I am modeling the MP in Central TX in N-scale during the late '40s-1950 era, what motive power and rolling stock would be era appropriate? Current MP roster: ----------------------- - FA1/FB1 - FA2/FB2 - GP7TT - SW1200 - 2 1937 AAR Boxcars - 5 Eagle Merchandise Xpress Boxcars - Stock Car - Steel Caboose What of the above is era appropriate or close? Any other comments?
I model Santa Fe in middle to late 1950s, all my mainline motive power is Santa Fe, but of course a lot of the freight cars are interchanged from other railroads in Texas, so I have gathered a lot of data on them. Of course, MoPac in Texas was also subisidiaries: IGN- International and Great Northern NOT&M- New Orleans Texas and Mexico StLB&M- St Louis Brownsville and Mexico and several others. Here is my N scale kitbashed StLB&M gondola- http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/acm.jpg More later----
Matt - a good reference for power can be found at the Screaming Eagles site, http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/loco.html. He refers to years of service by model. For rolling stock, Patrick Dorin's "Missouri Pacific Lines Freight Train Services and Equipment" has an October 1956 summary of equipment in the back. Hope these help. Oh and BTW, if you can't get a hold of the book, I could probably copy or scan the pages for you. Lemme know.
Kenneth- I've known about their subsidiaries for awhile know, where I'm modeling is I-GN territory. Eagle2- I've been going there since when it was mo-pac.com. And no, I wont be able to get my hands on that book. (P.S. What the heck is the Trainboard Fraternity?) Does anyone have any other information? I don't really know what amount of steam it would be accurate to run and I don't know if I could use (or slightly modify) the SW1200 to fill in for a SW1?
SOME REFERENCES on MISSOURI PACIFIC LOCOS Missouri Pacific steam loco #206 with Corpus Christi to Odem stub connection passenger train, photo at Corpus Christi August 1950, double page in Texas Highways May94 p.14 MP E-unit #7002 ,photo America’s Colorful Railroads (Ball) p.156 E7: painting an Eagle E-7 Model Railroader Dec85 p.155 E-7A w train at Fort Smith, ARK Model Railroader Oct89 p.79 FA freight engines, nose view America’s Colorful Railroads (Ball) p.156 F3 diesel Painting MP/StLB&M/IGN F3s in pre-1956 colors Model Railroader Aug92 p.128 MP F3 #525 at San Antonio, 1955 Model Railroader March89 p.128 GP7s passenger, StLB&M/MoPac Model Railroader Nov90 p.93,173 PA-PB #8007 pix Model Railroader Sept84 p.83 SOME REFERENCES ON MOPAC PASSENGER CARS Most streamlined cars I know were smooth-side, not corrugated. MP #840 85’ aluminum dining car, blt 1948 (also T&P 500) American Car & Foundry (Kaminski) p.315 MP 873 85’ aluminum diner-lounge blt 1948 MP 870-874 T&P 480-481 American Car & Foundry (Kaminski) p.315 MoPac colors, PRR owned 10-6 lightweight riveted-side sleepers. pix & plans, Model RailroaderJuly96 p.89 similar sleeper "Eagle Refuge" was stored for display in Corpus Christi 1969-1982, went in 1980s to Galveston RR Museum...don't know if it is there now. 5 DB-Buffet Lounge #640 "Eagle Cliff" has operated on Hill Country Flyer" round end observation America’s Colorful Railroads (Ball) p.156 PASSENGER TRAINS AZTEC EAGLE at San Antonio, 1953 Model Railroader Nov90 p.92 color pix summer 1966 somewhere between San Antonio & Laredo; consist: Geep, Bagg-RPO, 2 baggage, coach, 10-6 sleeper. p.52 Route of the Eagles: Missouri Pacific in the Streamline Era, Greg Stout BROWNSVILLE-HOUSTON StLB&M pass train at Brownsville, Model Railroader Aug92 p.130 DELTA EAGLE "The Delta Eagle, a train you can model" Southwestern Prototype Modeler November-December 1975 p.17-22 "Missouri River Eagle" America’s Colorful Railroads (Ball) p.157 ORLEANEAN/HOUSTONIAN pix MP "Orleanean" eastbound at Beaumont, March 1956, with Santa Fe sleeper handled west of Houston on ATSF "California Special" p.49 Route of the Eagles: Missouri Pacific in the Streamline Era, Greg Stout MP "Orleanean" next to ATSF California Special at Houston Union Station 1964 _Santa Fe in the Lone Star State_ vol.1 p.58 PIONEER Train 15-16 overnight. coach & sleeper Houston-Brownville, and Houston-CC 9:20pm dep Houston arr 7:30am 4:35am Corpus Christi 11:45pm 8:00am Brownsville dep 8:15pm 2nd Brownsville sleeper dropped first; sleeping car service dropped entirely Jan64; Pioneer discontinued March 16, 1966 per Route of the Eagles: Missouri Pacific in the Streamline Era, Greg Stout SECONDARY TRAINS modeling MoPac secondary trains of 1950s Model Railroader Nov90 p.92 SUNSHINE SPECIAL (19-teens) pix Model Railroader. see also Mr. Pullman's Elegant Palace Car p.520 "Sunshine Special" in SW Missouri 1917 in 400,000 Miles by Rail by Blanton p.54 VALLEY EAGLE Valley Eagle started 1948 as Houston-Brownsville daylight run also carried a St.Louis-CC coach taken from Gulf Coast section Texas Eagle at Houston and forwarded Odem-CC via StLB&M #205-206. CC-Brownsville connections via MP bus to Robstown 10am TX Eagle arr Houston TX Eagle dep 4pm 10:45am Valley Eagle dep Houston arr 3:15pm 3:35pm Odem connection 10:20am 7:40pm arr Brownsville dep 6:45am connecting San Antonio train 205-206 discontinued June 56 St Louis-CC thru coach dropped Sept 58 Valley Eagle discontinued July 1, 1962 equipment notes: pulled by PAs (no PBs on MP); E7s; F-7s; GP-7s. unique "deluxe coach with stateroom" #850-855 only ones on MP ACF pix p.83 Route of the Eagles: Missouri Pacific in the Streamline Era, Greg Stout mail-baggage 816-817 divided grill coaches 824-825 grill in middle of car to make 2 segregated seating sections. More later...
Some reference notes on MISSOURI PACIFIC BOXCARS MP 30000-31399 1932 AAR design 40' box, panel steel roof, 4-4 Dreadnaught ends Youngstown steel door. listed 54Equipment Register3233 cuft pix #30404 Model Railroading (magazine) Aug88 p.40 pix #30404 1932 ARA 40' steel 9'6" IH _RailModJournal_ Nov97 p.16 pix #30943 Mainline Modeler Apr93 p.36 pix #30107 "Eagles" 1966 Santa FeTrackside w/ Bill Gibson, p.82 32500-33299 40' AAR 1941 alternate spec., 5-5 Dreadnaught ends, blt 1942 ACF pix 33292 Model Railroading (magazine) Feb89 p.27 pix Model Railroading (magazine) May89 p.43 17766 pix 1966, RailModel Journal Dec96 p.48 N model: DeLuxe Innovations 34113-34287 blt 42 ACF 34113 builders pix RailModel Journal Dec96 p.51 N model: DeLuxe Innovations N decals: herald from Oddballs 1A & CDS N-98 lettering 35427 not listed 54 Equipment Register, pix Your Safety, (MP RR employee safety booklet,1958) p.62 37175-37074 40' AAR steel, blt Sept57 8' Superior 6-panel door pix #37888 Model Railroading (magazine) Jul85 p.51 39015-39189; 39190-39214 original number series of 40' PS-1 boxcars, blt late 1950s re# 1966 to 131905-132104 pix #131993 w/original PS-1 6-panel raased diamond 8' door Model Railroading (magazine) Jun87 p.57 2 color photos Model Railroading (magazine) Jul87 p.25 41000-41799 single-sheathed Z-brace blt 1926 I took a personal snapshot in July 1992 of car #41397 as reblt to all-steel boxcar, spotted at Eureka Springs & North Arkansas Rwy (tourist rr) 42000-42725 single-sheath wood, outside z-bar braced 40'6", 6' doors Listed 54 Reg. Similar to Microtrains N-scale 40' #28000 outside-braced box, except model has wood roof pix #42160 Carstens Rolling Stock Planbook p.12 end view of car as steel rebuilt with 6-5-3 end corrugations 44000-44410 40' single-sheathed, single-door. listed 54 Reg model photo #44378: NMRA Bulletin Mar74 p.43 45001-45250 built 1919 for USRA. double-sheathed 40' boxcars listed 54Equipment Registeras Z-bar (which it wasn't as it was original USRA car!) MP 45238 USRA double-sheath 40' 1940s pix _Model Railroading (magazine) May88 p.31 pix of similar CRIP 155939 car RailModel Journal Nov97 p.15 similar to MicroTrains 40' dluble-sheathed boxcar 46000-48749 built 1924 as single sheath box, over half converted to steel and used in "Eagle Merchandise Service". listed 54 Reg pix #46834 Mainline Modeler Apr93 p.37 86200-86399 50' steel 15' doors blt 9-45 ACF data source unknown (copied from earlier notes) pix 86371 "return empty NYC, Detroit" Your Safety, (MP RR employee safety booklet,1958) p.32 86400-86999 50' steel 15' double-doors blt 1947-8, listed 54 Reg fair pix Model Railroading (magazine) Apr88 p.9 model, proto data & history NMRA Bulletin Mar83 p.13 87958 pix 87958 DF, placarded "glass", not listed 54 Equipment Register, Your Safety, (MP RR,1958) p.37 88400-88434 50' steel autobox bvlt Dec41 ACF 14'6" doors pix Model Railroading (magazine) May89 p.43 similar pix Model Railroading (magazine) June89 p.17 88501-88803 50' single-sheath 14'8" doors 25 cars listed 54 Reg 1961 pix NMRA Bull Mar83 p.13 MP #88529 double-door single-sheathe 50' boz, 4-4-5 rib corrug. end NMRA Bulletin Apr76 p.28 90000-91249 40' single-sheath 40'6" 6'door similar to USRA 1954 _EqptReg_ lists 90000-91279 as 40' steel underframe, Z-bar wood composite side boxcars, 6' wide doors, 50 ton capy. pix 90212 (_0212) first digit uncertain color pix 1953 Model Railroader June98 p.74 pix #90668 (copy from book) note F. IL 40'4" due to end lining. appears to be USRA 40' single-sheath box. model: Microtrains 28000 series/ 93000-95249 40' single-sheath Z-brace copy of USRA design, blt 1930 3181 cars listed 54 Reg pix Model Railroading (magazine) Feb88 p.12 112068 ex-ART reefer rblt as "flour loading" boxcar pix Model Railroading Apr89 p.55 120000-120849 36' steel Eagle Merchandise Service boxcars restricted to MP lines. reblt from wooden cars sames series. 239 steel cars listed in 54Equipment Register(IL 36'4", ext length 38') scale drawing: Carstens Rolling Stock Planbook p.9 (shows length 38'2" over coupler faces) model pix (HO) 120679 MR Mar93 p.148 looks similar to Minitrx/ Model Power model 131410 Gray boxcar (unk reason for gray paint) 1979 photo Rail Model Journal July90 p.44 131905-132104 1966 re# of cars originally #39015-39189; 39190-39214 PS-1 boxcars, blt late 1950s pix #131993 w/original PS-1 6-panel raised diamond 8' door Model Railroading (magazine) Jun87 p.57 2 color photos Model Railroading (magazine) Jul87 p.25 250900-251194 50' steel, 16' doors centered (not staggered) not listed 54 or 71 Reg piz Model Railroading (magazine) Feb87 p.61 MISSOURI ILLINOIS (MoPac subsidiary) 4271 box 40'6" IL, 6' doors. 1/2 pix Your Safety, (MP RR,1958) p.22
N Boxcars for a ca. 1950 MoPac Texas layout Most common: AAR 40', 1937 or 1942 variations N model: DeLuxe Innovations, Intermountain, or Concor (with removal of short end-ladders) see walthers.com for photo of Delux Innovations undecorated car: or photo of Limited edition DeLuxe Innovations MoPac car from ca.1950 as it appeared late 1960s with marking that roofwalk is no longer authorized. Could easily be back-dated with a little paint... Advance reservations now being taken at www.walthers.com for Intermountain #65812 Modified AAR 40' Box Car - Assembled -- Missouri Pacific "Route of the Eagles" Slogan due Feb 2006, price $19.95. some reporting marks MP 32500-33299; 34113-34287 Texas roads with similar cars: Santa Fe, Texas & Pacific Distant roads that might appear: C&O, D&RGW, New York Central, Union Pacific ------------- Some Eagle Merchandise Service boxcars but since these were primarily LCL/ freight house service on-line, probably not used much foir carload customers, would be much fewer than "ordinary" not-special-service boxcars. I know there are some models of basically AAR cars in Eagle Merchandise markings. I am more familiar with a short 9'4" interior height car that is noticeably slightly shorter than most boxcars, and has rowes of rivets slightly set back from seams. There was an N scale model of this kind of car years back from, I think Minitrix and/or Model Power. I saw these same carbody types in the late 1960s in boxcar red/brown in flour loading service. Here is a photo of a prototype car identical to Eagle Merhcandise service cars: http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/mp_freight2/mp9429_atchison-ks-b.jpg ---------------- I know PS-1 40' boxcars came in at end of 1940s, beginning of 1950s but my notes on MoPac don't show any PS-1's until late 1950s when there were some 40' PS-1's with 8' wide doors. ------------------ A small number of double-door automobile boxcars might be appropriate, and MoPac had a few in the time period. 50' steel 15' double-doors blt 1947-8, listed 54 Reg N model Atlas 50’ double-door (3600 undec?, 36XXX various roadnames) MP 86400-86999 Atlas model decorated for PRR: http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/NFreightCars/nfc/36052.jpg fair pix Model Railroading (magazine) Apr88 p.9 model, proto data & history NMRA Bulletin Mar83 p.13 ---------------- My 1954 Equipment Register shows that MoPac still had quite a few USRA wooden boxcars still in revenue service. 40’ Double-sheathed USRA single-door (6’ wide) boxcar 1919 prototype photo http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/other/j_glenewinkel/mopac_steam/MOPACBoxCar_45111Taken1919.jpg This photo from Screaming Eagles MoPac site http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/index.html N scale model: Microtrains 42000 MP 45238 (series MP 45001-45250) extant 1950s Other Texas roads with USRA double-sheathed cars: Burlington, Rock Island 155939, Kansas City Southern. More distant roads that might have cars moving to Texas: Great Northern, New York Central, (Santa Fe had these cars from 1920 but all rebuilt with different appearance 1937-1941.) USRA single-sheath wood, outside braced 40'6", 6' doors and copies similar to USRA design Model Similar to Microtrains #28000 (5-5-5 ends) MP 42000-42725; 90000-91249 (but inverted dreadnaught ends) CRIP (Atlas with 7-8 corrugation ends) MKT (Atlas with 7-8 corrugation ends)Atlas #41871 or 41872 picture: http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/NFreightCars/nusrassbox/41872.jpg BURLINGTON (Atlas 71771 or 71772 picture: http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/NFreightCars/nusrassbox/41771.jpg My railroad is swamped when I have 35 cars on the layout, and I have about 300 freight cars to populate my future/ someday/ "dream" layout, so I may be inundating you with much more freight car information than you are seeking....
Still more on N Boxcars for a ca. 1950 MoPac Texas layout... A probable proportion for boxcars on the MoPac in central Texas circa 1950. Eagle merchandise service, maybe 2 or 3 in through trains going to and from major cities such as San Antonio, Austin. For every two or three Eagle Merchandise cars, 10 or 12 MoPac or subsidiary AAR steel boxcars, NOT in Eagle Merchandise Service. One double-door MoPac automobile boxcar. One USRA single-sheath outside-braced MoPac boxcar. Possibly one USRA double-sheathed MoPac boxcar for variety, though I believe these were less plentiful. Those MoPac and subsidiary cars should make up about 40 to 50 percent of the boxcars appearing on your railroad. About 25 percent will be from other Texas roads such as Texas & Pacific, Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, MKT, Rock Island, Burlington/Fort Worth & Denver, Frisco and Cotton Belt... 15 perhaps perhaps from nationally important trunkoine railroads in the industrial northeast- PRR, NYC, etc. Perhaps 10 percent from connections at the ENDS of MoPac system- C&EI, D&RGW, etc. even an occasional NdeM car from Mexico. After all, the MoPac line through central Texas was the major route between the US industrial northeast and Laredo, the all-time top land port of entry to Mexico. I guess that pretty much covers boxcars, except for some details about the MoPac subsidiary roads. That only leaves flats, gons, hoppers, reeferd, stockcars and tanks which might be expected to serve and/or cross central Texas on MoPac. I will leave cabooses to someone more specialized on MoPac...
Boxcarology of MoPac subsidiaries for an N scale ca.1950 Central Texas layout For MoPac subsidiaries as well as MoPac proper, the most common 1950-era boxcar would probably be some variation of the AAR design, either 1937 or 1941/42 version as modeled in N by deLuxe and Intermountain. Some prototype and modeling info references 40’ AAR steel cars of MoPac subsidiaries: IGN 17766 from series IGN 17751-17825 Modified 1937 AAR design 40' box. blt ACF 1942 builders pix RailModel Journal Dec96 p.51 17766 40’6” steel AAR box blt 1942 same car also pictured in book American Car & Foundry (Kaminski) p.183 Note: MP proper had cars 34263-34287 from this same order. IGN box 17627, in same order as StLB&M box 19897 (pictured) 40' steel single-door, similar to AAR, model photo NMRA Bulletin Mar82 p.13 StLB&M 17600 builders pix RailModel Journal Dec96 p.51 from series StLB&M 17501-17600 Modified 1937 AAR design 40' box. blt ACF 1942 NOT&M series 17301-17500 1932 ARA 40' steel 9/6" IH boxcars, photo of MoPac car RailModel Journal Nov97 p.16 in same order as StLB&M box 19897 (pictured) 40' steel single-door model photo NMRA Bulletin Mar82 p.13 StLB&M 18000-18499 40' steel box photo #18276? end view overturned,1951 Warbonnet 2Q 2001 p.30 STLB&M 19000-19999 40' steel box, riveted, blt ACF 1952 Prototype Modeler SepOct89 p.28 StLB&M box 19897 40' steel single-door, similar to AAR model photo NMRA Bulletin Mar82 p.13 Above are all AAR steel cars similar to the deLuxe and Intermountain models (and with modification of end ladders, Concor 40' boxcars) ------------------------ A composite wood-side steel-outside-braced boxcar different from the single-sheathed USRA design: 40' outside-braced 6-panel single sheathed alt-ARA design boxcar Howe “A” truss IGN 9401-9900 blt ACF 1927 Southwestern Prototype Modeler MayJun77 p.10 IGN #9835 single-sheath sd box, 4-5 dreadnaught end NMRA Bulletin Apr76 p.27 These articles show an HO kitbash but there was a ready-to-run or at least least-to-repaint and-decal carbody of this style if you can find it at a train show or auction site. These prototypes are similar to "Atlas 1st generation of N scale" single-sheath models sold back in the 1970s. shown on George Irwin’s/Irwin’s Journal “Atlas 1st generation” site http://www.irwinsjournal.com/a1g/a1g_2360.jpg NOT&M 3601-3720 40' outside-braced box blt ACF 1927 Southwestern Prototype Modeler MayJun77 p.10 ------------------------ There are also some 50' double-door automobile boxcars used by IGN amd StLB&M that are close to some N models that may still be around.... IGN box 14370-14399, 50' double-door, blt 1947-8, mod pix NMRA Bulletin Mar83 p.13 STLB&M 20600-20649 50' XA autobox blt Dec.1945 Southwestern Prototype Modeler MarApr77 p.14 pix 1946 Car Builders Cyclopediap.137 StLB&M box 20650-20699 50' double-door, blt 1947-8, mod pix NMRA Bulletin Mar83 p.13 StLB&M 20700-20999 40' all steel XM 15'door opening pix 20715 half-obscured Vintage Rails issue #2 winter 96 p.36 By the way, Matthew, are you finding any of this to be of interest? You may not realize, I have been researching and collecting references to freightcarology of Texas railroads for about 35 years, and the full answer to the question you asked is like writing a book.
Flatcars and gondola cars for a MoPac N scale ca.1950 Central Texas layout For a “plain” flat car, you could use Microtrains 45000 series fishbelly flatcar. It is close to MP #8140 50 ton 50’ car shown in Train Shed Cyclopedia#17 p.197 and listed in 1954 Equipment Register. The model has 14 stake pockets each side, the prototype 15, and the prototype also appears in a photo to have a very deep fishbelly center sill, similar to a USRA center sill. An occasional heavy duty depressed center flatcar might run over the central Texas portion of the Missouri Pacific. That line would be the prime route for a piece of heavy equipment manufactured in the industrial northeast US going to Mexico. MP #1211 125 ton depressed center shown in Train Shed Cyclopedia #17 p.203 and listed in 1954 Equipment Register resembles the MicroTrains depressed center flatcar somewhat although the prototype has a slightly deeper side frame at the center section. MoPac and subsidiaries I-GN, NOT&M and StLB&M all had identical 40’ pulpwood rack flats that resemble a model sold by Atlas back in the 1970s, and I think available more recently from ER models. However, I think those cars would be stayed on the lines between Palestine, Houston and the Louisiana border area, and not gone through central Texas. GONDOLAS Missouri Pacific and subsidiaries had almost 3000 USRA composite gondolas, IL 41'6" represented by Intermountain’s N scale model. Prototypes, built around 1919, were still listed in the 1954 Equipment Register in #series MP 66001-68000. Prototype information on these gondolas is given in the model reviews in Model Railroader Apr2000 p.18 (HO review); Nov2000 p.20 (N review). I made myself a StLB&M #11022 48’ steel 13-panel mill gondola with a straightforward kitbash from a models which may or may not be available, 2 Lima 46’ 12 panel straight side sill gondolas. http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/acm.jpg These may be a body style sold more recently by Model Power, you might find on an auction site-- or the bargain bin at a Hobby Lobby craft store. The cars were built in 1926 by Pressed Steel Car Co., see a builders photo in Train Shed Cyclopedia #5 p.219. They were listed in the 1954 Equipment Register in StLB&M series 11001-11050. A trickier kitbash gondola project on my “someday list to build: a “panel-side” gon with more-or-less rectangular bulges pressed into each panel to add slightly to capacity and perhaps add some structural strength to the otherwise flat sheet steel panels. The basis of this car would be the old Model Power #3060, Lima or AHM 46’ 12-panel steel gondola. There was a scratchbluiding article in Model Railroader Aug 1953 p.34 and scale drawings and data in Carsten’s Rolling Stock Planbook p.21. These cars were owned by MoPac, I-GN, StLB&M and Missouri-Illinois, and are listed in the1954 Equipment Register. A photo of IGN 15116 appears in Route of the Eagles: MoPac in the Streamline Era by Greg Stout p.15
Kenneth, Thank you for all of this valuable information. I do LOVE this stuff, so continue, please. P.S. Do you have any more information about the TX Eagle?
The best source about the Texas Eagle is the book Route of the Eagles: Missouri Pacific in the Streamline Era, by Greg Stout. No, I don't have a copy, but a year or two ago, I borrowed a copy via interlibrary loan through my local public library. I will hunt up what I do have, including stuff copied from that book, from Wayners Car Names, Numbers and Consists, from some old MoPac public timetables, etc. Freight stuff to be posted: MoPac hoppers (used for central Texas crushed stone), MoPac early 2-bay covered hoppers (I know of Portland Cement plants on MP in San Antonio and San Marcos...), MoPac stock cars, and appropriate refrigerator cars (reefer car lines affiliated with MP and private owners who routed through your territory....) I gotta get back to schoolwork now, and get an organ piece ready to play at church.
HOPPERS for ca1950 N scale MoPac central Texas layout 33' offset side twin hopper N model: MicroTrainLines series 55000 MP series 58750-60949 listed in 1954 Equipment Register prototype photo MP #58985 Train Shed Cyclopedia #70, p.262 same photo MP #58985 printed somewhat smaller in Bethlehem Steel Co. advertisement, Train Shed Cyclopedia #75, p.342 41’ Triple-bay hopper, offset sides N model: Roundhouse/MDC8620 series Prototype MP series 57500-57899 HT blt 1948 listed in 1954 Equipment Register Photo MP #57625 American Car & Foundry (Kaminski) p.234 Photo MP#57880 3/4 hi-view America's Colorful Railroads (Ball) p.185 nearly identical MP #55000-57899 listed in 1954 Equipment Register lettering diagram, Walthers Prototype Lettering Guide #2 p.58 nearly identical MP #61000-62739 listed in 1954 Equipment Register 41’ 4-bay offset side steel hopper (ARA design) N model: Concor 175100 series or Bachmann car (not catalogued separately) MP series 55500-56499 listed in 1954 Equipment Register, blt 1930 photo of HO kitbash by Richard Hendrickson from an Athearn car Model Railroading Sept88 p.52 7000-7099 40' longitudinal ballast hopper, offset sides. prototype photo MP 7099 Carstens Rolling Stock Handbook p.27 listed in 1954 Equipment Register This is NOT the Walthers N scale ballast hopper which has ribbed sides, and hoppers which look to be only about 5 or 6 feet long, located just inboard of the trucks. The MP prototype is offset side, and has two sets of hoppers which run most of the length between the trucks, except for a short break in the middle of the car length. I kitbashed a model of an almost identical Santa Fe car using a Model Power 4-bay offset side car and scratchbuilding the longitudinal hoppers. A Bachmann 4-bay offset side hopper could also be used. If these are not available, the next closest hopper model would be the Roundhouse/MDC (picked up by Athearn?) 3-bay offset hopper. An article on doing a similar kitbash in HO was published in Model Railroader Nov84 p.89. I used that article for my own N-scale kitbash. Here are prototype photos of a preserved car identical to the MP car, former Great Northern Hart convertible ballast hopper #78105 at photographed at Midland Rwy, (museum) Baldwin City Kansas in 1994. Some details of the hopper doors.
A COVERED HOPPER for a 1950s N scale MoPac layout I found one covered hopper model suitable for 1950s in N scale, currently available from DeLuxe Innovations, a 2-bay model with the triangular cutouts near the center rib. Here is a link to a picture of a MoPac model at Walthers: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/238-7140 The model shown in the illustration, DeLuxe Innovations #238-7140, was listed as “out of stock” when I accessed walthers. However, a three-pack of MP covered hoppers IS listed as in stock, item #238-71403. The DeLuxe model is listed as a model of a prototype built by ACF , American Car & Foundry. I model somewhat similar Santa Fe GA-52 covered hoppers with models sold years ago from Arnold Rapido and V-line. Prototype information: MoPac had 150 cars, #2000-2149 listed in the April1954 Equipment Register, 2 bay 70 ton cars with 1892 cubic ft. capacity, built in 1941 by Mt.Vernon. A photo of MP 2032 is shown in a reproduction of a Mt Vernon ad in Train Shed Cyclopedia #75 p.347. These cars would be very appropriate for a central Texas MP layout, given the Portland cement manufacturers in San Antonio and, I believe, San Marcos.
What about the Missouri Pacific stock cars and reefers that would be appropriate? And, does anyone have any information about MP (or I-GN and STL&BM) cabeese in the steam-diesel transition era?
I have been decorating some undec MT stock cars. I believe they are NYC prototype for their "dispatch" stock cars. I don't know the history of the Atlas stock car or any of the other brands out there. The MoPac had over 1000 stock cars numbered somewhere in the late 51000s and early 52000s.
Well,My Young Friend.I Think You've Pretty Much Got It Down Pat.By The Way,Which Area Of Central Texas Are You Modeling??If Your'e Modeling The Hearne-SanAntonio-Laredo Segment,You Need To Model The Texas and Aztec Eagle.If Your'e Modeling The Fort Worth-Mart-Magnolia Segment,It Was Freight Only.If You Want To Model The Houston-Angleton-Freeport Segment,It's Freight Only From Freeport to Angleton.At Angleton,There Used To Be A Segment Of Track That Went Through Rosharon and Arcola Where It Connected With The GC&SF*(*Santa Fe In Texas In The 50's.)Galveston Line,Then Went On To Houston.Also In Angleton,The Houston-Brownsville Connected With The Freeport Line.You Could Have Passenger With The Daytime Valley Eagle and The Nighttime Pioneer To Brownsville.The Angleton-Rosharon -Arcola Trackage Was Abandoned Sometime In The 70's.I'm Not sure as I Moved From Freeport to Flatonia In 1974.In The Last Thirty Years,Highway 288 Has Grown Into A Superhighway,But You Can Still See Stretches Of The Old Roadbed From The Highway.The Waco-Mart-Marlin Segment Was Abandoned In The Late 60's When The MoPac Bought The Waco-Riesel-Marlin Line From The Espee.My Great Grandmother and My Great Aunt Lived In Mart,So I Got To Visit The There Quite A Bit When I Was A Kid.However,I Have Very Few Memories of MoPac Operations In Mart.I Do Know That They Have A Former MoPac Bay Window Caboose Preserrved In Downtown Mart Though. In Closing,I Apologize For Going On and On,But I Do Hope That All This Info Helps You Out.Good Luck!!
