Thanks, Ed

Your information led me to the next (and apparently identical) series of cars-#19700-19999, of which a photo (repainted) appears in the Seaboard Air Line Color Guide. Both series combine into Class

B-8. 

These cars would have been the 1st to wear "The Route of Courteous Service" slogan, according to the same source.

It turns out that the Branchline Yardmaster car was done in the latter series! I found a few in my stash.

Pat's brief mention of these cars in the War Emergency Boxcar article had me wondering if they weren't all steel versions of the W.E.cars! 

  Scott Haycock

On Oct 22, 2014, at 1:18 AM, shhaycock@... [STMFC] wrote:

In RPC 19, on page 42, Pat Wider notes the building of 200 "Victory" Boxcars (19500-19699) built by Pullman Standard (Lot 5768) in Sept. 1944 for the Seaboard Air Line.

Does anyone have more information on these cars, or maybe a photo?

Scott,
When the builders first reverted back to building steel freight cars that had been composite due to the WW II steel shortage, they called them "Victory" cars. 

Regarding Seaboard 19500-19699, they were "normal" 1937 A.A.R. standard all-steel box cars like the models offered in HO by Innovative Model Works (originally), then by Red Caboose. They have also been offered in S and O (quarter scale).

While there may be in-service photos from the series available, the only photo I've come across is the Pullman-Standard builder's photo of Seaboard 19599, built 9-44. The photo is available from the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History, Haskell and Barker Car Company Collection. They have original 8x10 negatives that can be scanned for a fee (not inexpensive).

Two views are available:
Exterior 3/4-B side view - neg. no. 4421
Exterior "B" end - neg. no. 4422

The cars had "The Route of Courteous Service" slogans.

The following is a summary of information about these cars that comes from the P-S bill of materials for lot 5768.

Dreadnaught Ends (4/5 corrugations); Murphy Roof; Youngstown Doors; Ajax hand brakes; Apex Tri-lok running boards & brake steps;
A.A.R. spring plank type trucks (ASF or PSF 100 cars each); one wear steel wheels.
Paint Specs:
DuPont SAL Standard Color - Sides, doors, ends, underframe, trucks (side frames)
Black (car cement) - Roof
White (Snolite) - Stencils
Fire Plug Red - Monogram background (heart)

While the Pullman documentation indicates one wear steel wheels, the builder's photo clearly shows chilled cast iron wheels on car no. 19599.

Hope this helps.
Regards,
Ed Hawkins