Throughout the Southwestern US, the demand for new housing construction during the late 1960s and 1970s created an insatiable demand for lumber and building products. The Southern Pacific Railroad was uniquely situated to deliver these raw materials to building suppliers across its territory. Between 1972 and 1975, the Espee and its subsidiary – the St. Louis and Southwestern (Cotton Belt) placed multiple orders to Pacific Car and Foundry for new larger double-door boxcars to replace its aging fleet of 40’ lumber boxcars. Featuring external posts, and traditional terminating ends, these new and much larger cars measured 50’ 7” in length with either 5258 or 5119 cubic feet with internal load dividers, and were equipped with Hydra-Cushion underframes and either Youngstown or Superior doors. By the late 1970s, nearly 2,400 cars of this design family were serving the SP and SSW. The first groups were assigned to classes B-70-69, B-70-71 and B-70-75 on the railroad and were commonly seen nationwide.
These PC&F Double-door boxcars are available with either Youngstown or Superior sliding doors. Pictured here is the Superior door design as seen on this series of PC&F 5258s assigned to Cotton Belt’s B-70-69 class.
Now at your favorite dealer are highly detailed HO scale replicas of these ubiquitous boxcars from Rapido Trains. Each car is equipped with either Youngstown or Superior doors, separately applied door tracks, metal grab irons, full underbody brake rigging, 70-ton trucks with 33” turned metal wheelsets and Rapido’s semi-scale metal couplers in scale-width draft gear housings. Road names include Southern Pacific, Cotton Belt, Cotton Belt (DF-Loader), Golden West Service (as-rebuilt), Golden West Service (faded and patched back to SP) and undecorated. Multiple lettering variations are offered per road name with up to six road numbers per variation where appropriate. MSRP $54.95 each. Available now while supplies last at your favorite dealers or direct.
Rapido Trains, 500 Alden Road, Unit 21 Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5, Canada;1-855-572-6917; www.rapidotrains.com
During the 1990s, many of these cars were reconditioned by Gunderson Inc, returning in a vibrant blue livery for “Golden West Service”. These cars continued serving the SP system and were found all over North America.
