Enterprise Gondolas

 

Note the Murphy-type corrugated steel ends. Ralston Steel Car Co. photo, from Columbus Railroads web site (although I cannot find the exact citation at present)

One of the most visually distinctive cars of the Steam and Transition Eras was the GS (General Service) gondola with drop doors and appliances to allow the doors to be locked or deployed to release the cargo. These cars are generally associated with Western roads, although there were small quantities on roads like the Boston & Maine, Maine Central, and New Haven (note that I am not including the more traditional-looking gons of the N&W, C&O, etc., with full length straight side sills and more simple drop doors, usually four in total, as they are quite different in appearance and operation.)

The SP gons used a flat end with two braces. Ralston Steel Car Co. photo, from Columbus Railroads web site (although I cannot find the exact citation at present)

Even more distinctive-looking were the "Enterprise" gondolas of the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific. They incorporated small sloped sections at the bottom of the interior of the sides, that made them look "short" compared to other gons. Besides the small sloped section of the sides, the distinguishing feature, and what made these "Enterprise" gondolas, was the mechanism that allowed the doors to be lowered. It consisted of "links" that when the rod on which they were threaded was turned, they "unfolded" until the doors were lowered and the links, fully extended, held the doors in an open position. In reverse, the links efficiently folded up. It was an ingenious design. The photo of SP 46954, from class G-50-9, illustrates how the links appeared when the doors were in the dropped and open position.

Road	Series Begin	Series End	Qty	Built	Builder	Class
UP	62000	62999	1000	1920	RSC	G-50-7
UP	63000	63999	1000	1920	PC&M	G-50-7
AE	4000	4025	26	1923	GATC	G-50-9
PE	5700	5899	200	1923	GATC	G-50-9
PE	5900	5999	100	1923	GATC	G-50-9
PE	6000	6099	100	1923	RSC	G-50-9
SP	46155	46604	450	1923	GATC	G-50-9
SP	46605	47079	475	1923	RSC	G-50-9
PE	20000	20599	600	1924	GATC	G-50-9
SP	91400	92399	1000	1925	TCI&RR	G-50-10
SP	92400	92899	500	1926	PSC	G-50-11
SP	92900	93899	1000	1927	SSC	G-50-12

GATC - General American Transportation

PC&M - Pullman Car & Manufacturing

PSC - Pressed Steel Car

RSC - Ralston Steel Car

SSC - Standard Steel Car

TCI&RR - Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad

UP diagram states series 63000-63999 built 1920, but photo evidence indicates majority of cars built in 1921

The cars were rated at a respectable cubic capacity of 1776 cu. ft. with an inside length of 41 ft. 6 in. (for comparison, the SP's steel and composite GS gons built in the 40s had listed cubic capacities between 1776 and 1948 cu. ft.) The accompanying table lists the information for both roads' cars. They represented significant groups of cars for both, especially the SP, where they were a signature car from the 20s into the 50s. The SP/PE cars were shuffled around a bit and were then renumbered entirely in 1956 as part of the systemwide renumbering. The accompanying table traces those changes.

Reporting	Series Start	Series End	Built	Qty.	Class	1956 Series	Notes
SP	14112	14442	1924	331	G-50-9	360002-360304	1
SP	44160	44359	1923-4	200	G-50-9	360305-360457	2
SP	44361	44428	1923	69	G-50-9	360458-360511	3
SP	46155	46604	1923	450	G-50-9	360512-360789
SP	46605	47079	1923	475	G-50-9	360790-361054
SP	91301	91325	1923	25	G-50-9	361055-361068	4
T&NO	42250	42449	1923-4	200	G-50-9	---	5
SP	91400	92399	1925	1000	G-50-10	361098-361993
SP	92400	92899	1926	500	G-50-11	361994-362376
SP	92900	93899	1927	1000	G-50-12	362377-363024

1 - transferred from PE 20000-series in 1951

2 - transferred from PE 5900- [100 cars], 6000- [16] and 20000-series [84]

3 - transferred from PE 6000-series

4 - ex-Arizona Eastern; transferred to SP in 1924

5 - transferred from PE 20000-series in 1929 [100 cars]; Dec 1940 from PE 6000-series [15] and 20000-series [85]

The three cars shown in this photo are all UP G-50-7s and clearly illustrate the Murphy-style corrugated ends. "Council Bluffs Iowa Railroad Strike,"Feb 6, 1951, Robert Paskach photo, Robert Paskach Collection, The Durham Museum

Many of the SP cars from classes -9 and -10 had the lower side sections and slope sheets replaced by welding new steel in place, as illustrated in this photo of G-50-10, with its palindromic number 361163 (some cars also included a relatively small number of rivets, as well.) This was because the side and slope sheet sections were a single piece. On the G-50-11 and G-50-12 classes the side sheets and slope sheets were separate sections, with the top of the slope sections overlapping the bottom of the side sheets, creating an "edge" inside the carbody where the two met, Bob's Photo

SP 92622, a G-50-11, shows the separate side sheets, riveted along the bottom edge of the side sheet sections. Given that the side and slope sheets were distinct parts, repairs presumably involved only the component requiring maintenance as opposed to the entire side and slope sheet section, unless both required work, of course. Indio, California, Mar 11, 1956, Col. Chet McCoid photo, Bob's Photo

Comparison of 12-Panel Box Cars - Southern Pacific and Great Northern

Many years ago (longer than I can believe) I built the model shown above* and patted myself on the back for having made an SP class B-50-25 12-panel 10'0" inside height postwar AAR box car. Truth be told, it's an acceptable outcome. However, it is many years later and I am now an SP modeler and this B-50-25 model no longer scratches the itch. Why? Well, there are numerous differences between the GN 12-panel box car (the basis for the Intermountain kit used to make the B-50-25) and the SP and T&NO's B-50-25 and -26 classes of 12-panel box cars.

First an interesting point: while the GN 12-panel box cars garner lots of attention, the SP had a sizable fleet of 12-panel cars and if confined to the inside height of 10'0"/10'2", the SP/T&NO cars were more numerous, at 3,475 for the GN vs. 5,600 for the SP/T&NO. 

There are several well-documented differences to these prototypes: the end panels on the GN cars were welded together while they were riveted on the SP/T&NO. The side sill support tab sections on the GN cars were welded to the underframe crossmembers while they were riveted on the SP/T&NO. The door stops on the cars were different for the GN vs. SP/T&NO. The GN cars used Murphy diagonal panel roofs while the SP/T&NO had rectangular panel roofs. These differences alone add up to these being quite different looking in aggregate (not to mention the early Improved Youngstown doors on the SP/T&NO B-50-25, with their wide overlapping sections.) The Intermountain models skew all of these detail differences in favor of the GN cars, making an SP/T&NO model a compromise on many levels. I did address many of these things in my model shown above, but the difference in the side construction was not addressed. Here is what that looks like (click on the images to see a larger view)

March 22, 1959, Hamlet, NC, Col. Chet McCoid photo, Bob's Photo

June 6, 1948, Wilmington, CA, courtesy of Paul Koehler

Yes, these differences are subtle, but when added to the ledger of other differences in roof, ends, doors, side sill support sections ('tabs') and additional details, it all beckoned me to take the plunge and fix everything. So, I have created new side and end patterns to be incorporated into a full kit with one-piece resin body, accurate side sill support 'tabs' for the different builders (they were different!), correctly spaced ladders, etc. for the B-50-25/-26. Stay tuned as these will be available this year from Speedwitch.

*one interesting thing I found when making decals for the B-50-25 is that the Pressed Steel cars (which the model is based upon) used a zero for the 'O' in "SOUTHERN PACIFIC" lending a pronounced oval shape to the character, as opposed to the more rounded "O" as shown in the prototype photo of B-50-26 SP 59057, shown above. The prototype photo of SP 21264 is shown below

November 9, 1947, Reading Allison Hill Freight Terminal, Harrisburg, PA, Bob Charles Collection, Kalmbach Memorial Library

Southern Pacific A-50-11 Model

 

It has been a seeming eternity since I last posted. For those interested in the why of that, please scroll to the bottom of this post. I recently released a kit for the SP's A-50-11 auto cars. Details about the prototype can be found in this previous post. I won't go into a full blow-by-blow of the assembly, but I do want to highlight a few things about the kit and building of it and I will also discuss the finishing, as I know many of you are always interested in painting and weathering materials and techniques.

The model features some liberal use of etched metal for various details. I can't say that I have fully reached a happy medium of where and when to use etchings, but I suspect that after the forthcoming Milwaukee single sheathed auto car kits, I will have a pretty solid sense of what works and what does not. The photos above illustrate some of that usage. I am quite happy with the underframe. The diagonal braces are a little fiddly to assemble, but I think they are quite good (although the actual arrangement is my best estimation from only a single general arrangement drawing of the car) and the rest of the underframe exceeded my expectations. In particular, the etching of parts to make the brake lever clevises came out better than I expected. This feature will be used on all future kits. I am also mostly happy with the latitudinal running board supports, the grabs, and the brake staff pivot at the bottom of the end. I believe the etchings really accentuate the model and achieve a level of fidelity I could not with other materials.

One other detail that turned out extremely well is the roof. The prototype used the Murphy Solidsteel roof with fairly delicate seam caps where the panels were joined and flat panel sections (if you're not familiar with this style of roof, think of a Murphy rectangular panel roof without the raised, rectangular corrugations in the panels.) The master for this kit is based upon a 3D printed part. The roof is the expert work of Ryan Mendell of National Scale Car. This model would not be possible without his contribution. The results are great. Many thanks!

 

On to the finishing of the model. I am a strong proponent of blasting metal and engineering plastic parts prior to painting in order to ensure good paint adhesion. I blasted this model with 600-grit aluminum oxide (source for the powder in the link) followed by washing with a soft toothbrush and liquid dishwashing detergent. I primed the model with Badger's grey Stynylres primer. I followed that with Star Brands STR-30 SP/UP Freight Car Red, thinned with their private label thinner, except on the trucks and wheelsets which were sprayed with Tamiya flat black. I then applied a coat of Quick Shine floor polish to ensure a gloss coat for the application of the decals. All three of these were applied with an airbrush. I applied the decals, including a few chalkmarks, and sealed them with another coat of Quick Shine followed by a coat of Tamiya clear flat. I did leave off the reweigh, repack, and brake test stencils and then masked those areas prior to weathering so that those would appear to be freshly painted patches.

Not the greatest image, but this is a "FRAGILE FREIGHT" placard that I had printed on a sheet run by PDC. It is an actual image of a Milwaukee Road placard

For weathering, I brushed on two washes of extremely diluted artists' oils with odorless mineral spirits. The first was Titanium White and the second was a blend of Burnt Sienna and Raw Umber. I sealed these with another flat coat, except this coat was Mr. Color clear flat as I had run out of Tamiya (I used Mr. Color Leveling Thinner... note that these are solvent-based as opposed to the Tamiya, which seems to be an alcohol-based acrylic.) I next applied PanPastels Raw Umber and Payne's Grey Extra Dark, mostly in streaks to the sides and overall on the roof, underframe, and trucks/wheelsets. I sealed these with another coat of flat, except on the sides, where I applied Quick Shine, since I needed to add the reweigh, repack, brake test, and chalkmarks, as well as the placard and route car board decals. After adding these decals, I sealed everything with a clear flat coat. I added the trucks and couplers and the finished result is as you see herein. I am extremely happy to have a model of this unusual prototype.

The decal on the route card board (with the '12') is from the Owl Mountain Models "Route & Grade Card Goodies" decal (#1220) 

Why the relatively long hiatus from posting? I received a summons for jury duty and showed up at the appointed time and place in late October. I fully expected the usual few hours of waiting followed by a dismissal after my services were found to be unneeded. However, over the next few days, I went through the process of jury selection, at which time I was seated as Juror #5 in a murder trial. The trial concluded last week. As you can imagine, it was a major commitment of time, but was also a hugely impactful emotional experience. I am glad to have done it, but I also do not wish to ever do it again. When abstract becomes reality, you quickly discover that determining the fate of another person is not nearly as easy as portrayed in film and television. Onward...

Southern Pacific A-50-11 Automobile Car

 

SP 69439 was an A-50-11 photographed in San Diego by Col. Chet McCoid. Note that the placard boards on the right door and the end had been lowered. Dec. 26, 1954. Bob's Photo

The Southern Pacific rostered three classes of all-steel "single sheathed" automobile cars. They're not technically single sheathed cars since they had steel sheathing with wood lining, making them double sheathed, but they have visible structural members, lending the traditional look of a single sheathed car. 

While the subject of this February, 1939 FSA-OWI image by Dorothea Lange was the two itinerants, it provides an excellent view of the Dreadnaught end door applied to the A-50-9 class automobile cars. Calipatria, Imperial Valley, California, Library of Congress Call Number: LC-USF34-019076-E

The first group was class A-50-9, built in 1928 by Tennessee Coal & Iron, 250 cars in series 68980-69229. They were characterized by steel sides with visible structural members in a Howe truss arrangement, long support sections under the Youngstown steel doors, large fishbelly center sill underframes, Murphy Solidsteel roofs, Dreadnaught ends, including end doors in the A end, and Dalman two-level trucks with Barber lateral motion devices.

This Dorothea Lange photo from the same family of images as the one shown above affords a good view of the support applied to the side sill, below the doors. Calipatria, Imperial Valley, California, Library of Congress Call Number: LC-USF34-019076-E

A-50-10 SP 69304 was photographed in Alameda (Oakland area) California in 1947. Note the hinges at the left corner of the car, for the Dreadnaught end doors. Howard Ameling Collection

In 1930, Pressed Steel built 150 cars that were similar to the previous class, down to the end doors, but notably had a different support section under the doors and a different underframe arrangement. This group, nos. 69230-69379, were assigned to class A-50-10.

At the same time, Pressed Steel also built 150 cars without end doors that were otherwise identical to the A-50-10. These cars with tight ends were assigned to class A-50-11, car nos. 69380-69529. Prototype photo at the top of this post.

Given their steel construction, these cars were relatively long-lived on the SP, with close to two-thirds making it into the 1960s in revenue service. Why am I sharing all this info? Well, I happen to be constructing the pilot model of a forthcoming A-50-11 kit as I type this. The one-piece body is shown below.

These kits will be offered in the next couple weeks and include the following:

• one-piece cast resin bodies and resin details
• many etched metal details
• Tahoe Model Works Dalman two-level trucks with Barber lateral motion detail
• 0.088" tread width wheelsets
• Decals printed by Cartograf from my artwork
• Kadee scale couplers
• Tichy KC and AB brakes and wire

Tangent's SP "Pullman-Standard" Box Cars

 

Tangent Scale Models photo to display a decorated model

I posted last week with some prototype information about the Southern Pacific Lines B-50-28 and -29 postwar AAR box cars. I mentioned that I would follow up with my thoughts about the new Tangent Scale Models HO scale offerings for these cars (note: I am not presenting info about the B-50-30/-31/-32 as they are past my personal modeling cutoff date, but the thoughts presented herein apply equally to those models.) Quite simply, these are some of the finest HO scale box cars ever offered, with the overall package rivaling the exceptional Kadee PS-1 models. Considering the price points of $48.95 for undecorated kits and $52.95 for ready-to-run cars, these are a steal compared to other freight car models being released in HO scale for reasons that will become apparent if you continue to read.

I purchased undecorated kits and my thoughts specific to the kits are included at the end of this writeup. However, I will cover the model details first. The car body faithfully replicates the prototype. Of note, these cars featured a version of the Improved Dreadnaught end that has not been replicated to date in HO scale (manufacturers in both styrene and resin have added a narrow thin rib at the top of the end and called it a job well done; however, the other major characteristic, the "flat" horizontal bottom portion of the main top rib on the ends has been ignored.) Tangent has captured both the narrow thin rib (suitably diminutive) as well as the different top main rib. The ends are beautiful. The sides are nicely captured as well, with miniature rivets that are in the same class as those on the Branchline AAR box cars. The characteristic narrow side panels on either side of the door are replicated, as well as the "notched" side sill supports at the body bolsters. The Diagonal Panel Murphy roof is also nicely captured, with fine rivets on the caps at the panel joints. The underframe is beautiful, as well, with fine renderings of the center sills and stringers. Tangent has replicated all the major traits of these cars in extremely fine detail. My only complaint here is that I wish these had been tooled as separate parts to allow me to more easily use them for kitbashing fodder.

As the saying goes, "the devil's in the details" and that is another area where these models shine. 

• Instructions for the kits may be found via this link
• On the underframe, the mountings for the brake parts use prototypical brackets and similar fixtures, as opposed to just sticking things into holes in the floor, as many manufacturers do. This really sets these models apart.
• The AB brake set is nicely detailed, with fine representations of the reservoirs and AB valve, plus nicely rendered dirt collector and tee between the trainline (which is also present) and dirt collector. There are wire parts for connections of some of the various brake equipment.
• The draft gear (coupler pockets) are narrower than most manufacturers offerings. They are functionally wide at the opening and taper to match the width of the center sills where they meet the body bolsters. They have a mounting apparatus on the side for the angle cock/air hoses, which are nicely detailed and are cast in a rubberized material, making them extremely durable! This is quite welcome. Another small nit is that the built up models include Kadee couplers, but the kits do not. Why?
• The model includes 50-ton ASF A-3 Ride Control trucks. They may not be as nice as the legendary Kato A-3s, but they are still some of the nicest trucks included with a model that I have seen. One of my few nits with these kits is that they do not come equipped with 0.088" tread width wheelsets. It's about time that we adopt 0.088" the de facto standard and make those who want 0.110" buy them separately. Or perhaps offer the 0.088" wheelsets in the kits as it's highly likely that those buying kits would care more about such things.

• Closing the underframe topic, it is overall the best detailed underframe I have seen on an HO scale mass market model. The fidelity is there and the accuracy is there

• End detailing is also exemplary, including the aforementioned faithful representation of the corrugations
• In the kit there are seven (!) different power hand brake options, including two Miner, two Champion, and one each of Ajax, Universal, and Equipco. Each includes its own mounting bracket and they are "full" parts with chain and rod integral to the parts. These alone are a trove of parts to use on other projects!

• There are three etched metal brake steps, all pre-bent for addition to the model.
• The placard boards for the ends and doors accurately follow the prototype as opposed to being simple, generic three board parts.
• The uncoupling rods are pre-bent and are fine representations of those on the prototype. The mounting brackets are also finely detailed.
• The pressure retaining valve ('retainer valve') includes a nice bracket and piping that runs down the end of the car. The valve appears too small and that is accentuated by the large size of the corresponding pipe (the pipe is styrene and is slightly larger than the prototype, but not grossly so)
• Ladders, grabs, and sill steps are all finely detailed. The ladders are beautiful, faithfully matching the prototype. They are so well-rendered that I worry about their durability, since they are molded in styrene, which is prone to breakage. The bracket grabs are equally finely replicated in styrene. However, any potential damage due to the fidelity is not Tangent's issue. The end sill and latitudinal running board grabs are formed wire, again fine, but obviously more durable. I did have damage to two ladders in the one kit that I inspected. Given the fineness and the material, I suspect this is not unique to me.
• The kits are supposed to include two running boards: Morton and Apex Tri-Lok. My kit included the Morton, but was missing the Apex. Apparently, this is the case with all kits. Tangent may be contacted for the missing Apex part. The parts are styrene and are "see-through". They are beautiful, but again are fragile because they are styrene. Being styrene, they are easier to attach to the roof, though.
• The kits include four pairs of doors: two pairs of Youngstown plus 7-panel and 5-panel Superior doors, as well as corresponding bottom door tracks for each type (note: prototype lower Superior door tracks do have different hardware than the tracks for Youngstown doors and have been mostly ignored by manufacturers, particularly in HO scale. To their credit, Tangent has offered both styles)

Returning to my original thought, I believe these to be one of the finest mass market HO scale Steam/Transition Era freight cars ever offered. Actually, I wouldn't restrict it to an era... they're great overall

As always... comments are welcome!