Great Northern 1937 Tongue & Groove with Klasing hand brake

Protocraft’s all-brass model of Great Northern’s 1937-1942 Tongue & Groove wood double-sheathed boxcars encompasses 4 versions of this distinctive boxcar. Never before done in O Scale, these exquisite and highly detailed models are built by Boo Rim Precision of Korea, adhering accurately to the actual GN Engineering Department drawings provided to Pullman-Standard in March 29,1937. Equiped with Bettendorf 50- trucks, the model rolls on hard steel sintered

rib-back wheels with ball-bearings and have working journal covers.
 

The Great Northern received 8,000 of these cars, Series 45000-52999, from American Car & Foundry, Pullman-Standard, General American Transportation Corp and Pressed Steel Car Co, between July 1937 through April 1942.

 

At the time when the Country’s railroads were recovering from the Great Depression and ordering the new 1937 AAR design all-steel boxcars with 10’-0” inside

height, by the thousands, the GN specied wood siding over steel bracing and wood running boards. While utilizing prefabricated 4/5 Dreadnaught ends manufactured by Standard Railway Equipment Co. and Chicago-Hutchins (Murphy) raised panel steel roofs, the GN engineering department specied an older 1924 twin-center sill riveted design with a riveted underframe. The initial order of 500 cars, delivered starting July of 1937, were built by Pullman-Standard under Lot 5565 as Series 50000-50499. These cars were delivered with the vertical sta Klasing hand brakes: PC-3501. The second group of of 500 cars, from AC&F under Lot 1675, and assigned Series 50500-50999, delivered in September 1937, came with Universal vertical sta hand brakes: PC-3502. Not until July 1939 did the Road receive Ajax end mounted power hand brakes, delivered from Pullman, under Lot 5594, Series 51000-51999: PC-3503. (Numbering progressed out of sequence so that the nal 2,000 cars from 3 builders delivered in 1942 were numbered 45000-46999). Within this group were 500 cars built by Pullman in April 1942, under Lot 5697, Series 46500-46999, and were the only cars to receive 7-Panel Superior doors: PC-3504.

 

Paint & Lettering: The early series of AC&F cars came with Mineral Brown sides, ends and truck side frames with black roofs and underframes; the later AC&F series had Mineral Red sides and truck side frames, with black roofs, ends and underframes. Lettering was all white stencil paste - monogram white with black center. For technical reference and information on these cars refer to Ed Hawkins and Pat Wider’s comprehensive series, RP CYC Vol 23, pages 1-41
 

Accurate decals for each lettering scheme for each time period are available from Protocraft Decals.