Now available from Rapido Trains is the N scale version of the PC&F B-100-40 “Half-Waffle” Boxcar.
Two hundred and fifty of these distinctive cars were built for the Southern Pacific Railroad by Pacific Car & Foundry in 1976. With 5,195 cubic feet of carrying capacity, these cars were generously equipped with options, including a full Hydra-Cushion underframe, 12-foot wide plug doors, Car Pac loaders and the iconic half-height waffle sides. These utilitarian boxcars traveled regularly throughout the United States and into Canada and Mexico as well. Many of the cars are still in service today, some for SP successor Union Pacific and others serving short lines. In addition, several cars from this series were purchased by Amtrak in 1997 for use in express service on trains across the system. The cars selected by Amtrak were refitted for express cargo service with a large wheel door handle, brackets for the end of train device and struts added to the trucks for extra stability at higher speeds.
Road names for this first production of N scale B-100-40s include Southern Pacific (as-delivered), Golden West – Ventura County (VCY – dark blue), Golden West (SP patch, faded blue), Southern Pacific (brown Union Pacific shield repaint, SP reporting marks), Columbus and Greenville (faded boxcar red). Amtrak in both Phase IV (silver/blue stripe) and Amtrak (REA-inspired dark green). Each car comes equipped with a long list of finely-rendered details, including etched-metal crossover platforms, 12-foot plug doors with separately-applied door rods and door tracks, detailed Hydra-Cushion underframe with full underbody brake rigging, coupler cut levers with extended draft gear, MTL-compatible knuckle couplers, one of two styles of 100-ton roller bearing trucks with 36-inch low-profile machined metal wheelsets, and much more. MSRP $36.95 each for the N scale B-100-40. HO scale versions were released earlier for $49.95 each. Multiple road numbers per paint scheme. Available now from your favorite authorized dealers while supplies last.
Rapido Trains, 500 Alden Road, Unit 21 Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5, Canada;1-855-572-6917; www.rapidotrains.com
Built for Southern Pacific, many of these cars found work on short lines, regionals and even Amtrak in later years.
The cars selected by Amtrak were refitted for express cargo service with a large wheel door handle, brackets for the end of train device and struts added to the trucks for extra stability at higher speeds. Many of Amtrak’s B-100-40s were painted into Amtrak’s bright Phase VI livery.