I have a model NYC boxcar NYC #174478, N scale model made by Atlas about 1970, catalog #2384. It appears to be a USRA steel boxcar design. Mostly medium gray car with red door and red top half of sides. My layout represents a Santa Fe line on the Texas Gulf Coast in the middle 1950s. What "inquiring minds want to know", and maybe some of you NYC experts know the answer.... Were Pacemaker Freight Service boxcars freely interchanged with other railroads and would they have routinely come to Texas? Or was this car in captive service for special expedited (LCL?) freight strictly on NYC system? And if so, should I repaint or trade off this car?
When I was growing up alongside the NY Central, I was kind of held captive in a small area, so did not witness NYC cars "off the line." However, there were cars from every railroad in the US and Canada on NYC freights, so I'll wager that Pacemaker boxcars made it off the line. Any of you west coasters ever see one on the SP, WP, UP, ATSF? See my photo of a whole train of Pacemaker cars on the "Boxed In" thread elsewhere on here.
Kenneth, I found an answer to this in one of Kalmbach's model painting books by Jeff Wilson. (the book is somewhere in my house). In his book he paints a Pacemaker box car and explains that he DOES NOT apply stenciled weight, height, etc information because the cars were not interchanged. I wonder if this ever changed and the cars found thier way onto other railroads later on? [ March 30, 2005, 02:55 PM: Message edited by: Don Rickle ]
Kenneth, keep it, even if you have to park it on a siding to preserve proper history. Here's why: I apologize for posting this again, as it was just on another thread, but this is what Pacemaker freight looked like. On the New York Central, of course.
That is awesome Fitz! I've railfanned that location several times (decades later) and images like that one have always entered my mind. I still think about collecting that train in N scale.
Guys, I have found the 1st Quarter 1992 NYCSHS "Headlight," with a big article about the Pacemaker service. For you modelers, if anyone wants a copy, let me know. Colors such as oxide red and vermillion are mentioned. Service started in July 1946. 1000 boxcars in the 175000 series were involved, from lot 737-B. They were 40 footers, all built in Despatch shops. Originally rated at 110,000 lb., they were "derated" to 50,000 to carry LCL loads and compete with the truckers. The trains averaged 50 cars and ran at speeds up to 65 MPH. As has been asked on many forums, there were five cabooses assigned, with matching colors, NYC 20112, 20117, 20129, 20132 and 20133. The later "flexivan" service killed the Pacemakers. As Don reported, and here is a quote, "Stencilling did not include capacity or dimensional data as the cars were not intended for interchange service."
