Paint Shop – 91 : Akron, Canton & Youngstown Boxcar 1916, part 2

: ACY1916

Here are the data of the car and a belief history of the railroad.

ACY 1700 – 1999 series boxcars:
The group #1850 to #1999 series cars were built by Pullman-Standard in January 1964.
The group #1700 to #1849 series cars were also built by Pullman-Standard in November 1964.
These cars featured the combination 9’ sliding door and 6’ plug door.
The Railroad added another 301 cars, #2200 to #2500, with the combination 9’ sliding door and 7’ plug door two years later.

The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #1700 to #1999 with 288 cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation XM and description “Box, Stl. 6’ Plug Doors, Width of Slide Door Opening 15’”. The inside length of these cars was 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 4 inches, inside height 10 feet 6 inches, outside length 51 feet 10 inches, extreme height 15 feet 1 inch, slide door opening 9 feet, and capacity 4982 cubic feet or 154,000 pounds.


Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad (reporting mark ACY) was a railroad operated within the state of Ohio from Akron, but it never reached its namesake cities Canton or Youngstown.

It was established as the Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railway in 1907. The Railway merged with the Northern Ohio Railway to reach Delphos and formed the Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad in 1944. Norfolk & Western Railway took control of the ACY in 1964, and it was finally merged into Norfolk Southern Railway in 1982.

Today, only the eastern half of the former ACY route remains active operated by Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway.

The map below is the part of the “Union Pacific Map of the United States” printed in 1971, with the 1966 ACY route traced in red line by the author.

: 1966 ACY route

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Paint Shop – 92 : Akron, Canton & Youngstown Boxcar 3693, part 1

: ACY3693

Here is another "Buckeye State" railroad boxcar I managed to model using K4 Decal: Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad XM #3693.

I found a photo of this ACY boxcar that fits my body type, scheme, and era −50’ boxcar red boxcar with ACI plates− at the Fallenflag site. It has the ACY herald featured in the K4 decal I partly used for my previous project. So, I decided to model this car this time.

I used a surplus MTL 50' Standard Single Door Box Car for the model. I changed the door with MTL replacement parts 8’ Superior door. I also modified the sill and the side panel joints.

I spray-painted the body with Tamiya TS-62. Before applying decals, I polished the surface of the painted body, where decals were going to be applied, with the compound. The decals used are K4 “Akron Canton and Youngstown 50 Ft Boxcar White ACY”, and ACI plates from Microscale products. I finally spray-painted the semi-gloss clear coat after applying the decals to finish my work.

* 1974 photo of ACY #3693 found at Fallenflag site;
* 1955 photo of ACY #3645 found at City of Vancouver Archives site;

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Paint Shop – 93 : Akron, Canton & Youngstown Boxcar 3693, part 2

: ACY3693

Here are the data of the car and a belief history of the railroad.

ACY 3501 – 3700 series boxcars:
The group #3501 to #3700 series cars were built by Pullman-Standard in June 1955.

The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #3501 to #3700 with 187 cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation XM and description “Box” only. The inside length of these cars was 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet 6 inches, outside length 51 feet 10 inches, extreme height 15 feet 5 inches, slide door opening 8 feet, and capacity 4844 cubic feet or 100,000 pounds.


Akron, Canton & Youngstown Railroad (reporting mark ACY)
See Paint Shop – 91 : Akron, Canton & Youngstown Boxcar 1916, part 2

: Sep. 6, 2019. AC&Y successor Wheeling & Lake Erie (WE) at Hartland, OH

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Paint Shop – 94 : Monon Railroad Boxcar 1722, part 1

: MON1722

This time, I’ll introduce a “Hoosier State” railroad −a railroad originated and terminated almost within the state of Indiana− boxcar decorated with K4 Decal: Monon Railroad #1722.

The book Classic Freight Cars the Series Vol. 8 has a photo of the exact car. It has the arrowhead logo-mark and the speed-lettered MONON logotype both designed by Raymond Loewy (1893−1986) in 1947. It also features the white banner scheme introduced in 1957. Fortunately, these features are provided in the K4 decal.

I used a surplus MTL 50' Standard Single Door Box Car for the model. I changed the door with 8’ Pullman door copied from Atlas 40’ PS-1 Boxcar spare parts. I also modified the sill and the side panel joints.

I first spray-painted the body with the white surfacer, and next with Tamiya TS-33, ends painted black with Tamiya TS-76, and roof painted with Tamiya TS-82. Before applying decals, I polished the surface of the painted body, where decals were going to be applied, with the compound.

Decals used are K4 “Monon Hoosier Line Banner 40 Ft Boxcar”. MON reporting mark and ACI plates are the Microscale products. I finally spray painted the semi-gloss clear coat after applying the decals to finish my work.

: Sep. 5, 2019. Chesterton, ID
　
　

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Paint Shop – 95 : Monon Railroad Boxcar 1722, part 2

: MON1722

Here are the data of the car and a belief history of the railroad.

MON 1701 – 1750 series boxcars:
The group #1701 to #1750 series cars were built by Pullman-Standard in April 1957.

The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #1701 to #1750 with 32 cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation XM and description “Box, Stl.” only. The inside length of these cars was 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet 5 inches, outside length 51 feet 10 inches, extreme height 15 feet 1 inch, slide door opening 8 feet, and capacity 4830 cubic feet or 100,000 pounds.


Monon Railroad (reporting mark MON)
The New Albany and Salem Railroad established in 1847 is the origin of the Monon Railroad. The original purpose of the line was to connect Ohio River traffic with Lake Michigan. It reached Michigan City in 1854, and finally reached Chicago in 1882. Thus, it reorganized as the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway (reporting mark CIL) in 1897.

Monon, the longtime nickname of the railroad−a name of the town located at the junction of the CIL mainlines−became its corporate name in 1956. However, it merged into Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1971. Only a part of the route is active today and operated by CSX.

The map below is the part of “Union Pacific Map of the United States” printed in 1971, with the 1966 MON route traced in red line by the author.

: 1966 MON route
　
　

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Paint Shop – 96 : Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern Railway Boxcar 505, part 1

: MNS 505

This time, I’ll introduce a “North Star State” railroad−a railroad originated and terminated within the state of Minnesota−boxcar decorated with K4 Decal: Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern Railway #505.

Railroad Picture Archives web site had several photos of MNS boxcars painted boxcar red: #500 had Pullman door and #505 had Youngstown door in the photos. Accordingly, I decided to make #505, as the MTL body I prepared for the model had Youngstown doors.

* 1985 photo of MNS #505 found at RRPictureArchives.NET site;
* 1978 photo of MNS #500 found at RRPictureArchives.NET site;

I used a surplus MTL 50' Standard Box Car, 10’ Single Door w/o roof walk, short ladders for the model. I did nothing with the body.

I first spray-painted the body with the surfacer, and next with Tamiya TS-33. Before applying decals, I polished the surface of the painted body, where decals were going to be applied, with the compound.

Decal used is the K4 “Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Boxcars”. I cut the letterings out from the sheet considering the side panel joints to eliminate the edge of the decal film. ACI plate is the Microscale product. I finally spray painted the semi-gloss clear coat after applying the decals to finish my work.

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Paint Shop – 97 : Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern Railway Boxcar 505, part 2

: MNS 505

Here are the data of the car and a belief history of the railroad.

MNS 504 and 505 boxcars:
The group #504 and #505 boxcars were built in March 1968 by Pullman-Standard.

The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #504 and #505 with both cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation XL and description “Box, Stl., Evans DF Utility Loaders”. The inside length of these cars was 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 4 inches, inside height 10 feet 5 inches, outside length 52 feet 11 inches, extreme height 14 feet 6 inches, slide door opening 10 feet, and capacity 4932 cubic feet or 154,000 pounds.

Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern Railway (reporting mark MNS) was started as Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester, and Dubuque Electric Traction Company, an electrified interurban line between Minneapolis and Northfield. In 1918, the Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern Railway was established to take over the defunct interurban line. In 1982, the Railway was purchased by the Soo Line Railroad and was finally merged into the Railroad in 1986. Most of the original route is still active today, operated by Twin Cities & Western Railroad and Progressive Rail.

The map below is the part of “Union Pacific Map of the United States” printed in 1971, with the 1966 MNS route traced in red line by the author.

: 1966 MNS route

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Paint Shop – 98 : Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Boxcar 5665, part 1

: C&EI 5665

Microscale released the decal for C&EI boxcars in October 2015. I immediately purchased one but it has been kept in my stock ever since because of the lack of information on the prototype.

I searched for the preserved C&EI cars before my trip to Chicago and beyond in 2019. However, unfortunately, I couldn’t find the appropriate one to make: only two C&EI boxcars seemed preserved at the Kentucky Railway Museum according to the Railroad Preservation Index site. But their letterings almost faded away. After all, my only encounter with the C&EI equipment is the caboose at Alamogordo, New Mexico. Reluctantly, I went to search photo archives websites.

The number of C&EI equipment was renumbered after the MP acquisition. The font used for it was also changed. The font adopted in the Microscale decal was of C&EI original. So, I searched for photos taken in the pre-merger era. Boxcars & Freight Cars of North America site had a 1969 photo of C&EI #5665. Accordingly, I decided to make this car this time.

: “C&EI” cast on caboose truck found at Alamogordo, NM

* 1969 photo of C&EI 5665 found at Boxcars & Freight Cars of North America site;

I used Athearn PS-1 Double Door Boxcar for the model. I did nothing with the body. I first spray-painted the body with the surfacer and followed with TAMIYA TS-69. Before applying the decals, I polished the surface of the painted body, where the decals were going to be applied, with the compound.

Decals used are Microscale 60-1512 “Chicago & Eastern Illinois 40’ and 50’ Boxcars”. ACI plate is the Microscale product. I finally spray-painted the semi-gloss clear coat after applying the decals to finish my work.

Japanese & Comments

Paint Shop – 99 : Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Boxcar 5665, part 2

: C&EI 5665

Here are the data of the car and a belief history of the railroad.

C&EI 5662 - 5665 series boxcars:
The C&EI series 5660 to 5665 boxcars were built in 1960 by Pullman-Standard. They were equipped with Rac-Loc fixtures for Chrysler engines when built new, and renumbered to C&EI series 256660 to 256665 in between October 1968 and January 1972.

The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for July 1966 shows the group #5662 to #5665 with all possible cars in place, described as follows:
AAR Designation XAP and description “Box, Steel” only. The inside length of both of these cars was 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet 5 inches, outside length 51 feet 10 inches, extreme height unknown, door opening 15 feet, and capacity 4888 cubic feet or 100,000 pounds.


Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad (reporting mark C&EI)　was a north-south railroad connecting Chicago and Evansville, Indiana.
In 1881, three railroads, Chicago, Danville & Vincennes (established, Nov. 1871), Evansville, Terre Haute & Chicago (established, Oct. 1871), and Evansville & Terre Haute (established, Nov. 1854) started consolidating the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad connecting Chicago and Evansville[1]. The consolidation was completed in 1911. It also reached St. Louis in 1903. Missouri Pacific took control of the C&EI since 1967 and consolidated it in 1976. Today, only part of the former C&EI route remains but is split into UP and CSX.

The map below is the part of “Union Pacific Map of the United States” printed in 1971, with the 1966 C&EI route traced in red line by the author.

[1] Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad Historic Society web site;

: 1966 C&EI route

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Paint Shop – 100 : Savannah & Atlanta Railway Boxcar 938, part 1

: S&A 938

The Savannah & Atlanta Railway boxcar #947 honored the initial post of my “Paint Shop” column back in 2011. In honor of the column's 100th post, I decided to model another S&A boxcar from the same series but with a different scheme; SA #938. The 1978 prototype photo of #938, which I can't upload here, was seen on eBay some years ago.

I used the same Athearn PS-1 Single Door Boxcar to #947 for #938, but changed the roof and ends with copied Diagonal roof and Improved Dreadnaught ends, and modified the side panel joints. Rivets came from Archer, hand brake wheel came from MTL, and ladders and hand brake came from Intermountain.

I first spray-painted the body with the surfacer, and next with Mr. Color No. 29. Before applying decals, I polished the surface of the painted body, where the decals were going to be applied, with the compound for better adhesion.

Decal used is the K4 “Savannah and Atlanta 40 Ft Boxcar (Block Lettering)”. I cut the letterings out of the sheet, considering the side panel joints, to eliminate the edge of the decal film. ACI plate is the Microscale product. I finally spray-painted the semi-gloss clear coat after applying the decals to finish my work.

: modified body ready to paint
: B end details
: finished model

Japanese & Comments

Paint Shop – 101 : Savannah & Atlanta Railway Boxcar 938, part 2

: S&A 938 and 947

The data of the car and the belief history of the railroad are mentioned in my “Paint Shop − 03” column first appeared in 2011.


Improvements in the Past Decade
As I mentioned above, the number of my “Paint Shop” columns featuring my boxcar modeling counted 100 this summer.

I’ve been posting photos and articles to this blog for a little more than a decade. The object of the posts was to improve my English, photo skill, and model skill. Grammarly application helps a lot improving my English, and iPhone does good jobs in taking photos of models these days. My high power magnifier works a lot when applying tiny decal letters to the model. Let me check how my models are improved in the past decade.

I introduced resin mold method to copy roof panels, ends, and doors from the mass-produced products to make more accurate models since 2014.

I began modifying the side panel joints to make more accurate model in 2015 using Archer rivet decals. I also began polishing the surface of the painted body for a better decal application same year.

I made a paint booth from a surplus cardboard box in 2016 for better results and contamination solving.

I bought my high power magnifier to cover my eyes in 2012, Nikon camera for a better model photo in 2014, and Apple iPhone to cover my eyes for a better model photo in 2021. Geez,,,

I owe much to the photo archives web sites like RR Picture Archives or Fallen Flag Railroad Photos for prototype pictures. So, I started contributing my prototype pictures since 2022 as a little repayment.

I know there are problems still remaining from the viewpoints of accuracy, performance, and sustainability, such as spray-can painting. I believe that the 3D printing will be the solution in the near future. Though, I still can’t find the pleasure so far in data making on the display.

: S&A 938 and 947

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