Frisco express boxcar

I don't have good records on Frisco's express box fleet. But, express box SLSF 465 was renumbered from express box SLSF 161788, 466 from 149194, 467 from 143054, 468 from 127542, and 469 from 148413. These cars were based on the 1937 AAR box car design. IMWX, Red Caboose and Branchline offered models in HO.

I also have a pic somewhere of express box SLSF 146186. I have no idea where it fit in, or if it was renumbered. A mystery.

Does anyone have a decent set of diagrams for the full express box fleet - 40ft, 50ft and the express reefers? All I have is the one attached.

I have the Branchline model of SLSF 149194, running on Allied Full Cushion trucks. Neat looking car. Pic of SLSF 149194 is also attached. Note the diagram shows that the Allied FC trucks were changed out in 1949, for standard "Bettendorf" style trucks, ASF A-3 Ride Control trucks - Frisco's favorites. The Allied truck was high maintenance, and had a very nasty habit of coming off the rails at speed! Ouch!

Ken

 

Chris - Here you are. Pics are from an unknown source as I don't have good records as to where the majority of the pics in my collection came from so I can't provide credit. I post them to provide an answer to your very logical question.

Though the livery on the Athearn cars is correct, or close to correct, the box car model is not - dimensions are wrong. But, unless you want to get one of the 1937 AAR box car models I mentioned in an earlier post and decal it yourself, you have no choice. So I'd say go for it and enjoy them! "Close enuf is often good enuf in this here hobby!"

FYI, I have a good supply of Champ Frisco express decals if anyone wants to do one using the correct model. I use them to decal passenger cars in the deluxe gold color. I could spare a few I guess.

Ken

 

Chris -
Everyone here's summed things up pretty well. I have the Athearn 3-pack of these cars. They do come with what I think are the Bettendorf trucks. My modeling era is 1943, so in order to get my cars "prototypical," I do need to renumber them and get the correct trucks on them.

I thought that Mike Condren had some photos of these on his site, but his are of the old Pullman troop sleepers that were converted for express use.

FMIG Newsletter has drawings of 465-469 on pp. 17-18, but I think they may be duplicates of what Ken has already posted.

Seems that I somewhere remember reading a story of an engineer (maybe Charlie Dischinger) going to switch one of these old express cars out, only to find out that one of the trucks was not attached to it? Nuts, I need to find where I've seen or heard that. Or have my head examined.

Best Regards,

 

Chris and others - The standard Athearn HO "Bettendorf" truck was intended to be an ASF A-3 "Ride Control" truck, the Frisco favorite, and the truck used under the express box cars after those having the Allied "Full Cushion" trucks were re-trucked. It is not a real good rendition of the ASF A-3, but that's what it is.

So, no need to retruck the Athearn model unless you are a truck geek (like me!). If so, then go with the Kato or the Kadee ASF A-3's, both commonly available.

Ken

 

Ken, I'd honestly love to have my with Allied FC trucks. Know of a good place to find them? If nothing else, they look much more interesting than the alternatives.

Best Regards,

 

Chris - Here are a couple of quick pics of my Branchline SLSF 149194 riding on the Allied Full Cushion trucks. I believe the trucks are Eastern Car Works #9043, a kit, quite nice. Notice how the side frames even look like a big casting, which they were. The good news - they didn't cost much, and went together easily. The bad news - I think Eastern Car Works has gone out of business, so they may be hard to find. I was not aware Athearn was making this truck - I wonder if they obtained the ECW dies?

I have another pair of the ECW trucks, but I don't want to part with it. I also had a pair of the Hallmark brass Allied FC trucks, which were quite nice, though they are a little different looking than the ECW version. But, I sold them a few years back to someone else in frisco.org.

Ken

 

Ken and Rich, thanks for the additional information. The close-up pictures of the ECW trucks are nice. May have to start scrounging eBay.

Best Regards,

 

When first introduced, the Branchline Frisco express box kits were sold as individual numbers. I only bought one, the 149194 - I liked the number, and had a good pic of it. I now wish I had bought a second number as it is a nice car, and is the correct 1937 AAR model - plus I had the two Allied Full Cushion ECW trucks.

Speaking of where to get the Allied FC truck, I wonder if Walthers will sell theirs that they used under their war-time troop Pullman and kitchen cars. It's a terrific looking truck.

Ken

 

There's the answer. They look good!

Ken

 

Karl - Sorry about that. One of my (many) great failings is that I have two to three thousand Frisco picture files, largely all undocumented as to source, photographer, time, place, etc. That's why I usually don't post them.

Ken