Last friday a friend gave me a basketcase LifeLike N scale SW9/12 to mees around with. When I got her back together a test run proved her to be in sound mechanical conditition but quite sad in the looks department.The lights,handrails and widow inserts were missing and the walkway was in two pieces.So I made this. I've always liked bocax locomotives and now the GVR has one . [ 24 April 2002, 03:56: Message edited by: Catt ]
Neat idea! Something I always thought I'd like to try. You did a great job. Now I have encouragement! Hope you're recuperating quickly.
It is good to see you still have it in you, keep up that road to recovery. It may be hard, but there are some great modeling endeavors patiently waiting for you. Nothing too stressful right now. I like your locomotive, looks very interesting. I might have to build one as a box cab steamer. [ 24 April 2002, 03:09: Message edited by: Benny ]
Thanks for the kind words guys.Ya know some eastern railroads did make boxcabs out of their steamers.If I remember correctly they were either Shays or Climaxes.
Almost every boxcab that I have ever seen seems to be a unique piece so I think that you can get away with anything when scratchbuilding these. Here is a pic of the boxcab built by the HVRR shops. It was built using a caboose and 0-6-0 mechanism:
Hey Russ,maybe we can start something here. Anybody else in to these little critters? Show them off.We want to see them.
I think boxcab diesels are the oldest style. The GE/Ingersoll 1000 built in the early 1920's was a boxcab.
Catt - I love that idea and actually seeing your project posted last night, I feel inspired to do another. I just have to rummage through some of my old stuff and come up with something. Let's see what else everyone could come up with as well. Boxcabs for everyone!!! <img src=http://www.trainboard.com/sigbreak.gif> Russ
Good efforts Catt and Russ. I like the look of those but wonder about the main purpose for their use. Commuters, yard work, industrial. It's great to see you active again Catt my buddy but don't overdo it will you!
Robin,boxcabs were used for just about anything you could think of as far as railroading went. They came in all sizes form little 4 wheel units that looked like a bobber caboose up to bigger ones than mine.By the way mine is rather large at over 40' long. The next critter I do using the LL mech will be a centercab. So who's gonna build the next boxcab?????
WELL!....now you've proved what us steamer guys have always suspicioned....Diesels are just different looking boxcars with motors in them
Good job, Catt! Good to see you back "at work" Now just take it easy and get those new decals on your GVR stuff
Hey Catt, Could you give a little more history on these guys, how they were used, roughly what years, etc. I never even knew they existed!
Catt- I actually started building a centercab but couldn't part with any of my LL SW9's. I am currently searching for some second hand, with or without shells to do some bashing including, maybe, a climax. Rick- Boxcabs built by Alco, GE and Ingersol Rand (IR being the biggest builder) came in all shapes and sizes to haul just about anything. Here is an excellent link: http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/boxcabs1.html Info is primarily about the many boxcabs that the LIRR used but there are also links to the history of them. If you look at the first pic on the page, it looks like the boxcab that Catt is building, hauling freight. Towards the midle isa rare pic of a streamlined boxcab pulling a passenger train. There are so many shapes and sizes that you really can't do wrong when scratching your own. Happy railroading! Russ
Thanks Russ, what a fascinating website! Now everybody can have a boxcab - and they can all be different
Also Recuperating here Two years on an off in a hospital is just too much But on boxcabs...I think really great looking..are there any avaiable RTR?..kits etc
Roundhouse has/had a 2 truck boxcab,and Grandt line has a little tiny 4 wheel kit. These are both in HO though. KATO has a neat little Nscale centercab 4 wheeler that would make a good starting point for a small boxcab.(boy I just talked myself into that one )
