K112 - Bessemer & Lake Erie 1937 AAR Box Car with 7'3" door opening
In the 1940s, the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad had a modest fleet of just under 1,000 box cars (1,000 when built new, but attrition had lowered the number to just under 1,000.) The great majority of these cars were the 800 1937 AAR box cars built in 1940-1941 by Greenville Steel Car Company. That they acquired cars of this design was not unusual, but they possessed many unusual traits that make them stand out among their 1937 AAR peers. The cars were rare for their 7'3" door openings, quite large for cars of the 1937 AAR design. They had an extra set of crossties at the center of the car, under the doors and between the crossbearers. They had what may be unique triple brake step supports. They also used unusual cast angle tow loops at the bolsters and open, cast route card holders. Collectively, these traits resulted in a visually distinctive version of the 1937 AAR box car.
The cars had 4/5 round corner Dreadnaught ends, Murphy rectangular panel roofs. All cars had Superior 7-panel doors. The running boards and brake steps were Blaw-Knox open grid steel types. All cars rode on Barber Stabilized Lateral Motion Type S-1-L trucks. Two types of hand brakes were used. Ajax power hand brakes were used on the first cars built and Superior hand brakes were used on the latter part of the group. However, no specific distribution could be ascertained.
As delivered, the cars were painted in the simple scheme of bright oxide color with a noticeable orange tint. About 1960, two things occurred to visibly change the appearance of the cars. A new scheme was introduced that used a true orange color for the paint. The cars were also decorated with a large black & white emblem. In addition, the doors were replaced with 5-panel Superior types, a new, longer side sill section replaced the original one, and some cars (although it has not been determined how many) received new replacement Murphy diagonal panel roofs. It is possible that all cars still in service received new roofs.
These kits include one-piece cast resin bodies, etched metal trust plates, route card board holders, towling loops and running boards, resin, styrene, and metal details and accurate decals. Trucks and couplers not included.
| K112 |
Bessemer & Lake Erie 1937 AAR Box Car |
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> $44.00
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