Wordy Wednesday - Chicago and North Western Emergency Box Cars and Ron Sebastian

San Diego, Sept. 5, 1955, Col. Chet McCoid photo, Bob's Photo

The Chicago and North Western had a sizable fleet of Emergency box cars. They were delivered in two groups with differing specialties. They were delivered by Pullman-Standard (417 cars, nos. 77416-78248, even nos. [part of an order for all-steel cars that was modified due to restrictions imposed by the War Production Board], Viking roofs and both Superior and Youngstown corrugated steel doors) and American Car & Foundry (500 cars, nos. 79250-80250, even nos., Murphy panel roofs and Superior doors.) Only the Northern Pacific received more Emergency design box cars.

Tacoma,  Feb. 19, 1955, Col. Chet McCoid photo, Bob's Photo

HO scale modelers have been blessed with two routes to replicate these distinctive prototypes. Sunshine Models offered resin kits to duplicate most versions of Emergency box cars. Intermountain followed with models that replicate most of the tall (10'5" - 10'6" inside height) cars. One nice detail that is included in undecorated kits as well as on the decorated cars that require it is the Viking corrugated steel roof (this part was offered by Des Plaines Hobbies as an add-on to the IMWX/Red Caboose 1937 AAR box cars and then re-tooled to fit the Intermountain AAR box car offerings.)

Some of the Des Plaines Hobbies parts in my stash (the steps are partially used)

One other point of this post is to indirectly pay homage to the late Ron Sebastian. Over the last ~50 years, Ron was a giant in the hobby, owner of Des Plaines Hobbies, where many made the pilgrimage, either on visits to the Chicago area or as part of the annual Sunshine Models Naperville now RPM Chicagoland. Ron was also a driving force in the manufacturing side of the industry, both directly and indirectly. In addition to the Viking roof referenced above, Des Plaines obtained and temporarily resuscitated the Storzek line of HO resin kits, he produced other injection molded parts, he heavily influenced several projects with major manufacturers, he was the driving force behind other manufacturers, and he was a promoter and supporter of all types of modeling, including his efforts to expand the S scale community and his donations to RPM modeling door prizes, clinics, and giveaways over many decades. His legacy is immense and he will be missed not only for his contributions to the hobby, but his jovial, kind way. I considered him to be a friend as well as a mentor to Speedwitch and I am deeply saddened by his passing.