Best Of Railbox Overload!

[cv_acr]

I had starting putting together a list some time ago. Here's what I found thus far. All may no longer be available.

Micro Trains	25005	357372
Micro Trains	25010	17787

What's the MT prototype? (or, a link to photo of the model to compare to proto)

[cv_acr]

Thanks Chris, that was EXACTLY what I was looking for.

Would you mind if I quoted you on my website, in case others are someday looking for that same info?

Sure, why not.

As said in my last though re: the MT car, I'm not an N-scaler so I'm not sure what may have been missed in that scale, but that list should cover most of what's out there and appropriate (or not) in both scales.

Stay away from the Athearn N "berwick" though, there's enough good models in both scales to let that old dog die!

[cv_acr]

A lot of the original fleet was then divided among the owners of Railbox/TTX - so there was a time when a lot of them were in new reporting marks/old paint. There was also a time in the 1990's when a lot went to GE or other leasing companies and ended up with HS, etc. shortline marks.

A lot of cars of the identical designs were built for a lot of different railroads at the time too. The late 70s was a huge boxcar construction period. Many of these cars were built in the period around 77-80 for Railbox and numerous shortline railroads who in many cases may never have even used the cars themselves but just got them to earn some revenue from the daily car hire payments from other RRs as they travelled the country, never seeing home roads. Many of these cars have also been resold several times over the years.

Certaintly made things colourful. I have to admit to a soft spot for these 70s shortline boxcars. Last weekend I picked up 3 HO Athearn FMC boxcars, in Railbox, Mississippi Export and Corinth & Counce, and a Pickens berwick from Branchline. I've already got a couple more Railboxes and a St. Lawrence (NSL) berwick. They go nicely with my plain-coloured CPAA boxcars for woodpulp.

[justTRAINcRaZy]

Micro Trains 25005


Micro Trains 25010

[cv_acr]

Ok, that makes 3 available models in N scale of the FMC boxcar.

(If you're including the Missouri Pacific ex-RBOX boxcar in your list, it might be good to note it's reporting marks so it's not confused with a "real" RBOX.)

[Mark5]

Ok, that makes 3 available models in N scale of the FMC boxcar.

(If you're including the Missouri Pacific ex-RBOX boxcar in your list, it might be good to note it's reporting marks so it's not confused with a "real" RBOX.)

FWIW, MDC did a bunch of patched reporting mark versions before being gobbled up by Horizon.

[justTRAINcRaZy]

Thanks Chris. I edited the list post.

[ednadolski]

I know I need a bunch of these cars.

I have a few of the old MDC ones, NIB, they are patch/repaints IIRC, please let me know if you are interested.

(I don't think these are high-riders, even if you add MT 1035s)

Ed N.

[cv_acr]

Ok, that makes 3 available models in N scale of the FMC boxcar.

(If you're including the Missouri Pacific ex-RBOX boxcar in your list, it might be good to note it's reporting marks so it's not confused with a "real" RBOX.)

FWIW, MDC did a bunch of patched reporting mark versions before being gobbled up by Horizon.

Yeah, I think I remember seeing some of those in HO too. Like a CNA ex-ABOX.

[Mark5]

Oh, BTW:

http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/search.pl?car_owner=ttx&car_type=boxcar&builder=all&&display=full

Great stuff, mostly recent pix it seems.

If people want more older pics on the site, they need to start sending them in!

Or a time machine, I'll take that too...

(Seriously, most of my sources are recent photos, and I wasn't around in the '70s, much less taking photos then. I'm always happy to get submissions of good older photos.)

Not a criticism. More a statement of fact. No digital cameras back then - fewer photographers taking quality pix. Try finding pix of open auto racks or even early enclosed ones.

[wm3798]

Ed,
Get now what's available...  I have things floating around my fleet that I got years ago.  I just realized that I'm now rostering 100 coal hoppers.  The old stuff that wouldn't pass today's scrutiny have been repainted into my Laurel Valley scheme, so they still earn their keep on the layout.
Get them, I say.  Especially something as "generic" as a Railbox.  You can switch eras (forward, at least) and regions, and never run out of reasons to have railboxes.

Lee

[cv_acr]

Not a criticism. More a statement of fact. No digital cameras back then - fewer photographers taking quality pix. Try finding pix of open auto racks or even early enclosed ones.

Oh I know.

It's still be nice to have more sources of old photos though. Or a time machine... Imagine the prototype research you could do with a time machine...

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ok, I shot these for the article for the site (in progress), but figured I'd share my current fleet.

Athearn Combo Doors




Athearn "Berwicks"




Microtrains


Atlas Trainman

[GonzoCRFan]

The next trick is for Intermountain to get the yellow right on their first RBOX cars they did. The early and later RBOX cars had two different shades of yellow. Their early version had the late shade of yellow...

I think they should be more concerned with tossing the dies for that car into a passing scrap gondola and making new ones. Every time I see one of those cars in person, I get the urge to buy one, but then I realize that Model Power has produced better-looking models...they're not up to Intermountain's standards and certainly aren't worth what they're asking for them.

[bsoplinger]

You can add the LBF FBOX N-scale cars to the list you're making. They did a run of 24 numbers. I've been patiently waiting for Huberts to re-run them.

They look considerably different than the 'standard' 50' being high cube cars.