1932 ARA Boxcar

[Erik W]

Does anyone know if an N scale kit has ever been produced of the 1932 ARA Boxcar?  They were the predecessor to the 1937 AAR and dimensionally smaller.

http://steamfreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/1932aramain.html

Erik

[3rdrail]

Does anyone know if an N scale kit has ever been produced of the 1932 ARA Boxcar?  They were the predecessor to the 1937 AAR and dimensionally smaller.

http://steamfreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/1932aramain.html

Erik

Erik, I don't think so. That was the middle of the Depression, so wonder how many cars were built to the design before the 1937 design was adopted? I'd probably buy some if they were made.

[Erik W]

This link shows a complete roster of them.

http://steamfreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/1932arapdfmain.html

Erik

[amato1969]

Erik, as you posted, the Steam Era freight car list has some great prototype info.  I would also direct you to Railmodel Journal Nov 2001 and Dec 2001 issues.  These articles cover ARA boxcars in great detail, with plenty of photos.

You may also want to grab the June 1998 Railmodel Journal issue, which details NKP and B&O M-26 cars of similar design.

For us N scalers, Red Caboose and Micro-Trains offer accurate models of '32 ARA cars, except for a few differences in rivet patterns.  Note that many of these cars were rebuilt in the 1950s with new roofs, doors, ladders, etc.  Consult the references...

  Frank

[3rdrail]

Frank, I thought the Red Caboose and Micro-Trains cars were models of the 1923 ARA design rather than the 1932 design. I know the B&O version of the MTL car came with archbar trucks!

[Erik W]

Frank,

I think 3rdrail is right, those are 1923 ARA cars not 1932 ARA.

Here is a link to a good photo of a 1932 ARA car, Missouri Pacific #31999.

http://steamfreightcars.com/prototype/catalog/mvcmc/mvcmcp11main.html

Erik

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think one of the "old school" cars might fit the bill.

I think Atlas, Rocco, etc might've done it in the far distant past.

I doubt the model's true accuracy, but it might be a good starting point.

[3rdrail]

I think one of the "old school" cars might fit the bill.

I think Atlas, Rocco, etc might've done it in the far distant past.

I doubt the model's true accuracy, but it might be a good starting point.

The Atlas/Rivarossi and its Model Power knockoff were sort of a cross between the 1923 and 1932 designs. The roof and ends look somewhat like the 1932 car (unless that's an "inverted dreadnaught" end), but the sides look more like the 1923 - no "notches". I've used them for "modernized" PRR X29's and other 8'6' IH boxcars.  They looked pretty good until I bought a digital camera. 

[Erik W]

Mainline Modeler did a series of articles on these cars in the Oct 92, Nov 92 and Jan 93 issues.

Also, this 268 page book probably has everything there is to know about these cars.


Erik

[Sokramiketes]

The book by Culotta is excellent.

There were so many variations on these cars, that it will be some time before they are tackled for the HO plastic market, let alone N scale.  Sunrise has probably done a couple in HO.  Nothing so far in N.

[Iain]

NS had 500 of 'em with Viking roofs

http://www.steamfreightcars.com/gallery/boxauto/ns25058.html

So yes, I'm interested.

[Erik W]

The book by Culotta is excellent.

There were so many variations on these cars, that it will be some time before they are tackled for the HO plastic market, let alone N scale.  Sunrise has probably done a couple in HO.  Nothing so far in N.

I'm tempted to kitbash a couple of those MoPac cars in the photo.  I have to get the exact dimensions and see what bash fodder is out there.  Oddballs Decals actually makes the decals for that car.

Erik

[amato1969]

Doh, my bad!  Of course you guys are correct -- I misread 1932 as 1923.  My coffee had not yet kicked in!!!   :-*

  Frank