 nicely models the
car.

Look for an article on modeling this car in the next issue of the L&NHS
Magazine.

Regards,
Bob Chapman



Aaron writes:
If I were to have just one L&N box car on a circa 1953 layout, what type
of box car should it be?

The L&N fleet was 50% steel cars in 1950, so I imagine an AAR car would
have been the dominant type. Single sheathed cars were about 19% of the
fleet, with double sheathed cars accounting for 30% of the roster. Pretty good
mix.

Did the L&N have a signature box car?

I took a different approach when modeling a L&N car. I have a photo taken at a section of real railroad I model with an L&N box car near the edge, only the end of the side with the reporting marks and numbers in visible. Turned out to be a AAR 37 car. To get the 'rest of the story' attend my Naperville clinic : )

While not a signature car, it is one that I know was on my railroad in the town I model. Don't get much better than that. We'll yes it does, come to my clinic at Naperville and see how much better....

Clark Propst

I am a little prejudiced when it comes to this RR, a line that was about #20 in the number of boxcars owned and is more known perhaps as a coal hauler. It was also the 4th largest builder of steam locomotives among the RR's that built their own steam.

Among their steel cars were rebuilds of their "Pratt" trussed SS cars and Sunshine offers this rebuild w/both Murphy and 3/5 Dreadnaught ends. BTW the DS cars were all 36-ft boxcars from two designs, both of which were built in Ventilated car forms as well. They also 100 50-ft SS cars.

Quiz, who were the top 3 RR builders of steam locomotives? In order?

Bill Welch

I'd like to thank you all for the suggestions.

In 1951, I have the L&N as having the 22nd largest, North American box car fleet. Or 1.46% if all box cars. So, I guess that I could have two.

Clark, I should be in Naperville, so I'm looking forward to your clinic.

Bill, I know the GN will be on the list, not sure about the others.

Aaron

Aaron, I've just posted a scan in the files section listed
as "Biggest XM Shipper_South001.jpg ". I know that at 1955, this
is two years past your time frame model, and mine also,
however I would like to believe the data still applies to a large degree.
I'm using this document in helping determine my purchases of
south states region cars. Comments welcomed. Jim Dick

I would guess the PRR as the RR that built the most steam locos to pull their freight cars in the steam era. Then the N&W and GN (my bias). Obviously a wild guess.
Tyrone Johnsen
Rockford, IL

Wild guess maybe but you are correct Tyrone

Bill Welch