Duluth South Shore & Atlantic USRA Box Car 16001

A Duluth South Shore & Atlantic (DSS&A) USRA double sheathed Box Car kit with car numberd 16001 was a kit produced for the  Soo Line Historical & Technical Society by Accurail (4000 series).  The kit had been in my unbuilt kits cabinet since November 2000 because my initial research on this car series could not find any data that the prototype existed.  The Duluth South Shore & Altantic was not listed on rosters of railroads receiving USRA double sheathed box cars distributed to various railroads with the known need for rolling stock after World I.  Since years have passed and new data  may have become available, it was time to see if any data had become available on this DSS&A double sheathed box car.

Today prototype photos and source of this DSS&A USRA Design Box Car 16001, series 16000 to 16049, was available.   DSS&A USRA Box Car 16001 was among the cars obtained in 1940 from the Pete Marquette (PM) car series 8000081999.

DSS&A 16001                 Ken Soroos Collection
(click or tap on this or any image to enlarge)

The USRA design, USRA Specification Number 1003-B, 40 ton double sheathed composite box car features included double sheathed wood sides, six foot side door opening with wood doors, 5/5/5 steel stamped  with corrugations ends (generally known as 5/5/5 Murphy ends), metal  roof, and steel fish belly center sill underframe.  The  cars rode on Andrews trucks.

DSS&A 16012                 Ken Soroos Collection

The build of DSS&A  box car 16001 began with the assembly of the box car kit.  On the underbody, bolster center plates, coupler pockets and coupler pocket covers with pins cut off were drilled and tapped for 2-56 screws.  Kadee #148 couplers (not in kit) were installed into the Accurail coupler pockets with Fastenal 2-56 x 3/16 inch screws.  Accurail Andrews trucks, #166, were installed with Fastenal 2-56 X 1/4 inch screws.  Basic brake components: brake cylinder, air reservoir and control (AB) valve, drilled to accept piping to be installed later, were installed.  The kit provided weight was installed with Permatex Clear Silicone RTV adhesive sealant.  Now the underbody was installed in the car body.   The assembled car was placed on a digital postal scale that showed the car weight to be  3.8 ounces.  And, trucks and brake components were brush painted with Vallejo/MicroMark Model Air Tarnished Black X29022X2.

An upgrade of the the assembled car body began by carving off all molded on grab irons and grab iron ladders.

Drop grab irons and
drop grab ladders removed.

Holes for wire grab irons were drilled with a #80 drill.  Areas where parts were carved off were brush painted with Vallejo paint mix:  Model Air Rust 71.080 50% and Model Color Cavalry Brown 70.982 50%.  A excellent match to the manufacture paint.  Running boards were installed.  Prior to install the molded on longitudinal running brackets on the car ends were cut off.

Drop grab irons areas after removal painted.  

Next the running boards were given wood grain using a extremely fine saw blade.

Wood grain applied to running boards.

Now, as with carved off grab iron areas the running boards were brush painted with Vallejo paint mix:  Model Air Rust 71.080 50% and Model Color Cavalry Brown 70.982 50%.  

Running boards repainted.

Once brush painted areas were dry, the B end work was done.  The molded on longitudinal running board brackets that had been cut off were replaced with Yarmouth Model Works #220, etched running board braces.  Brake step provided in the kit and brake step brackets from Tichy AB set #3013, were installed.  A retainer valve, Yarmouth Models resin cast, was installed.  Retainer line and brackets, Tichy #1100, .008 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW), install followed.  The brake shaft, Tichy #1102, .015 diameter PBW was installed.  A brake shaft fascia bracket made from Detail Associates #2524 brass flat 10 x 30 bar stock was installed.  The brake shaft step was reworked to have a better prototype look.  The brake wheel in the kit was installed on the brake shaft 9 inches above the running board.  New drop grab irons and ladder rungs bent from Tichy Train Group (Tichy)  #1101, .010 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW) were installed. 

B end upgrade details installed.

The install of grab irons and grab iron ladder on the sides was done next.

Drop grab irons and drop grab iron ladders installed.

Now on the roof, the removed lateral running board grab irons were replaced with wire ones bent from Tichy #1101, .010 diameter PBW.   For roof corner grab iron legs, Yarmouth Model Works etched eye bolts without shoulder were used.

 

 

Roof grab irons irons installed.

Roof grab irons irons installed

Next, the molded sill steps were cut off.   New sill steps were bent from Detail Associates #2524 brass flat .010 x .030 bar stock and installed in #76 drilled holes.

Brass sill steps installed.

Brass sill steps installed.

The install of sill steps completed the car body upgrade except for uncoupling levers.  Onto the underbody install of detail parts was done as follows:

• Brake cylinder lever, made from Evergreen 1 x 8 strip styrene
• Floating lever, made from Evergreen 1 x6 strip styrene
• Air reservoir had side mounts added with MEK Goop
• Piping from air reservoir to control valve, Tichy #1101 .010” PBW
• Piping from brake cylinder to control valve, Tichy #1106, .0125” diameter PBW
• Brake rods, Tichy #1106 .0125” PBW
• Brake rod clevises, MEK Goop (plastic melted in MEK)
• Chain, Tichy #8334, black 40 links per inch
• Train line, Tichy #1103, .020 diameter PBW
• Dirt collector, scrap plastic rod, reworked

Underbody detail parts installed.

With the underbody detail parts installed it was back to the car body to brush paint all detail parts added on the B end and sides.  Again, the Vallejo paint mix of Model Air Rust 71.080, 50% and Model Color Cavalry Brown 70.982, 50% was used to brush paint added detail parts.

Added upgrade parts brush painted.

Added upgrade parts brush painted.

To finish the underbody, the underbody and all added detail parts were brush painted with Vallejo/MicroMark Tarnished Black X29022X2.

Underbody brush painted.

Once brush painting of installed detail parts was finished, install of uncoupling levers was done.   Uncoupling levers were bent from Tichy #1106, .0125 diameter PBW.  Uncoupling lever brackets used were eye bolts bent from Tichy #1101 .010 diameter PBW.

Uncoupling levers installed.

Uncoupling levers installed.

After uncoupling levers were brush painted the car body was airbrushed  with Vallejo Gloss Varnish 70.510, to provide a gloss base for decal application.  Decals, herald and number to change reweigh  year from 1941 to 1951, were provided in the kit.   In the reweigh date the “4” was removed and replaced with a “5.”

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 Model Master Acryl, #4636, flat to protect decals and provide a flat finish for weathering when applied.

Decals applied.

Decals applied.

Before putting DSS&A 16001in service on the M&N, the car was weathered with Pan Pastels.  First, Paynes Grey Tint 840.7 was applied lightly with a small paint brush over entire car body to show aging.  Next Paynes Grey Extra Dark 840.1  was applied with a large makeup brush on the entire car body and underbody.  Car body applications were blended using a cotton swab.  Burnt Sienna Shade 740.3 was applied to the springs with sponge tip.

DSS&A 16001 weathered.

DSS&A 16001 weathered.

                    DSS&A 16001 weathered.

Duluth South Shore & Atlantic USRA double sheathed box car 16001 was ready for service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company, The Lakeland Route, “Serving today, Shaping tomorrow.”  A car card was made for DSS&A box car 16001, the final step to put the a car in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad.

DSS&A 16001 sitting on CGW Interchange
in Randolph, Minn.

DSS&A 16001 sitting on CGW Interchange
in Randolph, Minn.

DSS&A 16001 sitting on CGW Interchange
in Randolph, Minn.

DSS&A 16001 sitting on CGW Interchange
in Randolph, Minn.

 I want to say, “Thank You”, to Ken Soroos for providing and letting me use photos of DSS&A  double sheathed USRA Box Car 16001 and 16012 for my build and use on this blog.  And, a “Thank You” to Ray Breyer for providing the data that the subject car was obtained from the Pere Marquette in 1940.

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

Plymouth, MN

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