I'd be down for kitbashing some SP&S cars, I just need decals. as for the pre existing cars, eh they'll work for now.
Here are a couple more. FA-2's in the 'Broadestripe' scheme and a 40' woodchip boxcar from a double sheathed wood boxcar. Not sure what, if any, other roads used 40' boxcars as chippers. Milw, GN and NP had some 50' 'chippers made from wood boxcars
Southern Railway had 40' rebuilt boxcars that had drop bottom floors installed for easy unloading. They were lettered for the SOU and subsidiary Central of Georgia.
Jerry I was perusing your passenger car database the other day, and found a link to the steam heater car SP&S #1. What type of car frame and trucks would you recommend getting to build that car? I was thinking of operating my models like the real SP&S and occasionally having my centuries or just one fill in for a run or two.
http://abpr2.railfan.net/abprphoto....Heater_Car_1_Vancouver_WA_OCT1971_exGNHC5.jpg Building the car would not be all that difficult to do, using the American Limited Models core kit (roof and ends), styrene sheet cut to match the sides, styrene strips to build up the end framing. The chassis could be taken from a MT mail car and cut down in length (the car was rebuilt from a steel underframed wood vestibule dining car which, judging from similar cars, would have a frame like on the MT car... parts are available sometimes from MT, give them a call). Similar framing on the ends of this car was also found on Central of Georgia, Nickel Plate Road and West Point Route ACF lightweight baggage - express and baggage - mail cars built in the 40s, and a similar framing was used on one wreck rebuilt Southern Railway baggage - mail car as well. While I am unsure of the exact dimensions the bottom part could be taken from a spare heavyweight baggage or diner that have the exposed framing and not the tapered ends, which might be a good reference for the rest of the framing size as well. The trucks have me stumped... let me get back to you on them. Here is the diagram for GN 5/SP&S 1...
Thank you Jerry! I'll look into this further, I'm about to build a Heljan wash facility which will be a diesel shop.
Don't know why I hadn't thought about it before now but for those modeling the SP&S late in its existence there are etched brass caboose sides available from Athabasca Shops for modeling the SP&S 900-series extended vision cabooses. These cabs, identical to parent Northern Pacific's extended vision cabs, were a part of what was seen on the line. Its Athabasca #8202. Has anyone used these sides? Also, I have posted revised drawings for the SP&S baggage - mail and mail storage cars that can be built from the MT mail car in case anyone is interested. I think I finally got the drawings right... click here to see them...
I purchased 2 sets and have one caboose in progress at the moment. I am fortunate to have 2 sets of the Champs decals left, but after that I am SOL.
Ironically the E7A probably carried more paint schemes that were used than any other type of locomotive, being repainted every couple of years into a new scheme. Shame that the unit couldn't have been saved...
