Wanted: PULLMAN STANDARD 7315 60' "Waffle" Auto Parts Boxcars (accurate model)

[Mark5]

One of the glaring gaps in N scale for 1970s (and later) modelers is 60' hi-cube box cars. I've written to multiple manufacturers requesting these over the years - they must hate me. 

Currently, the only decent 60 foot(ish) box car models that have been done (none of which are Hi-Cube) are:
o Atlas 60' American Car & Foundry box cars, single door and double door (not a Hi-Cube)
o Athearn 60' PS Auto Parts Box Car (not a Hi-Cube)
o Microtrains 60' Greenville Box Car (not a Hi-Cube)

Similar length, but again not Hi-Cubes:
o ATSF Bx-166 62' Double-Door Insulated Boxcar (not a Hi-Cube)
o Red Caboose 62' PC&F Insulated Beer Box Car (not a Hi-Cube)

The Microtrains models that fit the 1970s (102xxx, 103xxx, and 104xxx) are hopelessly flawed in that when MTL tooled these, they compressed the body height (vertical) to offset the high ride height caused by the use of truck mounted couplers. If you lower them to fix the ride height, then they are too low. There is no easy fix for these.

In a separate thread some years ago I tried to make the case for Greenville 7100 60' Hi-Cube Auto Parts Boxcars:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=50848.msg686946#msg686946

After my long winded introduction, this brings us to the topic of this thread: The P-S 7315 “waffle” 60' Boxcar.

The prototype was introduced circa 1974, and was common for decades (into this century!).

Photo copyright 2015 Exact Rail.

In HO scale, Exact Rail released this body in 18 paint schemes:
o ATSF (4 schemes)
o BNSF (1 scheme)
o CSX (1 scheme)
o DT&I (1 scheme)
o GTW (2 schemes)
o L&N Family Lines (1 scheme)
o MILW (1 scheme)
o N&W (2 schemes)
o NS (1 scheme)
o SOU (1 scheme)
o UP (3 schemes)

You can view the schemes here: https://exactrail.com/search?type=product&q=7315

Here's a survivor - N&W # 604163 in 2024: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=6366789

If we don't get anything in the next few years I guess it'll be time to CAD this up.

Mark

[garethashenden]

The pessimist in me thinks that you should start the CAD work now. That way just as you finish someone will announce it.

[bbussey]

The “missing height” of the MTL double plug door waffle car actually was achieved by removing the lower sill. If you use styrene strip to extend the lower sill so that the bottom of the sill is equal to the bottom of the stirrups (and swap in BLMA 100-ton trucks), you will “restore” the proper body height.

[Mark5]

The “missing height” of the MTL double plug door waffle car actually was achieved by removing the lower sill. If you use styrene strip to extend the lower sill so that the bottom of the sill is equal to the bottom of the stirrups (and swap in BLMA 100-ton trucks), you will “restore” the proper body height.

I think the MTL waffle (103xxx) was based on a Berwick box. Doesn't help with the PS 7315 but your fix suggestion gives hope for that particular 60'.

EDIT 3/21/26 I now remember why I am not campaigning for the Berwick 60' (as in MTL's 103xxx): they are too new for me  (N&W's B139 class was built 1978-1979, and I model 1976)

[bbussey]

@Scott Lupia kitbashed one for an NSR article a few years ago. @cbroughton67 just finished one last week, maybe he will post a pic here.

[cjm413]

One of the glaring gaps in N scale for 1970s (and later) modelers is 60' hi-cube box cars. I've written to multiple manufacturers requesting these over the years - they must hate me. 

Currently, the only decent 60 foot(ish) box car models that have been done (none of which are Hi-Cube) are:
o Atlas 60' American Car & Foundry box cars, single door and double door (not a Hi-Cube)
o Athearn 60' PS Auto Parts Box Car (not a Hi-Cube)
o Microtrains 60' Greenville Box Car (not a Hi-Cube)

Similar length, but again not Hi-Cubes:
o ATSF Bx-166 62' Double-Door Insulated Boxcar (not a Hi-Cube)
o Red Caboose 62' PC&F Insulated Beer Box Car (not a Hi-Cube)

The Microtrains models that fit the 1970s (102xxx, 103xxx, and 104xxx) are hopelessly flawed in that when MTL tooled these, they compressed the body height (vertical) to offset the high ride height caused by the use of truck mounted couplers. If you lower them to fix the ride height, then they are too low. There is no easy fix for these.

In a separate thread some years ago I tried to make the case for Greenville 7100 60' Hi-Cube Auto Parts Boxcars:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=50848.msg686946#msg686946

After my long winded introduction, this brings us to the topic of this thread: The P-S 7315 “waffle” 60' Boxcar.

The prototype was introduced circa 1974, and was common for decades (into this century!).

Photo copyright 2015 Exact Rail.

In HO scale, Exact Rail released this body in 18 paint schemes:
o ATSF (4 schemes)
o BNSF (1 scheme)
o CSX (1 scheme)
o DT&I (1 scheme)
o GTW (2 schemes)
o L&N Family Lines (1 scheme)
o MILW (1 scheme)
o N&W (2 schemes)
o NS (1 scheme)
o SOU (1 scheme)
o UP (3 schemes)

You can view the schemes here: https://exactrail.com/search?type=product&q=7315

Here's a survivor - N&W # 604163 in 2024: https://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=6366789

If we don't get anything in the next few years I guess it'll be time to CAD this up.

Mark

Atlas 60' Precision Design cars may not be Hi-Cube, but they do need to be lowered a bit.

Getting them down to the right height is easy by either filing down the bolsters to reuse the stock trucks (which are 70T) or swapping the trucks with BLMA, which needs to be done anyways for anything that is decorated as a 100T vs 70T car, or alternatively, for anything that needs plain journal bearings, e.g. EL.

The problem is a combination of a lowered floor that requires the use of an underslung coupler plus a prototype that has extended draft gear, which ideally, would be solved with a partially underslung coupler box that doesn't currently exist (or at least that I am aware of).  I'm currently MTL underslung couplers as a temporary solution, but they admittedly look like crap...but still better than the stock ride height....

[Mark5]

Atlas 60' Precision Design cars may not be Hi-Cube, but they do need to be lowered a bit.

Getting them down to the right height is easy by either filing down the bolsters to reuse the stock trucks (which are 70T) or swapping the trucks with BLMA, which needs to be done anyways for anything that is decorated as a 100T vs 70T car, or alternatively, for anything that needs plain journal bearings, e.g. EL.

The problem is a combination of a lowered floor that requires the use of an underslung coupler plus a prototype that has extended draft gear, which ideally, would be solved with a partially underslung coupler box that doesn't currently exist (or at least that I am aware of).  I'm currently MTL underslung couplers as a temporary solution, but they admittedly look like crap...but still better than the stock ride height....

Good points!

[bbussey]

The closest option for a long shaft underslung coupler is/was the 1019 coupler/knuckle from the TOFC and auto racks inside a 1016 box. Best option now probably is to design and 3D-print an extended draft gear that will accept your coupler of choice.

[cjm413]

The closest option for a long shaft underslung coupler is/was the 1019 coupler/knuckle from the TOFC and auto racks inside a 1016 box. Best option now probably is to design and 3D-print an extended draft gear that will accept your coupler of choice.

I used the longer 2001 coupler shanks in 1016 boxes as my temporary solution.   I admittedly never thought about the 1019 and opted for the longer 2001 shanks on the basis that I could shorten the leftover long 2001 boxes down to the same length as the 2004 (or short 2001) and reuse them for 1015 shanks whenever the 1015 box didn't want to play nice with the trucks.

Long term, I need to make some decisions between N Possible vs sticking with MTL compatible couplers before I take the 3D route...

[bbussey]

I used the longer 2001 coupler shanks in 1016 boxes as my temporary solution.   I admittedly never thought about the 1019 and opted for the longer 2001 shanks on the basis that I could shorten the leftover long 2001 boxes down to the same length as the 2004 (or short 2001) and reuse them for 1015 shanks whenever the 1015 box didn't want to play nice with the trucks.

Long term, I need to make some decisions between N Possible vs sticking with MTL compatible couplers before I take the 3D route...

The longer 2001 shanks and 1019 shanks are the same, so you already have it covered.

[cjm413]

The longer 2001 shanks and 1019 shanks are the same, so you already have it covered.

Good to know since I still have some stock MTL flats that I've been meaning to lower, possibly with N Possible Couplers once those boxes without lids become available.  Assuming I stick to only converting cars used in TOFC/COFC service, those leftover 1019's couls still be useful...

[cbroughton67]

@Scott Lupia kitbashed one for an NSR article a few years ago. @cbroughton67 just finished one last week, maybe he will post a pic here.

Here it is. I just added a 0.040" x 0.020" strip of styrene to the sill, in addition to milling the frame to allow clearance for the BLMA 100-ton trucks.


Chris


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[Mark5]

Impressive and awesome model Chris! That takes care of the late 70s Berwick 60'.  I'm tempted to pick up one to model even though they are too new for me (N&W's were built 1978/79).

It's fantastic to know that MTL's 102xxx series 60' Berwick waffle boxes are fixable. If only the 102xxx and 104xxx series 60' boxes were so easily correctable. 

However, I still need some Pullman Standard 7315s for my model railroad.