I checked an item off the bucket list a few weeks ago. My dad and I rented a locomotive on the Nevada Northern in Ely, NV. Afterward, I would have loved to have been able to walk away with a souvenir NNRwy boxcar, just like the full size one in the yard, but alas there were none to be had. The NNRwy carried both freight and passengers for many years after being built in 1903. It's primary purpose was to haul copper from the mines at Ely out to the UP interchange, and from there I'm sure their cars were scattered to the winds. Perhaps an arrangement could be reached with the NNRwy museum to make the cars and have them for sale in their gift shop. Of course, these could also be done in HO. Thoughts?
Are there any of their box cars still in Ely? If so, they'd provide the documentation of details. lettering schemes and paint colors anyone might first need.
Probably later in life. The entire purpose of the NNRwy was to connect the copper mines near Ely to the local smelter, and all of that to the Southern Pacific at Cobre. There may have been some ore cars that stayed on the railroad, but pretty much everything else would have to be interchanged. The museum is set up to showcase the steam era equipment and run passenger excursions. Passenger service on the NNRwy ended in 1941, and diesels took over in 1948. That box car probably represents more like the 1920's era. Given that railroad ran as a freight hauler until 1983, I have to believe that they upgraded some of their equipment in the interim. The NNRwy wasn't big enough to build their own cars, so I'd say do a standard design 40' single door box like the MT 120000 series. http://www.nscalesupply.com/mtl/MTL-120000undec.html