Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar


Bill Welch
 

Reporting from the NERPM, Rapido displaying USRA double sheathed boxcar. Also spotted four different boxcar red gloss paints in their line of paints.

-30-

Bill Welch


spsalso
 


Dale Muir
 

Check this out! I don't know if we need any. Scroll down to single cars, $50 each and you have to reserve at least two.

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of spsalso via Groups.Io
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2019 3:36 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

Here's some more info:


https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/freight-cars/ho-scale-usra-double-sheathed-wood-boxcar



Ed

Edward Sutorik


Jon Miller <atsfus@...>
 

On 6/3/2019 3:23 PM, dalemuir2@... wrote:
Scroll down to single cars, $50 each and you have to reserve at least two.

    Almost all shops and mail order folks will split up the 4 packs.  Only thing now is I need to know what ones for my era, I know the Santa Fe didn't have any left by '41.  Got lots of time  they probably won't ship for a couple of years!:-D

-- 
Jon Miller
For me time stopped in 1941
Digitrax  Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI User
SPROG User
NMRA Life member #2623
Member SFRH&MS


Michael Gross
 

Yes, and will be curious to learn which have AB brakes...
--
Michael Gross
Pasadena, CA


William Hirt
 

According the Burlington Route Historical Society Freight Car Data Sheet on USRA Double Sheathed Boxcars, the USRA Double Sheathed Boxcars (series 120500-120999) built in December 1918 by AC&F were the last double sheathed boxcars the CB&Q purchased (Class XM-24). They were the only CB&Q boxcars built new with Andrews cast steel trucks. Other than resheathing in the 1930s and having a grab added to the left hand side of the car, not much in the way of visible changes were made to these cars (unlike other Q double sheathed boxcars). They kept their KC brakes until retired. They were all gone by the early 1950s.

Bill Hirt

On 6/4/2019 7:56 AM, Jon Miller wrote:

On 6/3/2019 3:23 PM, dalemuir2@... wrote:
Scroll down to single cars, $50 each and you have to reserve at least two.

    Almost all shops and mail order folks will split up the 4 packs.  Only thing now is I need to know what ones for my era, I know the Santa Fe didn't have any left by '41.  Got lots of time  they probably won't ship for a couple of years!:-D

-- 
._,_


 

A word of warning: the single cars are from the 4 car sets. If you order two, there’s no guarantee you’ll get two different numbers. And no chance of 5 different numbers.

 

However, Rapido did tell me that they plan different number sets later on.

 

 

Thanks!
--

Brian Ehni

 


Ralph W. Brown
 

Ha, and for folks modeling earlier eras, like me, which ones don’t.
 
Pax,
 
 
Ralph Brown
Portland, Maine
PRRT&HS No. 3966
NMRA No. L2532

rbrown51[at]maine[dot]rr[dot]com
 

From: Michael Gross
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 9:35 AM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar
 
Yes, and will be curious to learn which have AB brakes...
--
Michael Gross
Pasadena, CA


Eric Hansmann
 

I cannot determine the lettering from the on line illustrations. As far as I can tell, none of the illustrations show products with the as-built lettering that uses the pre-1927 ARA data guidelines. Brakes are easy to change out for back dating. Messing around with data lettering to follow as-built prototypes increases the work.

 

 

Eric Hansmann

Murfreesboro, TN

 

 

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Ralph W. Brown
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 10:34 AM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

Ha, and for folks modeling earlier eras, like me, which ones don’t.

 

Pax,

 

 

Ralph Brown
Portland, Maine
PRRT&HS No. 3966
NMRA No. L2532

rbrown51[at]maine[dot]rr[dot]com

 

From: Michael Gross

Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 9:35 AM

Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

Yes, and will be curious to learn which have AB brakes...
--
Michael Gross
Pasadena, CA


 

Anyone else notice the $49.95 Rock Island 4-pack? I’ve told Rapido I want one!

https://www.rapidotrains.com/products/ho-scale/freight-cars/ho-scale-usra-double-sheathed-wood-boxcar

 

 

 

Thanks!
--

Brian Ehni

 

 

From: <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> on behalf of Eric Hansmann <eric@...>
Reply-To: <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io>
Date: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 10:47 AM
To: <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io>
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

I cannot determine the lettering from the on line illustrations. As far as I can tell, none of the illustrations show products with the as-built lettering that uses the pre-1927 ARA data guidelines. Brakes are easy to change out for back dating. Messing around with data lettering to follow as-built prototypes increases the work.

 

 

Eric Hansmann

Murfreesboro, TN

 

 

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Ralph W. Brown
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 10:34 AM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

Ha, and for folks modeling earlier eras, like me, which ones don’t.

 

Pax,

 

 

Ralph Brown
Portland, Maine
PRRT&HS No. 3966
NMRA No. L2532

rbrown51[at]maine[dot]rr[dot]com

 

From: Michael Gross

Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 9:35 AM

Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

Yes, and will be curious to learn which have AB brakes...
--
Michael Gross
Pasadena, CA


Bill Welch
 

Just a thought. Westerfield offers kits of these cars and others w/choice of eras and brake systems: https://id18538.securedata.net/westerfieldmodels.com/merchantmanager/index.php?cPath=99_370

Catch of coarse assembly required but offers the opportunity to say: "Look what I built."

Other alternative is the the much anticipated POS Walthers offering coming soon.

Bill Welch


Clark Propst
 

The M&StL car (25000 series) were a second hand buy. They bought several batches of used USRA DS cars. Cars received new were in the 22000 series. All these cars were retired by or in 53. I'd assume because of the K brakes and/or being replaced by steel cars.
CW Propst


Garth Groff <sarahsan@...>
 

John,

Tell us what your era is, and maybe we can help.

Yours Aye,


Garth Groff

On 6/4/19 8:56 AM, Jon Miller wrote:

On 6/3/2019 3:23 PM, dalemuir2@... wrote:
Scroll down to single cars, $50 each and you have to reserve at least two.

    Almost all shops and mail order folks will split up the 4 packs.  Only thing now is I need to know what ones for my era, I know the Santa Fe didn't have any left by '41.  Got lots of time  they probably won't ship for a couple of years!:-D

--
Jon Miller
For me time stopped in 1941
Digitrax  Chief/Zephyr systems, JMRI User
SPROG User
NMRA Life member #2623
Member SFRH&MS


Benjamin Hom
 

Grarth Groff wrote:
"John, Tell us what your era is, and maybe we can help."

Jon Miller's signature block says:
"For me time stopped in 1941"


Ben Hom


np328
 

     First of all: Thank you to all of you who supplied additional data as to years most likely that these cars were retired.  
This continues to underscore one of the greatest strengths of this list. People who complete and compile research based on factual hard copy based data.  

   Concerns: Bullet point three on the Rapido flyer -  KC or AB brakes as appropriate.
As an former beloved Pastor of mine used to say, Now there is a statement a mile wide and a quarter inch deep.
I do appreciate what Rapido does as a mfgr for us and do not mean that as a dig. I would hope that Rapido could supply more data as this run takes a more solid shape. 

       Found on this list in the message posts here when searching with: "K brake ban",... 65 posts of varying degree.   An observation by Mike that, "We have discussed this almost as often as color."   Most pertinent finds by my interest, posts 110445, 110457, and 36836.    Also searching directly in the files folder by K brake ban again, an AAR date file compiled and uploaded by Jeff English. 

 See msg post 11045 if you model prior to August 1953. 

  Of research that I can offer:    
    I model Sept. 1953, and have found for the Northern Pacific Rwy, a few AFE's for 1953 that reference brake conversion for a good number of home road cars to AB brakes. I think was a final clean up effort to push stragglers over the deadline for the 1953 AAR Interchange dates. So the NP certainly had a number cars in the first half of 1953 still with K brakes. Perhaps the Korean war had some effect on the changeover. I have found in prior research on railroad interlocking, [any pull wire control at interlockings out, steel pipe replacement in] affected changes mandated by rulings in 1941-1944 due to steel shortages.   

     Based on all of the above, I will model a few very few older XMs with K brakes, home road all, and perhaps a few tank cars with K brakes.  I am not trying to justify these with a "there is a prototype for everything" type of thing. I used to belong to a rr club where the toy trainers would use that response endlessly and took joy from the rest of us.   

    The price seems fair if the end models are of the same quality the pre-production model shows. I realize not all will agree with that sentiment however the model shown, seems to be another step upward in quality.                                                                                                                                                 Jim Dick - Roseville, MN 


Douglas Harding
 

As I am sure a few others did, I submitted MSTL prototype information to Bill Schneider about these cars. I provided what I had, photos, dates of acquisition, disposition, and lettering schemes. The MSTL “purchased” new in 1919, 300 USRA DS boxcars, built by Lenoir Car Works, last one gone in 1950. The MSTL also purchased some used USRA DS boxcars in 1940, 284 cars, 25300-25898, last one survived till 1953. Based upon a photo of one from this series, these used cars were built in 1920, so may have been clones. And finally the MSTL purchased 200 used USRA DS, 51000-51398, which were ex CMO 36000 series cars. Again the last one was gone in 1953.

 

As the last of these cars were gone by 1953, it is very possible there were never converted to AB brakes.

 

As for the price, just a month ago we discussed Walther’s offering of a USRA type boxcar, which they plan to sell for $27.98. If the Walthers offering is not acceptable, as many clearly said, then an extra $20 should be OK for a model that is correct.

 

Doug  Harding

www.iowacentralrr.org

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of np328
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 5:20 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

     First of all: Thank you to all of you who supplied additional data as to years most likely that these cars were retired.  
This continues to underscore one of the greatest strengths of this list. People who complete and compile research based on factual hard copy based data.  

   Concerns: Bullet point three on the Rapido flyer -  KC or AB brakes as appropriate.
As an former beloved Pastor of mine used to say, Now there is a statement a mile wide and a quarter inch deep.
I do appreciate what Rapido does as a mfgr for us and do not mean that as a dig. I would hope that Rapido could supply more data as this run takes a more solid shape. 

       Found on this list in the message posts here when searching with: "K brake ban",... 65 posts of varying degree.   An observation by Mike that, "We have discussed this almost as often as color."   Most pertinent finds by my interest, posts 110445, 110457, and 36836.    Also searching directly in the files folder by K brake ban again, an AAR date file compiled and uploaded by Jeff English. 

 See msg post 11045 if you model prior to August 1953. 

  Of research that I can offer:    
    I model Sept. 1953, and have found for the Northern Pacific Rwy, a few AFE's for 1953 that reference brake conversion for a good number of home road cars to AB brakes. I think was a final clean up effort to push stragglers over the deadline for the 1953 AAR Interchange dates. So the NP certainly had a number cars in the first half of 1953 still with K brakes. Perhaps the Korean war had some effect on the changeover. I have found in prior research on railroad interlocking, [any pull wire control at interlockings out, steel pipe replacement in] affected changes mandated by rulings in 1941-1944 due to steel shortages.   

     Based on all of the above, I will model a few very few older XMs with K brakes, home road all, and perhaps a few tank cars with K brakes.  I am not trying to justify these with a "there is a prototype for everything" type of thing. I used to belong to a rr club where the toy trainers would use that response endlessly and took joy from the rest of us.   

    The price seems fair if the end models are of the same quality the pre-production model shows. I realize not all will agree with that sentiment however the model shown, seems to be another step upward in quality.                                                                                                                                                 Jim Dick - Roseville, MN 


mopacfirst
 

As has been noted here before, some of these cars have paint schemes that are characteristic of earlier years and some that are better representations of later paint schemes.  I'll hazard a guess that this is what Rapido means by 'as appropriate'.  Taking the MP car as an example, the lettering shown in the illustration appears to be that adopted after the AAR rules changed to simplify the amount of data stenciled on the car.  This would mean the car's third paint scheme, with the USRA stenciling that was on the cars as-delivered, followed by (most likely) a mid- to late-20s repaint with the classic MP stenciling (the Desoto font or lettering style) and the extensive AAR data stenciling, and finally this one which would be dated from sometime in the thirties onward.

But MP was also an early adopter of geared handbrakes, yet the illustration shows the as-delivered vertical brakestaff.  Rapido is known to adapt based on the feedback we send, or at least much better than some, so we'll see what happens.  I have one Westerfield USRA double-sheated car (MP 45000 series), which is probably all I need since my era is a few years later than the date that the last of these cars came out of revenue service, but some of these cars likely ended up being converted to bunk or tool cars, so there's hope. 

Of course, were I to comvert one of these to a bunk car, I wouldn't need a painted and lettered one....

Ron Merrick


Benjamin Hom
 

Ron Merrick wrote:
"Of course, were I to convert one of these to a bunk car, I wouldn't need a painted and lettered one...."

Wouldn't need to cut up a $50 model either.  I'd go with one of the Ertl models - you can get one for less than $50, it has separate grabs that are easily replaced, the paint and lettering is likely bogus, it already has AB brakes, and the roof even comes off so you can do an interior.


Ben Hom


Dave Parker
 

I'm sure there is a slightly different story for each road, but the "window of utility" for the B&M car is rather narrow.  The paint scheme is 1946+, but the B&M's 500 cars were down to 24 by 1950, and just 3 by 1955. The other choices would have been the 1927+ scheme with the rectangular herald, or the as-built scheme.  Each of these would have persisted for about a decade,  but at least the full complement of 500 cars was in interchange.

The USRA cars were never more than ca. 15% of the B&M's box-car fleet, and were  likely even less  significant on many of the other roads. This release continues the tradition of making it all  too easy for modelers to over-represent the USRA cars generally.  Setting aside the Ertl option,  the USRA DS cars are already available from Accurail, Westerfield, and F&C.  Not exactly a gaping hole in HO scale.

Dave Parker
Riverside, CA


Aley, Jeff A
 

Speaking of price, I observe the following:

 

Rapido RTR USRA DS boxcar = $49.00 (Canadian dollars?  If so, that’s US$36 - $37).

Westerfield kit (one piece body) USRA DS boxcar = $41.00.

Accurail kit USRA DS boxcar = $18.98.

 

Obviously, one must make judgements about prototype fidelity, desire to build a kit, etc.

 

Regards,

 

-Jeff

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of Douglas Harding
Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2019 6:06 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

As I am sure a few others did, I submitted MSTL prototype information to Bill Schneider about these cars. I provided what I had, photos, dates of acquisition, disposition, and lettering schemes. The MSTL “purchased” new in 1919, 300 USRA DS boxcars, built by Lenoir Car Works, last one gone in 1950. The MSTL also purchased some used USRA DS boxcars in 1940, 284 cars, 25300-25898, last one survived till 1953. Based upon a photo of one from this series, these used cars were built in 1920, so may have been clones. And finally the MSTL purchased 200 used USRA DS, 51000-51398, which were ex CMO 36000 series cars. Again the last one was gone in 1953.

 

As the last of these cars were gone by 1953, it is very possible there were never converted to AB brakes.

 

As for the price, just a month ago we discussed Walther’s offering of a USRA type boxcar, which they plan to sell for $27.98. If the Walthers offering is not acceptable, as many clearly said, then an extra $20 should be OK for a model that is correct.

 

Doug  Harding

www.iowacentralrr.org

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of np328
Sent: Tuesday, June 4, 2019 5:20 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] Rapido USRA 40-ton Boxcar

 

     First of all: Thank you to all of you who supplied additional data as to years most likely that these cars were retired.  
This continues to underscore one of the greatest strengths of this list. People who complete and compile research based on factual hard copy based data.  

   Concerns: Bullet point three on the Rapido flyer -  KC or AB brakes as appropriate.
As an former beloved Pastor of mine used to say, Now there is a statement a mile wide and a quarter inch deep.
I do appreciate what Rapido does as a mfgr for us and do not mean that as a dig. I would hope that Rapido could supply more data as this run takes a more solid shape. 

       Found on this list in the message posts here when searching with: "K brake ban",... 65 posts of varying degree.   An observation by Mike that, "We have discussed this almost as often as color."   Most pertinent finds by my interest, posts 110445, 110457, and 36836.    Also searching directly in the files folder by K brake ban again, an AAR date file compiled and uploaded by Jeff English. 

 See msg post 11045 if you model prior to August 1953. 

  Of research that I can offer:    
    I model Sept. 1953, and have found for the Northern Pacific Rwy, a few AFE's for 1953 that reference brake conversion for a good number of home road cars to AB brakes. I think was a final clean up effort to push stragglers over the deadline for the 1953 AAR Interchange dates. So the NP certainly had a number cars in the first half of 1953 still with K brakes. Perhaps the Korean war had some effect on the changeover. I have found in prior research on railroad interlocking, [any pull wire control at interlockings out, steel pipe replacement in] affected changes mandated by rulings in 1941-1944 due to steel shortages.   

     Based on all of the above, I will model a few very few older XMs with K brakes, home road all, and perhaps a few tank cars with K brakes.  I am not trying to justify these with a "there is a prototype for everything" type of thing. I used to belong to a rr club where the toy trainers would use that response endlessly and took joy from the rest of us.   

    The price seems fair if the end models are of the same quality the pre-production model shows. I realize not all will agree with that sentiment however the model shown, seems to be another step upward in quality.                                                                                                                                                 Jim Dick - Roseville, MN