Rapido newsletter #165, a survey for N scalers

[dandopinski]

Yes. The NSC paperboxes (CN 404000-399) built 1971 exterior length 57'6 and NSC insulated boxes (CN 286000-549) built 1971/72 EL 57'6, same body for sure but the plug door on the insulated boxes looks larger.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

With the TLT cars as unavailable as they are, and given Rapido's lack of fear of duplicating stuff that's out of production, I wouldn't not lobby for the most ubiquitous models because a now-gone company did them 15 ages ago.

[lock4244]

With the TLT cars as unavailable as they are, and given Rapido's lack of fear of duplicating stuff that's out of production, I wouldn't not lobby for the most ubiquitous models because a now-gone company did them 15 ages ago.

Sound's like someone's making a case for an N scale PA or F3

[lock4244]

Yes. The NSC paperboxes (CN 404000-399) built 1971 exterior length 57'6 and NSC insulated boxes (CN 286000-549) built 1971/72 EL 57'6, same body for sure but the plug door on the insulated boxes looks larger.

Interest intensifying. I'd have to agree that the door is larger on the insulated car.

Says door has a 12' opening:
http://www.cnrphotos.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=19294&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn286176&o=cn

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cvc402972_3&o=cv

[sp org div]

A smooth-side 52' NSC insulated boxcar like this one might be a decent choice in either scale as well, although less of a signature than the paper boxcars, it's still a distinct Canadian car:

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn286176&o=cn
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166566&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cp166551&o=cprail
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx2959&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ncrx3011&o=nchx
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=ont260&o=ont
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=hbry286068&o=hbry

Neat cars
All those have the end vent configurations typically seen on cars that were in pulp service.
If Im buying Canadien way down south here I would like to see Rapido do something that was more common down in the lower 48 like the CNIS cars since they had reporting marks specifically for International Service (particularly the 417000 series). These were common in interchange coming all the way down to Los angeles via BN and down on Espee’s PTLAY. But not sure how common these particular NSC cars were otherwise in the grand scheme, aka other number series …or other railroads, but 250 count to start isnt too pathetic…
Image of one from my bias 70’s era paint shimmy here:
(Sorry but you have to log in - free account to view)
https://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=70661
I like that fat bottom sill giving them a distinct variance and they had a unique slatted roof design (if anyone has further on these feel free to post but Im all tapped out)

[nscalbitz]

Yeah, $5 coal cars are coming back like $10 000 cars and trucks. ... Their price point is not too far past the legacy companies these days for products with a lot of extra detail and fidelity.

What it comes down to IMO is that some folk seem to have a problem with Rapido.  The newsletters can assume a tone that seems to rub some folk the wrong way, but it is clearly tongue in cheek and meant to be entertaining.  Maybe it is Canadian humor or something, but I sure don't take offense by a company giving me insight into their thinking, however irreverently they do it.  Jason S. is pretty transparent about how they work and the challenges.  It's a tough business and a great way to lose money.  He is also a great ambassador for the hobby *outside* of the hobby so I have a lot of respect for his efforts and perseverance.  Those corny videos and their PR efforts are certainly part of what are needed to attract younger people to the hobby, not cheap boxes of parts.  I'm glad that Rapido, Scale Trains and others get it and have made an effort to spread the word beyond traditional means. 

...

I'll see myself out 

You are dead-right Scott and as an invertebrate colonial down south (much souther than you guys) but no longer in the hobby anyway, disposing of purchased 'assets', I agree Jason is a mover and a shaker with passion, who has backed himself and forced the hobby to wake up.

 Not saying others like BBussey haven't also done so; individual modellers excell, but Jason has put his heart into it and has shown compassion and good cheer too many. I have exactly one item from them (I think); but he's driven himself and his company far, far beyond the staid industry of the 70's and that era of management who are expiring.

Live Long and Prosper seems to be an eloquent way of saying, he's the man YOU need... even if you don't realise that!
Regards davew

[cv_acr]

Interest intensifying. I'd have to agree that the door is larger on the insulated car.

Says door has a 12' opening:
http://www.cnrphotos.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=19294&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn286176&o=cn

http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cvc402972_3&o=cv

And that insulated car's body is longer. It's a 52'6" IL body not 50'6" - although the insulation reduces the actual interior dimensions note the insulated car is stencilled IL 50'7", an inch longer than the paper box even after the interior insulation.

The only part in common would be the end stamping.

[cv_acr]

@cv_acr

So the insulated car is dimensionally the same as the paperbox and, built alongside the paperboxes in the early 70's, essentially the same design / car?

NO. See above post.

[cv_acr]

(double post)

[cv_acr]

Yes. The NSC paperboxes (CN 404000-399) built 1971 exterior length 57'6 and NSC insulated boxes (CN 286000-549) built 1971/72 EL 57'6, same body for sure but the plug door on the insulated boxes looks larger.

That exterior length is over couplers and the paper box has a cushioned underframe with extended draft gear which the insulated box does not.

As described above, the bodies are NOT the same size.

Also I double checked those numbers in an ORER I have sitting on my desk here and the 404000 series has a 57'10" exterior length over coupler pulling faces, not 57'6" (which is the correct length for the 286000 series).


Compare and contrast:

Series	IL	IH	IW	EL	Door	CUFT
404000-404399	50'6"	11'	9'2"	57'10"	9'	5092
286000-286549	50'7"	10'2"	8'9"	57'6"	12'	4525

[lock4244]

And that insulated car's body is longer. It's a 52'6" IL body not 50'6" - although the insulation reduces the actual interior dimensions note the insulated car is stencilled IL 50'7", an inch longer than the paper box even after the interior insulation.

The only part in common would be the end stamping.

Feels bad man.

[lock4244]

In my travels through pictures of CN boxcars I find some combination door lumber service boxcars that'd be pretty nice to see in N scale (to me at least). Looks like three groups totaling 740 cars. I suspect they may have been well travelled in the US given their use in lumber service. CP had some similar 202*** series cars but definitely not matching cars built by CC&F (similar to my untrained eyes at least... they have combination doors, smooth sides, similar side sills).
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn557466&o=cn

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[cv_acr]

In my travels through pictures of CN boxcars I find some combination door lumber service boxcars that'd be pretty nice to see in N scale (to me at least). Looks like three groups totaling 740 cars. I suspect they may have been well travelled in the US given their use in lumber service. CP had some similar 202*** series cars but definitely not matching cars built by CC&F (similar to my untrained eyes at least... they have combination doors, smooth sides, similar side sills).

Similar only in as far as you've described them as "combination doors, smooths sides". Similarities end there.

Different roofs, ends, body lengths (look at that telltale double roof rib above the door on the CN car - 52'6" IL body), height (10'6" vs 11' IH)...


Also note, these CN cars are similar to the BC Rail combo cars that PWRS-NARC is making in both HO and N, except again, a different in length. The BCOL cars are 50'6" IL, the CN ones are 52'6".

[lock4244]

Similar only in as far as you've described them as "combination doors, smooths sides". Similarities end there.

Different roofs, ends, body lengths (look at that telltale double roof rib above the door on the CN car - 52'6" IL body), height (10'6" vs 11' IH)...


Also note, these CN cars are similar to the BC Rail combo cars that PWRS-NARC is making in both HO and N, except again, a different in length. The BCOL cars are 50'6" IL, the CN ones are 52'6".

And the NARC car has a shorter plug door iirc.

[squirrelhunter]

In my travels through pictures of CN boxcars I find some combination door lumber service boxcars that'd be pretty nice to see in N scale (to me at least). Looks like three groups totaling 740 cars. I suspect they may have been well travelled in the US given their use in lumber service. CP had some similar 202*** series cars but definitely not matching cars built by CC&F (similar to my untrained eyes at least... they have combination doors, smooth sides, similar side sills).
http://canadianfreightcargallery.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=cn557466&o=cn

(Attachment Link)

I remember cars like that quite a bit down in Texas in the late 80's into the mid 90's but not much after the big mergers.

Were the BCOL combo doors for lumber too? I remember seeing them regularly on the UP line to Brownsville TX, in ones or twos.