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Minnesota Heartland Railroad

Mass Produced S Scale (standard gauge*) Models
and Reference Articles
Revised December 12, 2003

Item, Manufacturer	Author	Magazine	Issue	Summary
FREIGHT
Modern Rolling Stock ( ~ post 1965 )
ACF RailBox Boxcar American Models	Randy  Wilson	MR	March 1998 p. 132	Modeling 70-ton former Railbox cars in S scale.  Photos of Railbox cars as repainted since 1982, featuring Des Plaines Hobbiesdetail parts.
		RMJ	Dec. 1999	ACF; Jan. & Feb. 2000   see also: Pullman Standard; March - May 2000 FMC; June 2000, August thru Nov. 2000 Evans cars; July 2001, Sept. 2001 Berwick cars; Jan. thru April 2001
Short frameless tank car   Downs / Rusti				Now produced by Manheim Machine and Tool Co. 139 Nevin Street Landcaster, Pa. 17603 (info from John Foley)
Long frameless tank car  Downs / Rusti
Piggy-back "spine" cars 3 and 5 unit sets.  American Models		CBC	1984	"The prototype of American Models' IMPACK spine car (the articulated "trailer-hauler") is described on page 196 of the 1984 Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia and advertised by Itel Rail on page 197 of the same publication."   Tom Hawley
Husky Stack Container Flat Des Plaines Hobbies				Not currently in production.  Containers are available though.  Check the S products section of their webpage.
Long frameless tank car American Models		CBC	1984	"American Models' "modern" tank car appears to be the car shown on page 160 of the 1984 Car & Locomotive Cyclopedia, described as "ACF Industries tank car for clay slurry service - Class DOT 111A100-W-1, Light weight 60,500 pounds; water gallon capacity 13,575 gallons; truck capacity 100 tons; 4 inches fiberglass insulation with No. 11 ga steel insulation jacket."   Tom Hawley

1st - 2nd Generation Diesels and Later ( ~ 1955 - 1965 )
ACF 4650 cu. ft. 3-Bay Covered Hopper Pacific Rail Shops Photo and model by Terry Harrison				Pacific Rail Shops, Tel (541)267-6664 P.O. Box  867, Coos Bay, Oregon 97420-0201
PS-2CD 4427 cu.ft. 3-Bay Covered Hopper     1964 - ? American Models	James Eager	RMJ	Feb. 1994	"... with over 19,300 produced.  Santa Fe alone acquired over 7,500 cars!  Eighteen railroads operated the cars first hand.... numerous grain co-ops and milling companies leased from PTLX."
	Martin Lofton	MM	Nov. 1991	Photos of many TLDX and some RR owned cars.
PRR H39 70 ton Open Hopper     1959 Bethlehem Car Co  Des Plaines Hobbies		RMC	July 1986	"The prototype was the result of a coordination between the C&O, the PRR, and the N&W in 1959.  By the time the design was finalized, the C&O and the N&W were already interested in larger cars (100 tons).  The PRR acquired about 16,000 of them.  There is an article in the July, 1986 RMC about these cars.  According to this article, C&O had 501, D&RGW had 900, the original NS had 70 that went to the Southern, and WM had 400.  The article said that most of the PRR cars were painted in the simplified PRR scheme, but I think that is in error.  The ones I saw seemed to be mostly painted with Pennsylvania spelled out."  Jamie Bothwell
50'-10'6" Single Door AAR Boxcar  Pacific Rail Shops Built: 1955-61	Earl Tuson			50' long 10'6" high. - Postwar AAR Standard 50' boxcar  Characteric features: DP (diagonal panel) roof, R+3/4 late IDE (improved dreadnaught ends), 8+8 riveted sides with full length straight side sill, single 4/5/5 - 8' IY (improved Youngstown) doors.   per Earl Tuson
50'-10'6" Double Door AAR Boxcar  Pacific Rail Shops	Earl Tuson			50' long 10'6" high.   Postwar AAR Standard 50' auto car, Characteric features: DP roof, R+3/4 late IDE, 5+8 riveted sides with full length fishbelly side sill, 4/5/5  - 7' and 8' IY doors.  Built: 1955-61
	Ed Hawkins	RMJ	August 1999	50 foot standard automobile box car, postwar 50-ton, 50-foot AAR Box Cars

Transition Era  and Later  ( ~ 1945 - 1955 )
52' Mill Gondola American Models	P. Roos			According to the NEB&W Steam era guides, possible prototypes for a 52 ft, 14 panel gon are CN, CP, LV, NYC, WM, C&O, CNJ, PRR, D&H, B&O.  (P. Roos)
SP F-70-7 53' 6" Flat Car  V&T Shops  1949 - 1950				V&T shops, Box 5597, Reno, Nev.  89513     Cast Resin Kit Some cars were converted to Piggy-back, Builkhead, and coil steel service.  -  Similar to standard AAR 70 ton flat car, usable for NH, CNJ, NYC and many other railroads (P. Roos).
SP F-50-16 40' Flat Car V&T Shops				Cast Resin Kit
Southern 50 ton  low-side gondola      1947 REX Models / Putt Trains		CBC	1949	SOU 55961-56560, built in 1947 by Mt. Vernon Car Mfg. Div., Pressed Steel Car, and shown in the 1949 CBC with 12 panels.  REX now owned by Putt Trains -  P.O. Box 463 - Orwell, OH 44076
Die Cast flat car REX Models / Putt Trains
PS-2 3-Bay Covered Hopper  S Helper Service	Martin Lofton	MM	Aug. 1991 Nov. 1991	Produced from 1953 through the early 70's
GSC Flat, bulkhead, and TOFC  S Helper Service	Jim Eager	MR'ing	March 1989	53'6" 70-ton Commonwealth Cast-Steel Flat Cars, 48' Bulkhead Flat  1949 - 1971 (?)
PS-2 2-Bay Covered Hopper S Helper Service				"Built by Pullman-Standard starting in 1953."
40'-10'6" Sgl Door AAR Boxcar Pacific Rail Shops				Photo and model by Bill Lane.
40'-10'6" Dbl Door AAR Boxcar Pacific Rail Shops

Steam Era and Later ( ~ pre-1945 )
2 Bay 55 Ton Composite Hopper S Helper Service				Coal hopper built during WWII using wood slat outside braced sides, typical of cars built for the Lehigh Valley in 1942, remaining in service into the 50's when the wooden sides were replaced with steel.
1937 Modified AAR 40'-10'6" Sgl Door Boxcar Pacific Rail Shops 1940 - 1946				40' - 10'6" high boxcar.  6' door.  Notched side sills.  5/5 early style Dreadnaught ends.  W-section corners.  Flat panel roof.
	Ted Culotta	Steam Era Freight Cars Website		1937 Modified AAR 40'-10'6" webpage  Photos
1937 AAR Standard 40'-10' Sgl & Dbl Door Boxcar Pacific Rail Shops	Richard  Hendrickson	Rail Model Journal	July 1991 (ACF), July 1994	40' - 10' high boxcar.  6' door.  Notched side sills.  4/5 Dreadnaught ends.  W and square corners.  Flat panel and Viking roofs
	Ed Hawkins	Rail Model Journal	8/96, 10/96, 12/96
	Richard  Hendrickson	Model Railroading	April 1989 pp. 44-49	1937 & 1942 AAR Standard Box Car History, Part II
10,000 Gallon Tank Car Uninsulated  Des Plaines Hobbies				"Not a bad representation of a pre-war General American car, except that it needs some modification to the body bolsters.  Look at a 1937 CBC for reference.  It would not be hard to modify the car to make it a post-war GA car.  The manway hatch also needs some correction, which would not be too difficult."  Comments by Richard Hendrickson, furnished by Jeff English.
	Richard Hendrickson	Rail Model Journal	August 1996	In reference to our recent discussion on the DPH ICC 103 tank cars, I was looking through some magazines this week and ran across the August 1996 Rail Model Journal.  It contains an article on "Modeling Fifties Era tank Cars" by Richard Hendrickson which includes prototype photos and detailing suggestions for the Athearn tank car, including converting it to a 10,000 gallon car.  The cars shown are all GATX manufactured cars; the same prototype as the DPH cars.   Most of the same detailing steps apply.  At least we don't have to shorten the car or modify the dome as the author does with the HO car.  Pieter Roos
Steel Swinging Door Reefer Pacific Rail Shops	P. Roos			PFE R-40-23 Steel Ice Refrigerator Car.  The car was also used by Northern Pacific, I think all other paint schemes are approximations at best.    P. Roos
Wooden Ice-cooled Reefer Crown Products	P. Roos			Wood sides, steel ends.  Marketed by Port-Lines Hobbies Apparently not based on a particular prototype.  It is not too far off from some PFE cars, MDT rebuilds or maybe a Mather car (depends on how well you squint).  P. Roos
Wooden Ice-cooled Reefer  S Helper Service	Joseph Follmar	RMC	Dec. 1988 pp. 63 - 70	The SHS wooden reefer "...is modeled after the 40' wooden, end bunker, ice cooled refrigerator cars built for the NWX (Northwestern Refrigerator Line Company) 7000 -7999 series in 1928 by American Car & Foundry."
Rebuilt steel side 40' Boxcar S Helper Service				"In the late '20's, railroads started to buy steel sides from Youngstown steel and The Pullman Standard Co. to rebuild their aging wooden boxcar fleets."
40' Wooden Stock Car S Helper Service				"UP S-40-10 40' Stock Car.  Rebuilt from 1916 era automobile stock cars..... lasted until the early '70's."
40' USRA Single Sheathed Wooden Boxcar S Helper Service				"Built by the USRA to aid the WWI effort.  They were seen in steam and diesel consists until the mid-60's, and in work train servcie until the '80's."
40' USRA Double Sheathed Wooden Boxcar S Helper Service				"These cars were designed byt the USRA to aid the war effort during WWI.  These were seen in steam and diesel consists until the mid-60's, and in work train servcie into the '80's."
4 Bay Ribbed Side Open Hopper American Models				"Ribbed" sides.  No known exact prototype.
4 Bay Offset Side Open Hopper American Models				"Offset" sides.  "not too bad of a model of an AAR design of the late 20's."  Jeff English "Purchased by B&M, and B&O, C&O, Erie, M-K-T, MoPac, Milwaukee."  David Thompson
2 Bay Ribbed Side Open Hopper American Models				"If you are looking for a SOU hopper car, try the AM ribbed twin.  It is 33' IL, vs the prototype's 34', but does feature the correct 8 panels."  Earl Tuson
2 Bay Offset Side Open  Hopper American Models				"The AM two bay offset set hopper is <strictly> correct for no prototype cars.  However, if one alters or overlooks the taper in the last side panel, it is closest to a large number of IC hoppers (as many as 12,678 in 1949,) a small number of D&M cars, and perhaps some GBW cars.  An IC car is shown on page 232 of the ACF book.  It has ASF A-3 trucks, available from PRS.  A few other roads did have slightly longer 8 panel twin offset hoppers.  Perhaps an eastern modeler could use it as a DL&W car, but I cannot find or do not have a 10/87 MM to check the model against."  Earl Tuson
1930 USRA 46' Flat Car American Models				Spruce planking.  Available with loads; diesel engine or army tank.
3 Bay Offset Side Open Hopper American Flyer			Bud Rindfleisch	"...prototype of the Am Flyer 3 bay offset side hopper.  A link to a photo of one turned up on the Steam era freight car list....  http://www.fallenflags.org/ble/ble69268.jpg    The trucks are unique to these cars having friction bearings and outside brake hangers.
PRR X-29 (and similar cars) Boxcar American Flyer				Readily available at train shops and train shows.
Pennsylvaia X-29 & ARA 40-foot Steel-Sheathed Box Cars	Richard Hendrickson	Railmodel Journal	Aug. 1977, June 1998, Nov. 2001, Dec. 2001	Detailing the AF boxcar for the Pennsy X-29, and similar boxcars for other lines, such as PM, C&O, ERIE.
Pennsylvaia X-29 Sand Car	Jeff  Freeman	Prototype  Modeler	Apr. 1979 p. 26 - 37	Excellent drawings for X-29 boxcar.
Baltimore & Ohio M-26	Jeff  Freeman	Prototype Modeler	Apr. 1979 p. 38 - 41	Similar to AF Pennsy X-29.
Pennsy X29 in O Gauge	Jeff Freeman	Prototype Modeler	Oct. 1978 p. 24-33	Construction of riveted end version.
Pennsylvania's X-29 and  Other X's In The Family	Jack Amerine, Jeff Freeman	Prototype Modeler	Oct. 1978 p. 6 -23	Includes photos of similar cars; SBC X-25, and similar ARA cars for NYC and LNE,
Patching up X29 Boxcars	Bill Darnaby	Model Railroader	Nov. 1998 p.117	"Rub-on metal foil easily represents side repair panels."  Prototype for AF boxcar.
Pere Marquette  1930 Steel Box Car	Jeffrey Koeller	Mainline Modeler	May 2001 June 2001	Includes PRR X-29 information, and similar boxcars which could be modeled using the AF boxcar.
40' wood Boxcar Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff				Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff,  P.O. Box 53, Penn. Furnace, Penn.  16865-0053
36' wood Boxcar Ye Olde Huff-N-Puff				Wood Kit
40' Steel Boxcar Perma-Bilt		NASG Dispatch	Feb. 2002	Stamped Sheet metal components - Construction article by Bill Fraley - A popular kit from the early years of  S scale modeling
41'6" Inside Length Gondola American Flyer	Earl Tuson			11 panel straight side riveted steel gondola 6 rib outward Murphy end, lever-style handbrake. Cross between T&P 17000-17749, built 1926 by PSC, and T&P 17750-18249, built 1928 by PSC The <outside> of the AF gon is a respectable model of its intended prototype.  Earl Tuson

Cabooses

Extended Vision Caboose S Helper Service				"Our car is modeled after  C&O 3100-3259 (later Chessie class C-25) caboose built in 1968 by the International Car Co."  SHS  "Extended vision cabooses started to appear on railroads in the 1950's and most were made by the International Car Company (ICC)."
Bay Window Caboose American Models				Loosely based on an Eire prototype, later used by Conrail and D&H (P. Roos).
Wooden caboose with cupola  American Models				Similar to the steam and early diesel era cabooses of MANY railroads. -  Not too far off NYC/Rutland, Lackawanna or CN/Grand Trunk/Central Vermont cars (P. Roos).
Northeastern Caboose American Flyer				Out of production.  Readily available at train shops and train shows.
Jersey Central cabooses  in HO scale	Alan  Mende	Model  Railroader	May 1987 p. 86	Jersey Central Lines Northeastern caboose
The ubiquitous  Northeastern caboose	Dick Steinbrenner	RMC	July 1982 p. 76	First of a three part look at the Reading designed Northeastern caboose.     See 1980 for more info.
Reading Steel Cabooses	Robert Berkley	RCT&HS	Winter 1980	Reading Company Tecnhical and Historical Soc.
Cabooses of the WM	Dwight Jones	Rails NE	Dec. 1980	Rails Northeast

Passenger Cars

Amtrak Superliner Set American Models
Lightweight Passenger Set American Models (out of production)	Andy  Sperandeo	Model  Railroader	Dec. 1991 pp. 108 - 123	I understand that AM used the GN 1947 Empire Builder consist as the prototype for their lightweight passenger set.  Very close to exact scale size per Ed. Loizeaux, June 2001 Dispatch
New Haven Coaches American Flyer (out of production)	Marty McGuirk	Model  Railroader	Jan. 19'98 pp. 156-158	"American Flyer Passenger cars in HO scale"  ...when the A.C. Gilbert Co. of New Haven, Conn., based its toy passenger cars on the New Haven's cars, the prototypes earned the American Flyer nickname." Available on the used equipment market.  Foreshortened for the toy train market.
Heavyweight Coaches American Models				The American Models heavyweight cars fall in two groups: those still in production are about 70 ft, the prototypes are from Jersey Central's "Blue Comet" train.  These are the same prototype as the Trainstuff cars.  The longer 80 ft cars were Pullman cars (two sleepers and a diner as I recall).  P. Roos
Trainstuff Cast Resin,  out of production				The Trainstuff passenger cars are 70' NYC baggage, baggage and RPO built for the Big Four in the 20's, Pullman 12-1 that was made after Train Stuff was sold to Wayne and Diane Pier, and the CRRofNJ 83' cafe car.  Don Thompson
Budd Coaches  American Models				Cars are fore-shortened for operation on small radius track. See Empire State Express steam engine below.
Budd Coaches American Flyer				Foreshortened for Toy Train market.
Heavyweight Coaches American Flyer				Foreshortened for Toy Train market.

Engines

Item, Manufacturer	Author	Magazine	Issue	Summary
Diesel Engines
EMD GP-60 American Models
EMD F-40 PH   1976 - 1988  (Amtrak) American Models
EMD GP-35       1963 - 1966  American Models		Rail Model  Journal	June 1993	Review
EMD GP9 / 18   1954 - 1959 American Models				"I compared mine to the scale plans for the GP-18 in Mainline Modeler and they are right on in most dimensions.  I believe Ron used the Mainline Modeler article for much of his information as it was a  suggestion of mine to him to make it so either the 9 or 18 could be made with very little modification by changing  fans and radiator grills. However mine had to be changed to represent the later phase GP-9 which had the same fans as the GP-18 (pan top) and the battery box louvers shortened to 2 rows of 3 each spaced apart. The trucks appearing to be too far from the frame might be due in fact to there not being any "frame channel" visible between the trucks.  You could overlook that by painting everything black beneath the shell including the gear towers that are visible.  I ended up making "fake" channel frames out of styrene  which go above the fuel and air tanks and fill  the open space nicely.  I also changed the fuel tank using a shortened GP-35 tank cause it had the right shape for that phase of units."   Bud Rindfleisch
	Review	MR	May 1989
Alco RS-3 American Models
Alco RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, S-2, S-4 Railmaster				Pewter Kits
EMD FP-7 and F7 B unit American Models
EMD F7 A&B Phase I      1947 - 1953 S Helper Service
EMD E-8/9 Passenger Locomotive American Models
EMD SW-9      1951 - 1956 S Helper Service		Rail Model  Journal	Oct. 1998	Review
EMD NW-2, SW-7 Railmaster				Pewter Kits
Alco PA-1       1946 - 1953 American Models
Alco FA-2       1946 - 1956 American Models
EMD F-3          1946 - 1949   Phase II A & B S Helper Service
Baldwin S-12   1945 - 1956 American Models
EMD SW-1  Phase II 1942 Version S Helper Service	Review	MR	April 2000
FM Trainmaster  PA Heritage Models
FM Trainmaster   1953-54  American Models				"H-24-66  Fairbanks Morse 2400 horsepower "Train Master" made in 1953 and 54."
EMD BL-2   1948-? Bills Train Shop				"In 1948, the first of 59 branch line locos rolled out of the EMD shops. This loco was the link between the F-units and the first of  the Geeps. With curved fenders, slab sides, and angled hoods, most folks either love or hate the beast!  According to our sources*, nine railroads owned BL2s:"
Plymouth ML6  Switcher Railmaster				Pewter Kits
Steam Engines
4-6-2  heavy USRA Pacific American Models
PRR K-4 Streamlined 4-6-2 American Models		CTT	Oct. 2001	2 page review
B&O E-27 2-8-0 Consolidation  S Helper Service				built in 1905
NYC J3a Hudson American Models				See matching passenger cars above.
Pennsy K4 American Flyer	Kris Kollar	Mainline Modeler	Jan. 2002 Feb. 2002	Detailing a Pennsy K4 Locomotive
Electric Engines
PRR GG-1 American Models