Some Southwestern Shorties – Santa Fe Southern Railway, part 1

: Lamy, NM. Sep. 13, 2015

We happened to see several short lines during our vacation in New Mexico. Here is the one:


Santa Fe Southern Railway (reporting mark; SFS), an 18 miles railroad headquartered in Santa Fe, NM was established in 1992. It operated freight and tourist trains between Lamy and Santa Fe until 2014.

The route is operated as Sky Railway since 2021, owned by a group including the “Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin.

ATSF Santa Fe Sub between Lamy and Santa Fe was constructed in 1880[1]. The Sub ended the operation in 1992 and sold to SFS same year.


The photo above shows some SFS equipment tied down at Lamy yard. The photo below shows some equipment tied down at Santa Fe yard. Depots at Santa Fe and Lamy both exist in fine condition. Spur to the onetime SFS customer Premier Distributing Company, a liquor wholesaler still connects with the SFS main at 2680 Sawmill Rd, Santa Fe.

revised, Feb. 24, 2022

[1] ATSF History web page;

: Santa Fe, NM. Sep. 13, 2015

Japanese & Comments

Some Southwestern Shorties – Santa Fe Southern Railway, part 2

: Lamy, NM. Sep. 13, 2015

SFS GP7u #07 was first built in 1952 as ATSF GP7 #2744. It was later rebuilt to GP7u #2234 in 1981 and retired in 1991. It became Texas & New Mexico #2234, Dallas Garland & Northeastern #701, West Texas & Lubbock #701 and finally became SFS #701 in 2006, succeeding SFS GP7u #92.

* 1976 photo of ATSF #2734 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;
* 1983 photo of ATSF #2237 found at Fallen Flags site;
* 1995 photo of TNMR #2234 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;

: Santa Fe, NM. Sep. 13, 2015

SFS GP16 #93 was first built in 1952 as L&N GP7 #414. It later renumbered to #2304. It was rebuilt and renumbered to SCL GP16 #4804 in 1982. It became CSXT #1850, Minnesota Valley #1850, and finally became SFS #93 in 1993.

* 1975 photo of L&N #414 found at Fallen Flags site;
* 1983 photo of SCL #4804 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;

: Santa Fe, NM. Sep. 13, 2015

Japanese & Comments

Some Southwestern Shorties – Duval Corporation

: Carlsbad, NM. Sep. 12, 2015

Duval Corporation was a mining company established in 1926 as Duval Texas Sulphur Co. It became Duval Sulphur & Potash Co. in 1950, and Duval Corporation in 1963. It merged into Pennzoil in 1985. Duval used several locomotives for switching at its mines located in Rustler Springs, Texas and Sahuarita, Arizona.

Phillips Mine at Rustler Springs, TX was served by 25-mile ATSF/later BNSF spur constructed in 1969[1]. It shipped 66 to 100 cars a day of liquid sulphur to Galveston, TX[2]. The operation continued till 2002[3].

Sierrita Mine, operated by Freeport-McMoRan Inc. today, at Sahuarita, AZ is served by 10-mile UP/former SP spur since 1968[4, 5]. 2006 photo of the successor to the Alco S-2 at the Mine, painted in Phelps Dodge Industrial Railroad scheme, is found on web[6].




These two Alco S-2 switchers preserved today at Permian Basin Regional Training Center in Carlsbad, NM came from the both Duval mines at Rustler Springs, TX and Sahuarita, AZ. Assorted with the #1 is BN XP #244328 and BNSF XL #714764.

: Duval Corporation #1

Duval Corporation S-2 #1 painted white was first built in 1944 as DRGW #116. It later became Colorado & Wyoming Railway #1104 and finally became Duval Corporation #1 at Rustler Springs, TX in 1973[7].

: Duval Corporation #2

Duval Corporation S-2 #2 painted black with white stripe was first built in 1950 as Illinois Terminal Railroad #711. It was later renumbered to #1012 and finally became Duval Corporation #2 at Sahuarita, AZ[8].

All photos taken on Sep. 12, 2015.

revised, Oct. 25 2017

[1] Rails West web page;
[2] Miller, Jay (1977) "Santa Fe's Duval Unit Sulphur Train", Aug 1977 Prototype Modeler;
[3] David F. Myrick, New Mexico’s Railroads, page 48 at books.google site;
[4] July 1, 1968 Tucson Daily Citizen;
[5] State of Arizona 2007 Railroad Inventory and Assessment, page 31;
[6] Arizona Railroad Museum Photo Collection;
[7] Strapac, Joseph A., (1983) Rio Grande Diesels A Pictorial History - Vol. 1, Shade Tree Books
[8] Trainorders.com web page;
* 1964 photo of DRGW #114 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;
* 1965 photo of ITC #710 found at Railroad Picture Archives site;
* photo of Duval Sulphur & Potash Co. hopper car SHPX #25508;
* 2000 photo of molten sulphur tank car DVLX #4175 by Patrick Harris;
* 2014 photo of tank car DVLX #2068 by Ken Ziegenbein;

: Duval Corporation #2

Japanese & Comments

MKT XM #5134

: MKT 5134

This M-K-T boxcar is found in Monte Vista, Colorado.

According to the Frisco/Katy Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment, 5100 – 5199 series boxcars were built in 1968 by American Car & Foundry. Precision Design pressed panels used on 40’ cars seem rare.
#5123 from the same series is stored at UP Cheyenne shops.

MKT 5100 – 5199 series Boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for July 1974 shows the group with 84 cars in place, accompanied by 14 other cars with the same dimensions but with the description "Box, Stl., (flour)", described as follows:

AAR Designation XM and description “Box, Stl.” only.

The inside length of these cars is 40 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 4 inches, inside height 10 feet 6 inches, outside length 45 feet 7 inches, extreme height 14 feet 11 inches and capacity 3976 cubic feet or 110,000 pounds.

All the photos are taken on Sep. 6, 2017

* 2007 photo of MKT 5164 from the same series preserved at Portola, CA;
* photo of MKT 5119 from the same series at Ft. Worth, TX;

: MKT 5134

Japanese & Comments

FGEX RS #39224

: FGEX 39224

This Fruit Growers Express (FGE) ice-bunker refrigerator car is found at Gunnison, Colorado.

According to the stencil on the body, this particular car from FGEX 39000 – 39899 series RS was built in 1949.


FGEX 39000 – 39899 series Refrigerator Cars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for July 1974 shows the group with 247 cars of possible 900 in place, described as follows:

AAR Designation RS and description “Refrig., 80000 lbs. Cap. Journals, Loading Limited by AAR Rule 91”(Rule 91 specifies the weight limitations in interchange service).

The inside length of these cars is 33 feet 2 inches, inside width 8 feet 3 inches, inside height 7 feet 3 inches, outside length 44 feet 5 inches, extreme height 15 feet 1 inch and capacity 1987 cubic feet or 75,000 pounds.

The photo is taken on Sep. 6, 2017

* 2014 photo of FGEX 39650 from the same series preserved at Spencer, NC.;
* 1969 photo of FGEX 39709 from the same series at Wenatchee, WA;

Japanese & Comments

EL Trailer #ELZ201865

: ELZ 201865

This 40 feet Brown Van trailer was found at Gunnison, Colorado on Rio Grande Ave. Barely read stencil shows this van trailer as Erie Lackawanna 201865.

ELZ 201501 – 202100 series Van Trailers
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for Oct 1968 shows the group with 600 cars in place, described as follows:

Description “Van” only. The inside length of these cars is 39 feet 6 inches, inside width 7 feet 9 inches, inside height 8 feet 6 inches, outside length 40 feet, extreme height 13 feet and capacity 2590 cubic feet.

By 1976, they were renumbered or retired: The Official Intermodal Equipment Register (OIER) for Feb 1976 shows none of them.

Trainworx produces N scale model of similar trailer[1]. According to the Trainworx description, they were introduced in the late ’60s.

The photo is taken on Sep. 6, 2017

[1] Trainworx web page;
* 2006 photo of Brown ELZ 201971 from the same series at Rochelle, IL;
* 1964 photo of Brown ELZ 4447;

Japanese & Comments

GM&O Caboose #2954

: GM&O #2954

This GM&O #2954 caboose is preserved at the Monticello Railway Museum in Illinois.
According to the IC/GM&O Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment, this car was built as one of 2950-2958 series wide vision cabooses by the International Car Company in 1968. It was later renumbered and repainted to ICG #199044 due to the IC-GM&O merger. The museum restored it to the original scheme.

The arched Gulf, Mobile & Ohio logo shown below is applied on the boxcar used as a museum at Williamsville, IL. However, unfortunately, the number 57808 applied doesn’t match with the car style appears in IC/GM&O Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment: it seems a masquerade.

The photos are taken on Sep. 11 and 12, 2019


　
　

Japanese & Comments

NKP Van Trailers T-16 and T-1788

: Bellevue, OH. Sep. 6, 2019

These van trailers are preserved at the Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum in Bellevue, OH.
Still clearly read stencils show these van trailers as New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad (NYC&St.L, NKP, Nickel Plate Road) T-16 and T-1788.

NKP 32 feet dry van trailer T-1 to 25 was built by Fruehauf in 1954 according to the NKP Historical & Technical society web site[1].

NKP 40 feet reefer van trailer T-1788 was also built by Fruehauf according to the builder’s plate on it.

However, unfortunately, there is no mention of the NKP trailers in 1954 ORER, 1966 ORER, and 1976 OIER.

[1] Surviving NKP Freight Cars, NKPHTS web site;
* 1954 Lettering Diagram for T-1 to 25 at Fallenflag site;

: Bellevue, OH. Sep. 6, 2019

Japanese & Comments

PRR XL #32123

: New London, OH. Sep. 6, 2019

This boxcar was found next to the former New York Central freight house in New London, Ohio. PRR equipment not preserved at museums are relatively rare, I think.
Barely read letterings show this boxcar as PRR #32123. According to the diagram at Rob’s Pennsy home page, PRR 32001–32700 series class X55a boxcars were built in 1960, and at railroad’s Samuel Rea Shops according to the PRR Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment Vol. 2[1].

PRR 32001 – 32700 series boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for July 1974 shows the group 32002–32699 with 411 cars in place, accompanied by 2 cars 32004 and 5 with the same description and dimensions but with the additional description “Considered Part of Car: Pallets, (Auto Parts)”, described as follows:

AAR Designation XL and description “Box, Stl., Evans 19 Belt Rail DF Loaders, Nailable Stl. Flrs. Full Length, X55a (Auto Parts)”.

The inside length of these cars is 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet 6 inches, outside length 54 feet 6 inches, extreme height 15 feet 1 inch and capacity 4860 cubic feet or 100,000 pounds.

Photos above are taken on Sep. 6, 2019.

[1] Robert Schoenberg, PRR Class X55 boxcars, Rob’s Pennsy home page;
* 2012 photo of the particular car at Flickr;
* 1987 photo of PRR #32082 found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;

: Sugar Creek, OH. Sep. 7, 2019

Japanese & Comments

LNAC XM #3003

: Corydon, IN. Sep. 10, 2019

This boxcar is found at the backyard next to the Lucas Oil Rail Line (reporting mark LORL) engine shed at Corydon, Indiana. Barely read markings indicate this car as LORL predecessor Louisville, New Albany & Corydon Railroad (reporting mark LNAC) XM #3003 (last number unreliable) with the paint date of WA 4-73. It also has NYNH&H marking on trucks.

According to the Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER), LNAC listed only two cars, a baggage/passenger car, and a flatcar for a long time. As far as I researched, the 1974 ORER is the first to list boxcars and reefers. But the particular car has a rather classic body style and trucks for a new car in the ’70s. Accordingly, this car can be assumed as secondhand.

But, searching NH roster in the earlier ORER with NYNH&H marking on the truck as a clue didn’t extract any NH boxcars carrying the same or near dimensions with those of LNAC boxcars.


George Irwin introduces an article, "A Buyer's Market" by Al Kresse on Mar. 2002 C&O Historical Magazine, in his Oct. 2019, Unofficial Micro-Trains Release Report. According to Kresse, in 1956, C&O made a good bargain of five hundred PS-1 single door boxcars with NYNH&H stamped trucks as C&O #21000 to 21499: NYNH&H canceled the order a year before.

The ORER shows the group C&O #21000 to 21499 with 490 cars in 1966, 485 cars in 1968, 477 cars in 1972, 471 cars in 1974, and 470 cars in 1975: 19 cars were condemned/sold between the late '60s and early '70s.

LNAC #3003 does have 7/7 welded side panels, 9' door, and NYNH&H stamped ASF Ride Control trucks which are the common appliances with the C&O cars[1, 2]. Regarding the dimensions, ILs are the same but the IWs, IHs, outside lengths, and extreme heights are a little different according to the 1974 ORER. Also, are the capacities.


Worthy of note is that the end, door, door rail, and sill of LNAC #3003 show the mark of replacement/rebuilt. The 1976 photo of LNAC #658 with the rebuilt date of 3-73, paint date of WA 3-73, and USRE (United States Railway Equipment Co.) logo-mark shows look-a-like appearance[3]. Accordingly, #3003 must have been also rebuilt at USRE Washington, Indiana factory the same year, and may have been rebuilt from one of the former C&O #21000 to 21499 series cars. The Differences of dimensions mentioned above can be considered as made through rebuilding.


LNAC 3001 – 3009 series boxcars
The ORER for July 1974 shows the group 3001– 3009 with 9 cars in place, described as follows:

AAR Designation XM and description “Box” only.

The inside length of these cars is 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet, outside length 54 feet 6 inches, extreme height 14 feet 5 inches and capacity 4630 cubic feet or 110,000 pounds.

All photos are taken on Sep. 6, 2019.

[1] 1996 photo of C&O #21439 found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;
[2] 2018 photo of C&O #21470 found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;
[3] 1976 photo of LNAC #658 (similar body style but 40’) at Railroad Picture Archives site;

: Corydon, IN. Sep. 10, 2019
　
　

Japanese & Comments

CRDX RB #5771

: Monticello, IL. Sep. 11, 2019

Another rusted rebuilt boxcar I found.

This boxcar is preserved at the Monticello Railroad Museum in Illinois.

Barely read markings indicate this car as Chicago Freight Car Leasing Company (reporting mark CRDX) RB #5771 with the LAUHOFF trademark and the paint date of 1-75 given by CFC (Chicago Freight Car).

Lessee Lauhoff Grain Company was a grain elevator and mill located in Danville, IL. It was acquired by Bunge North America in 1979 and became Bunge Lauhoff.

The classic Dreadnought end, cover plates next to the door, and friction bearing trucks indicate this car as a rebuilt car. Surprise for me was that these cars were painted not boxcar red but white/ivory according to the 1978 photo of CRDX #5738 from the same series found at Railroad Photo Archives site[1].


CRDX 5730 – 5829 series boxcars
The group 5730 to 5829 first appears in the Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for January 1975. It shows the group with 100 cars in place, described as follows:

AAR Designation RB and description “Insulated, Box, 25K” only.

The inside length of these cars is 50 feet 3 inches, inside width 9 feet 1 inch, inside height 9 feet 11 inches, outside length 54 feet 6 inches, extreme height 14 feet 11 inches and capacity 4526 cubic feet or 110,000 pounds.

All photos are taken on Sep. 11, 2019.

[1] 1978 photo of CRDX 5738 at Railroad Photo Archives site;

: Monticello, IL. Sep. 11, 2019
　
　

Japanese & Comments

ACL XL #37489

: Sep. 10, 2019. New Haven, KY

One more rusted boxcar I found.

This rusted boxcar is preserved at the Kentucky Railroad Museum in New Haven, KY.
Looking up the car in the Railroad Preservation Index web site with the barely visible white circle on the side as a clue found out this car as Atlantic Coast Line Railroad #37489.

According to the Railroad Preservation Index web site, this boxcar was built by Pullman-Standard in 1964 and later became SCL #637489[1].


ACL 37200 – 37599 series boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register for April 1974 shows the group #37200 to 37599 with uncertain number of cars in place (394 in Oct. 1968), listed as follows:

AAR Designation XL and description “Box, Stl., Partial DF-2 Loaders Adjacent to Doorways”.

The inside length of these cars is 50 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 4 inches, inside height 10 feet 5 inches, outside length 54 feet 5 inches, extreme height 15 feet and capacity 4923 cubic feet or 154,000 pounds.

[1] 2010 photo of SCL #637489 found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;
* 1978 photo of ACL #37579 from the same series found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;
* 1983 photo of SCL #637395 from the same series found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;

Japanese & Comments

M&NF Boxcar #500

: Clearfield, KY. Sep. 9, 2019

This boxcar was found in the bush at Clearfield, Kentucky.

Barely read letterings indicate this car as Morehead & North Fork Railroad #500. It rides on Bettendorf trucks and still keeps the end vents and door rail for the screened door as you can see in the photo above.

According to Dale Brown at Railway Preservation News web site, this 36’ boxcar was originally a Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis car built in the early the 20's, later became a Louisville & Nashville car, a Flemingsburg & Northern car, and finally became an M&NF unique piece maybe after the shut down of F&N in 1955[1, 2].

Accurail produced a HO scale kit of the exact car in 2019.


The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for January 1954 lists the #97856 as the one and only freight equipment at F&N. Accordingly, M&NF #500 can be considered as the former F&N, nee-L&N #97856.

M&NF #500 is not listed in ORERs as “Freight cars owned are not employed in Commercial Service” at the Railroad. Here, I’ll show related ORER listings from L&N and F&N pages.


L&N 97100 – 99099 series boxcars
The ORER for January 1926 shows the group #97100 to 99099 with 1993 cars in place, described as follows:

AAR Designation VA and description “Ventilated Box, Steel Underframe”.

The inside length of these cars is 36 feet 2 and 7/8 inches, inside width 8 feet 6 inches, inside height 7 feet 11 and 1/12inches, outside length 36 feet 8 and 1/2 inches, extreme height 13 feet 8 and 1/4 inches and capacity 2451 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds.

F&N #97856 boxcar
The ORER for January 1954 shows a single car for revenue service at Flemingsburg & Northern Railroad, F&N #97856, described as follows:

AAR Designation VA and description “Ventilated Box, Steel Underframe”.

The inside length of this car is 36 feet 2 inches, inside width 8 feet 6 inches, inside height 7 feet 11 inches, outside length 38 feet 1 inch, extreme height 13 feet 8 inches and capacity 2458 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds.


M&NF #500 boxcar
And the data read in the Morehead State University photo is[3]:

The inside length of this car is 36 feet 2 inches, inside width 8 feet 6 inches, inside height 7 feet 11 inches, and capacity 2453 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds.


All photos above are taken on Sep. 9, 2019.

[1] Brown, Dale, (2001), Morehead & North Fork thread, Railway Preservation News web site;
[2] the photo of F&N #97856 found in May 2018 Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine;
[3] the photo of M&NF #500 found at Morehead State University Camden-Carroll Library;

: model drawings by Accurail
: Sugar Creek, OH. Sep. 7, 2019

Japanese & Comments

N&W MW #526632

: Lincoln, IL. Sep. 12, 2019

This boxcar still with roofwalk is found at the siding in Lincoln, Illinois.
Barely read markings indicate this car as Norfolk & Western Railway maintenance of way equipment #526632. Built date 5-67 given at the consolidated stencil suggests when it was reassigned. The original number is coming to the surface as rust but not enough to read.

According to the Norfolk and Western Historical Society web site, N&W class BS #526632 was built by N&W East End Car Shops at Roanoke, VA in 1929 as N&W #50158[1]. It was converted to MOW service at Frankfort, IN in 1967. It was last seen in service at Decatur, IL in 1994.

N&W 50000 – 50499 series boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for July 1966 shows the group #50000 to 50499 with 335 cars in place, accompanied by 37 cars with the same dimensions but with the 110,000 pounds capacity, described as follows:

AAR Designation XM and description “Box, All Steel” only.

The inside length of these cars is 40 feet 6 inches, inside width 9 feet 2 inches, inside height 10 feet 4 inches, outside length 44 feet 9 inches, extreme height 15 feet 1 inch and capacity 3898 cubic feet or 100,000 pounds.

All photos are taken on Sep. 12, 2019.

[1] Norfolk & Western Historical Society web site for N&W #526632;
* 1969 photo of N&W #50064 found at Railroad Picture Archives web site;

: Lincoln, IL. Sep. 12, 2019

Japanese & Comments

N&W RBL #693497

: Versailles, KY. Sep. 10, 2019

This boxcar is preserved at the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum located at Versailles, KY.

According to the book Norfolk and Western Color Guide to Passenger and Freight Equipment, the particular car was built by GATC in 1962. Markings on the car show the built date of 12-62 and the painted date of 8-82. It must have been repainted from orange with both WAB flag, later N&W hamburger and MP buzz saw heralds[1].

The American Refrigerator Transit Company (ART) was established in 1881 by a railroad tycoon Jason "Jay" Gould (1836 ｰ 1892) who then owned Wabash, Missouri Kansas & Texas, and Missouri Pacific. In 1973, N&W pulled out of ART: the name of the lessor changed from ART to NW Equipment Corporation (NWEC) afterward. In 1983 when UP took over MP, all the remaining ART equipment merged into UP roster.


N&W 693450 – 693499 series Insulated Boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #693450 to 693499 with 42 cars in place, accompanied by 5 cars with the same dimensions but with the different description, listed as follows:

AAR Designation RBL and description “Refrig., Stl., Single Type Mobile Blkhds, Removable Side Fillers, Leased from American Refrigerator Transit Co.”.

The inside length of these cars is 50 feet 1 inch, inside width 9 feet 3 inches, inside height 9 feet 3 inches, outside length 57 feet 10 inches, extreme height 15 feet 1 inch and capacity 4236 cubic feet or 140,000 pounds.

All photos are taken on Sep. 10, 2019.

revised, Apr. 3, 2020

[1] 1979 photo of N&W #693485 from the same series found at Fallenflag web site;

: Versailles, KY. Sep. 10, 2019

Japanese & Comments

URTX RB #26010, 26012, 26571, and RS #37462

: Sugar Creek, OH. Sep. 7, 2019

Completely restored URTX reefer was found at the Age of Steam Roundhouse located at Sugar Creek, Ohio.

According to the markings, this RB #26571 was built by GATX in 1931. It was retired in the '60s[1]. The car carries the herald of the lessee Libby McNeill & Libby.

URTX 26500 – 26599 series Insulated Boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #26500 to 26599 with only a single car in place, listed as follows:

AAR Designation RB and description “Refrig., Sliding Doors” only.

The inside length of these cars is 39 feet 2 inches, inside width 8 feet 4 inches, inside height 7 feet 6 inches, outside length 41 feet 3 inches, extreme height 13 feet 5 inches and capacity 2464 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds.

[1] Winter 2016-2017 Roundhouse Reports, Age of Steam Roundhouse;




: Monticello, IL. Sep. 11, 2019

Another URTX reefers were found at Monticello Railroad Museum in Illinois.
According to the museum web site, URTX RB #26010 and 26012 were built by GATX in 1954 and 1955. Both cars carry heralds of the lessee MILW. The string of reefers at the museum shows quite a scenery.

URTX 25000 – 26214 series Insulated Boxcars
The ORER for January 1972 shows the group #25000 to 26214 with only 3 cars in place, listed as follows:

AAR Designation RB and description “U.T.R.X. Refrig.” only.

The inside length of these cars is 38 feet 5 inches, inside width 8 feet 4 inches, inside height 7 feet 6 inches, outside length 40 feet 6 inches, extreme height 13 feet 6 inches and capacity 2424 cubic feet or 75,000 pounds.

None of this series of the insulated boxcar is listed in 1974 ORER.


: New Haven, KY. Sep. 10, 2019

Another URTX reefer was found at Kentucky Railroad Museum located at New Haven, KY. According to the markings on the car, this UTRX RS #37462 was built by GATX in 1948. It also carries the herald of the lessee MILW.

URTX 37395 – 37489 series Reefers
The ORER for April 1974 shows the group #37395 to 37489 with 58 cars in place, listed as follows:

AAR Designation RS and description “U.R.T.X. Refrig., Air Circulating Fans, Half Stage Icing Grades in Position, Cap. Ice Bunkers: 6000lbs. Crushed Ice-5400 lbs. Chunk Ice-146 Cubic ft”.

The inside length of these cars is 32 feet 2 inches, inside width 8 feet 3 inches, inside height 7 feet 3 inches, outside length 43 feet 4 inches, extreme height 13 feet 10 inches and capacity 1984 cubic feet or 75,000 pounds.

: Monticello, IL. Sep. 11, 2019

Japanese & Comments

WAB XM #82234

: Orland Park, IL. Sep. 12, 2019

This boxcar was found next to the Metra Orland Park/153rd St. Station, accompanied by a caboose also lettered WAB.
According to the markings on the car, it was built in 1923.
According to the Sunshine Models instruction sheet, these cars were rebuilt by the railway in 1934 from the double sheathed boxcars built in 1923 with Vulcan trucks and Miner hand brakes[1].
According to the marker at the site, the boxcar was donated from Norfolk Southern in 1995.

WAB 82000 – 82506 series Boxcars
The Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) for April 1974 shows the group #82000 to 82506 with only a single car in place, listed as follows:

AAR Designation XM and description “Box, Stl.” only.

The inside length of these cars is 40 feet 6 inches, inside width 8 feet 9 inches, inside height 9 feet 2 inches, outside length 44 feet 8 inches, extreme height 13 feet 8 inches and capacity 3254 cubic feet or 80,000 pounds.

[1] French, Chet, Mini-Kit Prototype Data and Instructions, Wabash 82000-82513 Rebuilds & Automobile Parts Rack Cars, Sunshine Models;

: Orland Park, IL. Sep. 12, 2019

Japanese & Comments