Maine Central PS-1 Box Car

 

The side sill support spanning the body bolsters was not original

In my post about the BAR RS-4 reefer that I saw in Machias, Maine, I alluded to a Maine Central PS-1. This post highlights some of the details of that car. The Maine Central rostered three groups of forty-foot PS-1s: an early-style group from 1947, car nos. 6500-6749 and a later-style group built in 1951, series 8000-8249, both with seven-foot door openings and series 8400-8549 with eight-foot door openings, built in 1961 [post edited to reflect this based upon comments submitted below - thank you.] The car shown here is from that last group. I took several photos of details that I want to be sure to have for modeling purposes. Those images follow.

I took several photos of the interesting, integral mounting of the sill steps and ladders

The roller bearings were not original equipment

I recorded several images of the bracket for the uncoupling devices

The bell crank

Miner hand brake housing, wheel and brake step

I recorded several images of the end sill/car end bottom and grab with the end stringers visible. The unusual rivets on the bottom of the end are not original and I don't believe the stringers are either as I am fairly certain they were zee bars on original PS-1s, not the I-sections shown here.

Right lower end bracket grab iron

Slack adjustment mechanism on the dead lever

One reservoir mount, to a crosstie (zee bar)

and the other, to a crossbearer

Camel door stop