Great Northern Mather Stock Cars 55034 and 55102

In my effort to reduce the plastic freight cars in the to-build cabinet, I chose two Proto 2000, Life-Like Products Great Northern (GN) Mather 40 ft. Single Deck Stock cars kits.   One Mather car numbered 55034, kit number 21207, and the other 55102.  As the single deck Mather Northern Pacific Stock Car 80136, a Proto 2000, Life-Like kit I built and did a blog post on in February, 2019, these GN stock cars were a fairly easy build.

The prototype Mather stock single deck GN stock cars assigned to series 55000 to 55199 were leased from The Mather Stock Car Company.  The Mather Stock Car Company, a U.S. Corporation, headquartered in Chicago Ridge, Illinois, was a leasing company that built and leased  railroad freight cars.  Mather specialized in stock cars; however, built other types of cars as well, including boxcars, refrigerator, gondolas and tank cars over a 75 year period.

Ray Breyer in his presentation “The Mather Freight Car Fleet” states, “Mather bought almost all of their cars from several well-known car builders between 1880 and 1922, with most cars coming from Indiana Car & Foundry, South Baltimore Car Works, St. Charles Car Co., and Haskell & Barker.  The company did build up to 200 of their own stock cars at their plant near the Chicago Union Stockyards before 1921.  In 1922 Mather moved to a new facility in Chicago Ridge, Illinois,  as they had been buying steel-framed cars since 1913.  The Chicago Ridge plant built over 4,000 cars for the company, and continued as a NACC repair and rebuild facility after 1956, not closing until the 1970s.”

Great Northern Stock Car 55171
Internet Image
(Click on this or any image to enlarge)

The plastic kits, purchased in 2016, are accurate for the GN Mather stock car they are lettered for as you can see when you compare them to the prototype in the photo above.

Proto 200 GN Mather Stock Car 55102

When looking at the photo you also see one problem with the Proto 2000 GN models.  The one problem is the openings between the side boards on the side of the car next to the reporting marks and number are molded closed rather open.  Before addressing this problem I chose to proceed the start of these builds installing the end panels.

The kit contains end panels (in the kit called bulkheads) that can be attached to the inside of the car body to fill the openings between boards on the ends.  The panels are provided to fill the end openings for cars that did not have them.  Looking at the GN end in the photo it appears the ends of the GN stock cars did not have the opening so I installed the kit panels. 

End panels held with clamps being installed.

Once end panels were installed as on other builds I started on the underbody.  On the underbody the coupler pads and truck king pins were drilled and tapped for 2-56 screws.  Kadee #262 coupler pockets with Kadee #148 couplers inserted were installed with Fastenal 2-56 x 3/16 inch screws.  A coupler pocket shim cut the shape of the coupler pocket box from .030 Evergreen sheet styrene in the bits box was installed under each coupler pocket to obtain proper coupler height.  Kit trucks with InterMountain 33 inch metal wheel sets inserted were installed with 2-56 x 1/4 inch Fastenal screws.  Install of brake components continued as follows:

• Air reservoir, Tichy Train Group (Tichy)  #3013 AB set
• AB valve, resin Sunshine Models
• Brake cylinder, unknown from spare parts
• Brake cylinder piston, Tichy set #3013
• Brake levers, kit, cut from molded piping and brake rods
• Brake lever hangers, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
• Brake cylinder chain, Precision Scale #48553, 34 links per inch
• Bell crank with chain, kit
• Brake rods, Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW
• Brake rod clevises, made with MEK Goop

Underbody work done not including piping.

Wanting a break from the underbody, I did not install the piping at this time.  I moved to the sides where  I removed the molded material in the problem area between the boards.  I inserted a wood block inside the car to prevent flexing or breaking with cutting out the molded plastic with a single edge razor blade, scalpel, broach, dental pick and tooth brush to create the openings between the boards to match the prototype.

Tools used to create openings between boards.

Opening between boards made.

Now the kit car weight was installed with Permatex Clear Silicone adhesive followed by the kit car inside floor and two stick on tire weights to bring the car weight to 3.8 ounces.  Once car weights were installed the kit roof roof was installed using MEK for adhesive.  The install of kit running boards followed.

Roof installed.

Now I returned to the underbody and installed the piping.  The piping from the air reservoir to the AB valve was done with Tichy #1101, .010 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW).   The pipe from the back of the brake cylinder to the AB valve was bent from Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW and installed.  A dirt collector pipe cut from a plastic brake rod in kit was bent and connected to molded on train line.   MEK Goop was used to make dirt collector parts on the plastic installed pipe.

Brake system piping installed.

With the underbody completed, the work on the B end was done.   Parts on the B end installed were as follows except for brake step (brake platform) installed later:

• Retainer valve, kit on GN 550102
• Retainer valve, Tichy set #3013, on GN 55034
• Retainer line, Tichy #1100, .008 diameter PBW
• Retainer line bracket, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
• Brake housing, kit
• Brake rod, Tichy #1102 PBW
• Brake rod clevis to attach to bell crank, Tichy turnbuckle, #8021
• Brake wheel, kit
• Brake step (platform), Plano Model Products set  #11322 Morton Pattern
• Grab irons, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
• Ladder rungs, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW

Work on B end started.

After install of the grab irons and ladder rungs on the ends, I did the same on the sides.  On the side upper door guides provided in kit were installed.  I replaced the plastic kit lower door chain rod (guide) with one bent from Tichy #1114, .020 diameter PBW.  A chain from door to door chain rod carrier was added later.

Grab irons, ladder rungs and door chain rod installed.

Now sill steps provided in the kit were installed.  And to finish the install of grab irons, the roof grab irons were installed.  The roof grab irons were bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW with Yarmouth Model Work etched eye bolts without shoulder used for corner leg.

Sill steps and roof grab irons installed.

Next the kit doors were installed followed by the install of chain from the door to the chain rod carrier below the door.  The chain was cut off the kit brake rod.   Back to the B end to install the Plano Model Products brake step with brackets cut from Evergreen #8202, 1 x 2 strip styrene.  And, uncoupling levers bent from Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW with eye bolt brackets cut from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW were installed.

Doors, B end brake step and uncoupling levers installed.

Mather GN stock cars 55034 and 55102 were now moved to the paint shop.  All installed parts were hand painted with Vallejo Model Color Cavalry Brown 70.982  and Vallejo Satin Varnish 70.522.  After hand painted parts dried, both stock cars were airbrushed with Vallejo Matt Varnish 70.52.  Again when Matt finish dry, the cars were airbrushed with Model Master Acryl  Flat Cear 4636.

GN stock cars 55034 and 55102 were removed from the paint shop and let sit for several days before weathering.  The weathering of the GN stock cars was done with Pan Pastels applied with makeup brushes and AK Weathering pencils, Dirt & Marks set, AK10044, as follows:

• Pencil, various boards, Dust/Rainmarks AK1006
• Pencil, bottom boards and braces, Streakig Dirt AK 1003
• Pan Pastel, Raw Umber 780.5, on bottom areas over AK Streaking Dirt
• Pan Pastel, Neutral Grey Extra Dark 820.2, roof
• Pan Pastel, Paynes Grey Extra Dark 840.1, roof
• Pan Pastel, Red Iron Oxide Extra Dark 380.1, applied lightly with micro brush over lettering

GN Stock Cars 55034 and 55102 weathered.

GN Stock Car 55034 weathered.

GN Stock Car 55102 weathered.

GN Stock Cars 55034 and 55102 weathered.

GN Stock Cars 55034 and 55102 weathered.

Great Northern stock cars 55034 and 55102 were ready for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving today, Shaping tomorrow.”  A car card was made for each, the final step to put the a car in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad.

GN Stock Cars to be spotted at Swift stock pens.

GN Stock Cars to be spotted at Swift stock pens.

GN Stock Cars to be spotted at Swift stock pens.

GN Stock Cars to be spotted at Swift stock pens.

Not only did the GN Stock cars get built, a Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company leased Mather stock car 6048 got built as well.  One less car in the to-build cabinet.

Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company
leased Mather stock car 6048.

Thank You for taking time to read my blog.  You can share a comment in the section below if you choose to do so.  Please sign your comment with your name if you choose to leave one.  All comments are reviewed and approved before they appear.  Please share the blog link with other model railroaders.

Lester Breuer

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Soo Line Box Cars 137006 and 137190

From the to build cabinet two more plastic box cars kits selected for this build project.  This time two Branchline Trains, Blueprint Series, Soo Line Box Cars, kit 1430, numbered 137006 and 137190.  The two boxcars have the four-foot-high “SOO LINE” billboard lettering that was applied to these box cars which made them stand out.  Soo Line 137006 has the lettering as first applied high on the side of the car and close to the door.   Soo Line 137190 has the changed lettering moved down several inches and close to the ends of the car.  Why the change?   The moved “LINE” lettering would not have a portion of it covered when the box car door was open.  The Branchline  lettering was well done and the numbers correct for the Wisconsin Central (WC) built box cars in series WC 136800-137198.

Soo Line billboard lettering after and before change.
(Click or tap on this or any image to enlarge)

The prototype Soo Line Wisconsin Central box cars were built at Soo Line North du Lac Shops in 1951.  These steel cars had five panels on each side of the corrugated 5/6/6 doors, R+3/4 improved dreadnaught ends and a diagonal panel roof with metal running boards.  Draft gear on these box cars was Miner.  Trucks for these cars were ASF Ride Control A-3 or Barber S-2-B stabilized.

Photos of Soo Line 137100, 137190 and a photo showing a mix of new Soo Line and Wisconsin Central cars can be viewed in Soo Line Freight Equipment and Cabooses (Soo Line Historical and Technical Society, 2014).  A diagram for these cars can be viewed in Soo Line Freight Car Diagrams (Soo Line Historical and Technical Society, Inc., 2013).

Kansas City, MO
George Sisk photo, Jay Williams collection.

I began the build of Soo Line box cars 137006 and 137190 with the basic underbody work.   On the underbody the molded on brake components mounts were removed and the underframe was installed.  Coupler pocket pads and truck bolster king pins were drilled and tapped for 2-56 screws.   Kadee #262 coupler pockets with Kadee #148 couplers inserted were installed with Fastenal 2-56 x 3/16 inch screws.   Accurail trucks (to be changed later) with InterMountain 33 inch metal wheel sets inserted were installed with 2-56 x 1/4 inch Fastenal screws.   Brake components were installed as follows:

• air reservoir, kit
• AB valve, resin Sunshine Models
• Brake cylinder, unknown from spare parts
• Brake cylinder piston, Tichy Train Group phosphor bronze wire (PBW)
• Brake levers, kit cut from molded piping and brake rods
• Brake lever hangers, plastic grab irons
• Brake cylinder chain, kit chain attached to brake lever
• Bell crank, Tichy set #3013, added later to accept B end brake rod Clovis

Brake components installed.

One problem with Branchline Trains kit 1430 was  the ends provided in the kit were not correct for these cars. Therefore, build of Soo Line box cars 137006 and 137190 began by finding correct ends for the cars.   A correct end was found in Branchline Trains undecorated kit #1500.   Since I had only one undecorated kit I used the ends for a master to make a rubber mold.   I used the mold to make the end R+3/4 resin castings used on Soo Line 137006.   The ends from kit #1500 were used on Soo Line 137190.

Correct R+3/4 ends installed.

Once ends were installed on the the box cars with CA, the box cars were weighted to 3.8 ounces with kit weights attached with Permatex Clear Silicone Adhesive and stick on tire weights.

Car weights installed.

With the cars weighted, the diagonal panel roofs provided in the kit was installed.

Diagonal panel roofs installed.

Next the resin cast ends on Soo Line 137006 were airbrushed with a mix of Vallejo Model Color Calvary Brown, 70.892, 20 drops and Vallejo Satin Varnish, 70.522, 10 drops and 22 drops thinner.  Soo Line 137006 was set aside to dry.  Underbody work included hand painting some prior added parts as AB Valve with Calvary Brown, 70.892, adding piping and brake rods on Soo Line 137190 was done now and on Soo Line 137006 once paint was dry as follows:

• Piping from air reservoir to AB valve, Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW
• Pipe from back of brake cylinder to AB valve, Tichy # 1106, .0125 diameter PBW
• Train line, Tichy #1114, .020 diameter PBW
• Brake rods, Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW
• Brake rod clevises made with MEK Goop
• Dirt Collector, kit one enhanced with MEK Goop

Piping and brake rods installed.

Before starting on the B end work I installed Kadee Apex Red Oxide, #2000 running boards on the roof and kit ladders on the sides.

Running boards and ladders added.

Next B end work was done.  Work included adding the following details:

• brake step, cut from lateral Kadee running board
• Brake step brackets, kit
• Brake housing, Miner Moloco, HB-0301
• Brake rod chain, Precision Scale #48533, 34 links per inch
• Brake rod, Tichy #1102, .015 inch diameter PBW
• Brake rod Clevis, Tichy turnbuckle #8021
• Retainer valve, Precision Scale #31796
• Retainer line & brackets, Tichy #1100 .008 diameter PBW
• Brake wheel, Kadee Champion #2024
• Uncoupling lever brackets, Resin Car Works resin cast brackets
• Uncoupling levers, Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW

B end parts installed.

Resin uncoupling lever bracket installed.

Resin uncoupling lever bracket installed.

Uncoupling levers installed.

Back to the sides where kit ladders had already been added.   On the sides Kadee bracket grab irons #2250, were installed in manufacturer holes enlarged with a #75 drill.  On the ends, the kit bracket grab iron was installed.   The handhold was cut off with a nipper and a wire handhold bent form Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW was installed (see photo above).  Install of A-Line #29002, sill steps followed.

Bracket grab irons and sill steps installed.

Finally, the 5/6/6 doors, kit, were added.   The doors had the molded on door handles removed and replaced with wire door handles made with Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW.   Placard boards provided in kit were also installed.

Doors with and placard boards installed.

One additional detail added to the sides was the route card box located by the lower bracket grab iron on the left end of the car.  Styrene from the bits box was used to make the route card boxes.

Route card boxes installed.

And, finally the end reporting marks and numbers were applied to the car ends.  Rather than airbrush only the ends, the entire car was airbrushed with Vallejo Satin Varnish, 70.522, to provide a decal base.  Decals purchased from the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society were used for the reporting marks.  End car number decals were made by applying Clover House Railroad Condensed Bold-White Dry Transfer lettering, 9600-11, to decal paper and coated with Microscale Liquid Decal Film.

Decals were soaked off in distilled water and applied to the car body where MicroScale Micro Set had been applied with a brush.   After the decal was applied in the Micro Set and positioned the edges had MicroScale Micro Sol applied.  Any excess solution was sucked away with the torn edge of a paper towel.  Again when dry, car body sprayed with Vallejo Gloss Varnish #70.510 to better hide edges of decals and protect decals during handling.  Again when dry, the car body was sprayed with Mig-Ammo Ultra-Matt Lucky Varnish, AMIG 2054,  to protect decals and provide a flat finish for weathering when applied.

End reporting marks and numbers applied.

One more step before putting Soo Line Box Cars 137006 and 137190 in service was to weather the cars with light brown and black eye shadow makeup.  An eye shadow light brown color was applied over entire car body with a makeup brush.  And, an eye shadow  black was used on the roof and lightly over safety appliances on car body.

Weathering brushes and colors.

Cars weathered.

Cars weathered.

Soo Line Box Cars 137006 and 137190 were ready for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving today, Shaping tomorrow.”  A car card was made for each, the final step to put the a car in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad.

Soo Line cars on Dawkins siding used to hold 
Soo Line cars from Soo Line Interchange.

Soo Line cars on Dawkins siding.

Soo Line cars on Dawkins siding.

Soo Line cars on Dawkins siding.

After I  published this post on the Soo Line Box Cars here I was made aware that the end ladders in the kit should have been reduced to seven rung.   An error on my part that I did correct after reviewing prototype photos.

End kit ladders reduced to seven rungs.

 

I want to say, “Thank You” to Ken Soroos  for providing prototype photo and permission to use photo of Soo Line Box Car 137190 (see above) from his book Soo Line Freight Equipment and Cabooses for building my Soo Line Box Cars cars.  

Thank You for taking time to read my blog.  You can share a comment in the section below if you choose to do so.  Please sign your comment with your name if you choose to leave one.  All comments are reviewed and approved before they appear.  Please share the blog link with other model railroaders.

Lester Breuer

.