Southern Pacific Hydra Cushion Box Car Question

[Kisatchie]

I'd like to do a few N scale cars like this Z car:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Micro-Trains-N-Scale-50-Standard-Box-Car-Southern-Pacific-13601-/141142253028?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item20dcbbdde4

My question is, can a hydra cushion car have bettendorf trucks like that? Shouldn't the trucks be medium extension roller bearings?


Hmm... I have plenty of
Allied trucks you can
have...

[bbussey]

I'd research the prototype, which always should be the initial step.  You'd first have to confirm that this SP number series consisted of 50' PS1 plug door boxcars, as you shouldn't assume such solely based on the MTL release.  Then it would be simple enough to discover which existing N scale truck would be the best suited.

[tom mann]

Can the prototype have couplers like that?

[BN1970]

If you can find a May 1985 MR page's 82/83 there is a drawing for SP series 672950 - 673199 (your Z scale car is # 672943), with what looks to be a 9 foot single plug door.  In a car photo, it has roller bearing trucks.  These cars were built in 1961.

From a 1970 ORER, this (672943) car should have a 9 foot door.

If your era is from 1969 and on, the Wheels of Time PC&F 50' Insulated SP boxcar has the same lettering that you are looking for.  WofT just released a Cotton Belt car about 1 month ago.  These boxcars come with extended body mounted couplers. --Brian

http://www.wheelsotime.com/50-ft-insulated-box-car/

[Robbman]

Pullman Standard car with a Hydra-Cushion... I think the only cars like that were the ones rebuilt by SP into high-cube cars.

[Kisatchie]

"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley..."

That about sums it up... sigh.


Hmm... the poor little
mouse...

[amato1969]

For all SP proto freight car research, start here:

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars

  Frank

[Kisatchie]

For all SP proto freight car research, start here:

http://www.railgoat.railfan.net/spcars

Wow, thanks! That's a great site. I never would have found it.


Hmm... that's not all
Kiz can't find...

[nkalanaga]

MT made that exact car in N scale, if you want to search eBay for one.  Mine is road number 672943, and is so old that the underframe still says "Kadee".

[babbo_enzo]

MT made that exact car in N scale, if you want to search eBay for one.  Mine is road number 672943, and is so old that the underframe still says "Kadee".

I've set some years ago a web site for N scale Espee freight cars , if you want check it:
http://enzofortuna.altervista.org/SP_Freigth-1_Nscale.htm
this page is for Boxcars and
http://enzofortuna.altervista.org/SP_Freigth/BIG/Microtrains-SP672925.jpg
a pictures of this particular car.

[bbussey]

MT made that exact car in N scale, if you want to search eBay for one.  Mine is road number 672943, and is so old that the underframe still says "Kadee".

It was made, but that doesn't mean it is accurate to the prototype.

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  Very true, and, not being an SP modeler or historian, I wouldn't dare claim that it was.  I was just going by Kisatchie's comment that he wanted some cars like the Z scale version.  According to Frank's website, these were built by PC&F in 1960, so even without a prototype photo, a PS-1 body is very unlikely to be correct.

Enzo:  Your version is newer than mine, judging by the brown trucks and different road number.