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NYC 1916-design steel automobile box car
Eric,
Nice job! I'm surprised how 'dense' the information is on this '24 car. I've
always associated such verbose lettering with later cars - and yet here we
have an early car (I model the late 40's) that has as much if not more
info on it than the cars I'm used to seeing. I am NOT saying the lettering
is wrong - I'm commenting on my own lack of experience with cars from
the mid-20's.
- Jim in the PNW
Nice job! I'm surprised how 'dense' the information is on this '24 car. I've
always associated such verbose lettering with later cars - and yet here we
have an early car (I model the late 40's) that has as much if not more
info on it than the cars I'm used to seeing. I am NOT saying the lettering
is wrong - I'm commenting on my own lack of experience with cars from
the mid-20's.
- Jim in the PNW
Eric Hansmann
Thanks, Jim. Part of the lettering density stems from fewer abbreviations. The letters are also a bit larger in this era.
IIRC, you are also a Northern Pacific fan. They didn't include as much lettering detail on their rolling stock. I don't think they followed MCB/ARA/AAR lettering guidelines until the late 1930s. Here's an NP box car in typical 1920s lettering. Outside of their classic arched banner, the car lettering is minimal.
Here's a Pere Marquette automobile box car in 1926 as-built lettering. Note the lettering on the right end of the car side has all the dimensional detail plus the hardware inventory. I think it's also a slightly smaller size than what is on the NYC car. Also note the NYC put the hardware inventory on the car end rather than the car side,
This C&NW box car has a similar lettering presentation as the PM car.
Same with this L&N gondola.
But this 1926-built B&O M-26b box car has minimal lettering.
These are just a few of the lettering nuances to follow for mid-1920s modeling. It is a challenge, but quite rewarding when it all comes together.
Eric Hansmann
Murfreesboro, TN
Murfreesboro, TN
On 11/09/2022 10:21 PM CST Jim Betz <jimbetz@...> wrote:Eric,
Nice job! I'm surprised how 'dense' the information is on this '24 car. I've
always associated such verbose lettering with later cars - and yet here we
have an early car (I model the late 40's) that has as much if not more
info on it than the cars I'm used to seeing. I am NOT saying the lettering
is wrong - I'm commenting on my own lack of experience with cars from
the mid-20's.
- Jim in the PNW