Please click on the images at right for pricing, SKUs, high resolution photos, prototype photos, car number options, and/or to order these HO scale replicas!
In the early 1960s, Southern Pacific faced a boxcar shortage from one of their most important customer constituencies: online lumber shippers. These shippers demanded a larger car supply plus improved cars with wider doors to ease the loading process using forklifts. In 1963, Southern Pacific’s Sacramento Shops embarked on an ambitious program to rebuild existing 40-foot boxcars with 7’ doors to cars with larger 10’” door openings. The program continued until 1970, and by the end of the program Sacramento Shops had amassed a fleet of more than 7000 rebuilt cars. Additionally, another 200 cars were rebuilt for copper bar service. These Sacramento rebuild cars were very distinctive due to the combination of a 10’0” height boxcar with a 10’ door, plus the 7” tall, angled reinforced sill that SP shop forces welded to the side of the car. Finally, a large yellow stripe was painted on the door, diagonally. These cars were affectionately called “Yellow Stripers,” where the yellow stripe denoted “lumber loading” and was introduced to help speed their return to SP lumber loading origins. No layout is complete without these unique SP box cars, including railroads far from SP lines.
Our SP release of HO scale models follows the features of two prototypes modified by SP’s Sacramento CA shops.
The first version replicates the cars rebuilt during the 1963-1966 program, which includes original ends and running boards, and brake appliances and ladders mounted in their original 1950s location. This particular example was released in 1965, so it retained its roof running board and high ladders/brake appliances. The details on the car include a gorgeous 10’ Youngstown door, an Apex style running board and brake step, 8-rung side and end ladders, an Equipco handbrake housing, and a Equipco brake wheel. Check out those 50-Ton ASF A-3 Ride Control trucks! The cars were released in the classic Southern Pacific brown paint scheme with white graphics and a diagonal yellow stripe across the door. If you look closely, you will notice a mix of SP Roman-style capacity data and sans serif-style dimensional data, both accurate for this era. These cars have such a distinctive look, with the reinforced angled side sill. The photo here is taken in 1970, from SP rails. Yup – the cars with running boards lasted into the 1980s. You need both versions!
The second version replicates the cars rebuilt by SP between 1968-1970, where the running board was removed and features lowered brake appliances, ladders and replacement “banana-tapered” dreadnaught ends. This particular prototype example was released by the SP in 1968, so it features lowered brake appliances along with removal of the originally supplied roof-top running board. Notice the replacement “dreadnaught” ends and additional vertical rows of rivets on the sides of the body near each end. Yes, we have tooled a completely different body shell (from the above-mentioned 1963-66 version) to handle this important distinction. The diagonal panel roof retains the old running board brackets that were left over when the SP rebuilt the car and removed the original running board. On the car side, the bottom corner door areas feature updated weldment detail and the separate door track along that huge 10’ door has additional bolt detail. Underneath, the brake details also differ for the era. The underframe linkage has an automatic slack adjuster and a lowered retainer valve housing and piping along the one side. These SP cars are painted and lettered in beautiful SP brown with white graphics and the distinctive yellow door stripes.
Here is one of the cars still soldiering on in 1980!
Everyone is an SP modeler. Literally. These prototypes operated all over the USA, Canada, and Mexico from their origins in 1963 until the early 1980s.
Here is one of them, on SP of course! You may have seen this location in person once or twice!
Then, here they are in a stunning view just as E.H. Harriman envisioned – on the Union Pacific portion of the Overland Route just outside of Green River WY. Note that there are some fresh cars here and some that are a few years old! These are presumably heading toward Ogden for interchange back to SP! And people wonder why we offer 12 packs!
Also on the Union Pacific Overland Route, on a different day, here is a set of new Radio Control System “Locotrol”-equipped UP SD45s cut into a train just railroad East of Laramie WY! This might be the “maiden run” for these SD45s, they are very very clean! And look at all of the SP 40′ rebuilt box cars heading east loaded with lumber products!
Do you model Milwaukee Road? There are many examples of these cars on Milwaukee Road transcontinental trains (in books, magazines, and in videos), as well as sightings of them on rural branches in Minnesota. But here is something more curious – what looks to be a group of them on the west end at Morton, presumably waiting to be loaded!
Model BN? Here is one in the BN era at Superior WI on the Lake Superior Terminal & Transfer. It is one of the cars in the distance… yup, a yellow stripe box car!
How about a car transferring through St. Louis on the Missouri Pacific in the mid 1960s? Look at all this boxcar goodness. Can you find the SP yellow striper?
Wondering how a car got to St. Louis? There are many possible routes! Here is a waybill for one – and it is not carrying lumber! This waybill is for one of these SP “yellow stripers,” loaded on the ICG (Former GM&O) Sparta District from Red Bud IL to SP Port Arthur Texas, carrying empty 55 gallon oil drums.
How about the great state of Michigan? Here is one on the Grand Trunk Western, in a pileup. Doubt this one went made it back to Oregon or California…
Mainline trains of all railroads seem to have examples of “yellow stripers” in them. But here is a PC switch engine with one, likely going to or coming from a local industry. Location is the B&M diamonds at West Concord MA on the ex NYNH&H Framingham & Lowell branch!
Waiting for more Erie Lackawanna models from Tangent? Look no further than our SP boxcars. Here are four of them, blocked right up front on a train in front of the TOFC!
When we said that these cars went everywhere, we meant it. Here is one about as far away from SP territory as you can get – in South Portland, Maine, on the Maine Central. Yes, SP lumber went to the Pine Tree state too!
Also, how about behind a Graham County Railroad revenue-service steam shay on a branchline in western North Carolina that connects to the Southern Railway?
Now… on to the models!
Our October 2023 first release includes the two prototype paint schemes described above. It also includes two “painted and ready to decal” RTR and two undecorated kit options – available for purchase today!
Please click on the images at right for pricing, SKUs, high resolution photos, prototype photos, car number options, and/or to order!
Never-before produced in HO model form, the Tangent Scale Models “Yellow Stripers” come in two different assembly versions, and both lasted into the 1980s. The first version replicates the cars rebuilt during the 1963-1966 program, which includes original ends and running boards, and brake appliances and ladders mounted in their original 1950s location. The second version replicates the cars rebuilt after 1967, where the running board was removed and features lowered brake appliances, ladders and replacement “banana-tapered” dreadnaught ends. Our boxcars include “near-scale” draft sill with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail, plus correct ASF 50-ton ASF A-3 Ride Control trucks. Finally, our scale replicas operate as well as they look, equipped with free-rolling CNC-machined wheels and Kadee® scale couplers, meaning our models are truly ready-to-run.
We make the best cars money can buy in HO scale. A quick synopsis of our era and railroad-specific detail variations include:
- Dimensional accuracy – designed from actual Pullman-Standard blueprints and verified with field measurements
- Highly correct “true to life” colors
- “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
- Two specific and differently-tooled bodies!
- Extremely realistic “bracket grab irons” and ladder assemblies
- 7 or 8 rung side and end ladders
- Beautiful diagonal panel roofs
- “See through” running boards and crossover platforms (in both Apex and Morton combinations)
- “Near scale” draft gear
- Genuine Kadee® scale couplers
- Separate flexible rubber air hoses
- Two different accurate stand-off door track options
- Side tack board types/sizes and locations
- Eleven prototypically-accurate brake stands (Ajax High/Low, Universal High/Low, 2 Equipco High versions, Equipco Low, Miner High/Low, National/Peacock High/Low)
- Six possible handbrake “brake wheel” options (Ajax, Universal, Equipco, Miner, Peacock, Modern) National/Peacock)
- New ASF 50-ton A-3 Ride Control trucks
- 33” wheels, with front and back detail and accurate tapered axles
- Separate truck brake beam parts
- Recommended age 14 years and older
Don’t miss out on the Tangent Scale Models Pullman-Standard SP Lines “Postwar” 40’6” Box Car with 10’0” Height and 7’ Doors – one of the most-prolific car types on North American rails! With accurate roadname and era-specific details, genuine Kadee couplers, and all-metal wheels, we provide you with a high-value model that will provide you with years of enjoyment and curb-appeal. These are 40-foot box cars tooled in the current era and they look spectacular.
Please click on the images at right for pricing, SKUs, high resolution photos, prototype photos, car number options, and/or to order!
