Duluth South Shore & Atlantic USRA Box Car 16032

 A Duluth South Shore & Atlantic (DSS&A) USRA double sheathed Box Car kit with car numbered 16032 was a kit produced for the  Soo Line Historical & Technical Society by Accurail (4000 series).  The kit as the kit just built, USRA double sheathed box car 16001, had been in my unbuilt kits cabinet since November 2000; however, it had a different paint scheme.

DSS&A 16032 in kit box.
(Click or tap on this or any image to enlarge)

Like double sheathed box car 16001, double sheathed box car 16032, series 16000 to 16049, had been in the unbuilt kits cabinet since purchase because my initial research on this car series could not find any data that the prototype existed.  The Duluth South Shore & Atlantic 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 the initial research new data has become available showing the prototype existed.

Today a photo and source of this DSS&A USRA Design double sheathed Box Car 16032, series 16000 to 16049, were available.   DSS&A USRA Box Car 16032 was among the cars obtained in 1940 from the Pete Marquette (PM) car series 80000 - 81999.

DSS&A 16032                Ken Soroos Collection

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.

Now knowing the prototype existed, it was time to build USRA double sheathed box car DSS&A 16032.

The build of DSS&A  box car 16032 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.  The kit provided weight was installed with Permatex Clear Silicone RTV adhesive sealant.

Kit weight be attached to underbody.

Kit weight be attached to underbody.

Basic brake components: brake cylinder, air reservoir and control (AB) valve, drilled to accept piping to be installed later, were installed.  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.

Upgrade of the assembled car body began by using a fine saw blade to pull across the running boards to have them show wood grain.

Fine blade saw used to make wood grain.

Wood grain look added to running boards.

Wood grain look added to running boards.

Upgrade of the the assembled car body continued by carving off all molded on grab irons and grab iron ladders.  And, holes for wire grab irons were drilled with a #80 drill.

All grab irons and grab iron ladders removed.

After the grab irons were carved off on the ends, the B end upgrade work came next.

All grab irons and grab iron ladders removed.

Upgrade parts installed on the B end were as follows:

- Running board braces, etched Yarmouth Model Works

- Brake step brackets, Tichy Train Group (Tichy) AB set #3013

- Brake shaft step, molded on reworked

- Brake shaft, Tichy #1102, .015 diameter phosphor bronze wire (PBW)

- Brake shaft fascia bracket, cut from sheet brass .010 x .030

- Retainer valve, Sunshine Models (out of business) resin

- Retainer line and brackets, Tichy #1101, .008 diameter PBW

- Brake wheel, kit

Upgrade parts on B end installed.

Next areas on ends, sides and running boards 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.  When paint was dry, grab irons and grab iron ladders bent from Tichy #1101 PBW were installed.

Wire grab irons installed.

Wire grab irons installed.

Roof wire grab irons installed.

Wire grab irons installed.

Once grab irons and grab iron ladders were installed, a nail file was run over them to enable better paint adhesion.  The grab irons and grab iron ladders were brush painted with Vallejo paint mix: Model Air Rust 71.080, 50% and Model Color Cavalry Brown 70.982, 50%.  Once dry, the molded on sill steps were cut off and replaced with sill steps made from Detail Associates brass flat bar stock #2254, .010 x .030.   And, Carmer uncoupling levers, Yarmouth Model Works #400, were installed.

Sill Steps and Carmer uncoupling levers installed.

Sill Steps and Carmer uncoupling levers  installed.

As with other installed detail parts the sill steps and Carmer uncoupling levers were brush painted with Vallejo paint mix: Model Air Rust 71.080, 50% and Model Color Cavalry Brown 70.982, 50%. 

Sill steps and Carmer uncoupling levers painted.

Sill steps and Carmer uncoupling levers painted.

Sill steps and Carmer uncoupling levers painted.

The install of sill steps and Carmer uncoupling levers completed the car body.

On the underbody the 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 x 6 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 diameter 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 upgrade parts installed.

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

Underbody painted.

Before putting DSS&A 16032 in 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 16032 weathered.

DSS&A 16032 weathered.

DSS&A 16032 weathered.

DSS&A 16032 weathered.

Duluth South Shore & Atlantic USRA double sheathed box car 16032 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 16032, the final step to put the a car in service on the Minneapolis & Northland Railroad Company Railroad.

DSS&A double sheathed Box Car 16032 and 
16001 being moved into Chestnut Street Yard
in Minneapolis, Minnesota

DSS&A double sheathed Box Car 16032 and 
16001 being moved into Chestnut Street Yard
in Minneapolis, Minnesota

DSS&A double sheathed Box Car 16032 and 
16001 moved into Chestnut Street Yard
in Minneapolis, Minnesota

DSS&A double sheathed Box Car 16032 in
Chestnut Street Yard in Minneapolis, Minnesota

DSS&A double sheathed Box Car 16032 in
Chestnut Street Yard in Minneapolis, Minnesota

I want to say, “Thank You”, to Ken Soroos for providing and letting me use photo of DSS&A double sheathed USRA Box Car 16032 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.

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Lester Breuer

Plymouth, MN