Chicago & North Western Historical Society MODELER

Chicago & North Western Historical Society

MODELER
Volume #7, Issue #2

In This Issue:

• Scratchbuilding M&StL (GATC leased) Stock Cars
• Building a 1970s Grain Boxcar Fleet – Part 3
• Modeling a Chicago & North Western Class J-S Part 4
• Installing DCC and Sound in a CNW Alco S-1
• Some Lettering Variations On Chicago Great Western Steam

Locomotives

Features: calendars, equipment rosters, and
reprints of original CNW source
material.

Scratchbuilding M&StL (GATC leased) Stock Cars (p3) This publication makes otherwise
By Charles Schwartz unobtainable data available to
the membership at reasonable
Building a 1970s Grain Boxcar Fleet – Part 3 (p18) cost. Membership in the Society
By Dennis Eggert is a vote of support and makes all
of the Society’s work possible. It
Modeling a Chicago & North Western Class J-S Part 4 provides those interested in the
(p28) CNW with a legitimate, respected
By Lloyd Keyser voice in the railroad and historical
communities. By working together,
Installing DCC and Sound in a CNW Alco S-1 (p35) individuals interested in CNW are
By Chris Thompson able to accomplish much more
than by individual efforts. No
Some Lettering Variations On Chicago Great Western matter how diverse your interests
Steam Locomotives (p42) or how arcane your specialty,
By David R Webb MD others share your fascination with
CNW and affiliated railroads.
Editor An Invitation to join the The Archives Committee of
POSITION OPEN CNW Historical Society the C&NWHS is very active and
Model Products News maintains a large collection of the
Editor The CNWHS is an independent C&NW and related roads. For more
POSITION OPEN non-profit educational corporation. information see the CNWHS web
Publications Editor The Society’s purpose is to foster site.
Ron Christensen interest, research, preservation,
Technical Advisors and the distribution of information Merchandise related to the C&NW,
Dennis Eggert concerning the C&NW and related as well as back issues of NWL, Car
Alastair Muir roads. Its membership is spread kits and structure kits for modeling
David J Stuefen throughout the United States and are offered through the CNWHS
Richard H. Berry numerous foreign countries, and web site.
Joel Goldberg its scope includes all facets of the
Richard Green CNW. Currently the Society has Chicago and North Western Historical
Layout/Design close to 3000 registered members. Society Modeler is a publication of the CNW
Jon Beard Members regularly receive a Historical Society (CNWHS) for the purpose of
Find Us Online: variety of information including a disseminating CNW modeling information.
quarterly publication: NWL. An Illinois not-for-profit Corporation dedicated
http://www.cnwhs.org/modeler North Western Lines NWL is to preserving the legacy of the C&NW and its
dedicated to the publication of predecessor & successor roads since 1973.
articles and news items of historical Copyright © CNWHS – 2010 – All Rights
significance. Other Society Reserved.
publications include monographs, May only be reproduced for personal use. Not
for sale other than by the CNWHS.
Manuscripts and photographs submitted
for publication are considered to be gratis
and no reimbursement will be made to the
author or the photographer(s) or his/her
representative(s). Please contact the Editor with
comments and corrections and for submission
guidelines. Statements and opinions made are
those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent those of the CNWHS.

The Chicago & North Western Historical Society is in no way affiliated with the former Chicago & North Western or any of
it subsidiaries or parent companies. Logos are used with the permission of the Union Pacific Railroad Company.

2 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Scratchbuilding M&StL (GATC leased)
Stock Cars By Charles Schwartz

Chuck’s stock car models were awarded the Lloyd Foundry, were all retired by the end of 1932. In the
Keyser award for Best of Show at the 2014 Chicago 1930s, as much of the rail traffic was replaced by
North Western Historical Society convention in La trucks, many railroads turned to leasing stock cars
Crosse, Wisconsin. from such companies as Mather Stock Car Company
and GATC (General American Transportation
HISTORY Company).
With its head in the meat packing centers of M&StL first leased stock cars in 1939. Series 72001-
Minneapolis / St. Paul and its feet firmly planted in 72019 (10 cars), and series 71001-71049 (25 cars)
the agricultural heartland of the upper Midwest, the came from GATC while series 39001-39149 (55 cars)
Minneapolis and St. Louis, like most other granger came from Mather. All of the M&StL stock cars were
roads from the beginning, needed a fleet of stock odd numbered. One of the subjects of this modeling
cars to move livestock. Early movements were project is the 72001-series Class SF (double deck)
largely from the cattle and sheep ranges of South cars, which lasted until being retired from the roster
Dakota to packing plants in the east: Minneapolis, in 1953.
St. Paul and Albert Lea in Minnesota; Mason City, In 1946, M&StL leased a further 50 cars from GATC,
Des Moines and Fort Dodge in Iowa, among others. all of which were also odd numbered 73001-
Later, as pork became a larger part of the public 73099. These were Class SM (single deck) cars. It’s
diet while agricultural practices, road transport and unknown how long they remained on the roster
refrigeration technology evolved, the need for a but 40 of their number were still represented on the
large fleet of company owned stock cars decreased. 1953 ORER. This series is the other subject of this
In the early years, many stock cars were fashioned modeling project.
from retired boxcars. An example of these would Stock car travels weren’t always confined to home
be the 35323 – 35699 series stock cars, originally roads. The needs of packing plants on the eastern
built as boxcars in 1899, and rebuilt by M&StL shops seaboard were met by shipments of livestock from
as stock cars in 1928. These were all gone from the nation’s heartland. I have seen a 1955 consist of
the roster by the time of the 1953 Official Railway a New York Central freight from Chicago to Buffalo
Equipment Register (ORER). Others were built to including two M&StL stock cars from the 72019-
specs for the home road, such as the 1300 – 1399 72057 series. Those cars, from a later series leased
series. These cars, built in 1906 by American Car & from GATC in 1954, are not the subject of this article.
The two cars were destined for packing plants in
www.cnwhs.org
3

Massachusetts and Connecticut. animals the smoothest ride possible in order to
Class SF (double deck) cars were used for sheep, reduce injuries and deaths. Also, it made it easier to
goats, hogs and calves. The single deck cars could cut the string of cars out for rest, feeding and water
also accommodate the same stock, but more for required periods while enroute.
commonly were used for cattle or, on occasion, Return trips from packing plants or feed lots need
horses. The numbers of each type of stock that could not be “dead-headed”. Cars would be cleaned to
be carried in a car was strictly regulated. Typical or a degree and loaded with various types of lading.
average capacities for a 40-foot car would be: cattle Examples could include: railroad ties, ceramic tiles,
(40), hogs (60 per deck) and sheep (130 per deck). bagged coal, lumber, bricks or even watermelons
Loads of livestock were always located directly and tomatoes. These examples can add a bit of
behind the locomotive. This was done to give the interest to operating sessions.

Photo 1. Series 35323 – 35699, were built in 1899 as boxcars and rebuilt by M&StL shops in 1928. (Vern Wigfield collection)

Photo 2. Series 1300 – 1399, were built by AC&F to M&StL specs in 1906. (Vern Wigfield collection)

4 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

A listing of known M&StL stock cars is below. Thanks to Gene Green for compiling the information represented
in this table. The two series that are the subject of this project are in bold.

Year Status Qty. No’s. Notes Built 1914
?
1880 Buy 50 1006-1055 Renumbered to 34000s Ohio* ?
1892 Build 15 1056-1070 Renumbered to 34000s Ry ?
1892 Build 2 see notes Replacement car #s 1030 & 1036 Ry 1932
1895 Build 2 see notes Replacement car #s 1045 & 1052 Ry ?
1897 Buy 100 36001-36199 Originally Iowa Central #s 6000-6198 THCC** ?
1898 Build 25 1100-1124 Renumbered to 34000s Ry ?
1899 Build 25 1125-1149 Renumbered to 34000s Ry
1900 Build 25 1150-1174 Renumbered to 34000s Ry
1902 Buy 150 37001-37299 Originally Iowa Central #s 6200-6500 SC&F***

1906 Buy 100 1200-1399 From Box Cars by M&StL ACF 1932
1928 Convert 160 35323-35699 From Box Cars by M&StL Ry ?
1929 Convert 140 35323-35699 Leased from GATC Ry ?
1939 Lease 10 72001-72019 Leased from GATC
1939 Lease 25 71001-71049 Leased from Mather 1953
1939 Lease 55 39001-39149 Leased from GATC 1948
1946 Lease 50 73001-73099 1946
1953 Leased from GATC
1954 Lease 20 72019-72057 ?

* Ohio Falls

** Terre Haute Car Company

*** Southern Car & Foundry

Photo 3. The only known photo shows an M&StL Series 72001 – 72019 (10 cars, odd numbers only), AAR Class SF. Built by
GATC in 1939; it was leased to M&StL and retired from the roster in 1953. (Richard Hendrickson collection)

www.cnwhs.org 5

Photo 4. M&StL Series 73001 – 73099 (50 cars, odd numbers only), AAR Class SM were built by GATC in 1946 and leased to
M&StL. These cars lasted beyond the 1953 ORER. (Vern Wigfield collection)

MODELING PROCESS chopper or similar device is an invaluable tool in a
I model the M&StL circa 1950 and needed a few project such as this, which requires multiple copies
stock cars to add to the fleet. Nobody that I know of the same length component.
of makes an accurate model of a GATC stock car
(typically, that will change now that the models are I decided to try to model the ‘Z’ braces with two
built and this article written). So, I decided to take pieces of styrene, as depicted in Photo 9 and
the leap and scratch-build a few of the GATC cars Diagram 1 that follows. This didn’t turn out to be
since I have photos and dimensional data for them. as daunting a task as I anticipated. Some patience
Outside dimensions for both classes of stock cars, as and a steady hand are required, however. For every
obtained from the 1953 ORER, are nearly identical. two usable results, there was probably one that
Outside dimensions important for the modeling needed to be discarded. Also, note that the ends
project are as follows: of the braces on the prototype are beveled a bit.
This is easily accomplished with a sharp #11 blade.
Length = 41’ 4” I then tacked the ends of the angled styrene stock
Width at top of sides = 9’ 6” (Plastruct #90500) to the edge of the straight stock
Height from rail to top of sides = 12’ 9” (Evergreen #122). When the tack set, I applied
Height from rail to top of running boards = 13’ 6” Plastic Weld to the rest of the ‘seam’.
Door width = 5’
Door Height = 8’ 3” Photos 5 – 11 are of the single deck car (Class SM);
I chose to model with styrene as opposed to wood photos 12 – 17 are of the Class SF (double deck)
because of the variety of dimensional strip and car. All modeling photos are by the author.
shaped styrene available. A Northwest Short Line

6 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Photo 5. Photo 5. Square and support elements were both jigs and part of the assembly.

Photo 6. One side completed and another under construction showing styrene spacers. 7

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Photo 7. After ‘Z’ braces were added for stabilization of the side subassembly, the doors were cut out using a sharp #11
blade. Rivets, grabs, ladders and door.

Photo 8. One side of the construction is completed and ready for primer. To form the bottom door guide .019” brass wire
was used while .015” brass wire was used for the hand pulls on the door. Side and end ladders were from Tichy Train
Works. Rivets (nearly 600 per car!) were also from Tichy.

Photo 9. Close-up showing two-piece construction of individual ‘Z’ braces. Straight styrene strip is shown braced against
the metal square with angled styrene supported by the edge of the square. Ends were tacked in place with liquid cement
with Plastic Weld applied to the seam when the joint set. For every two braces that turned out well, there was probably
one “throw-away”.

8 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Photo 10. Shown are some of the elements of the project before assembly of the single deck, series 73001-73099, M&StL
stock car. Most of the nearly 600 (actually 592+….I lost count!) rivet details are evident in this view. The roof, not included
in this photo, was constructed of a single piece of v-groove styrene, which was scribed down the centerline and bent to the
appropriate contour. The ends were constructed of scribed car siding. The 40’ boxcar underframe and AB brake parts are
from Tichy Train Works. Brake rigging and piping are .015” and .019” brass wire from Model Supplies.

www.cnwhs.org 9

Photo 11. The car body is taking shape with the sides and ends in place on the underbody/floor. Roof supports are also in
place to provide support and contour. The underside of the roof is also shown with the guides to ensure proper alignment
when gluing in place.

Photo 12. This AAR Class SF (double deck) stock car is similar to that built by GATC and leased to the M&StL. A major differ-
ence is in the spacing of side slats at the bottom of each deck. The supports perpendicular to the slats in the doors are also
lacking in the M&StL version. Compare with Photo 3. (From M&StL group file.)

10 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Photo 13. Basic assembly of the double deck cars began like the single deck cars with number and spacing of side slats
being the difference. Otherwise, the process was identical. (Refer to Photo 3)

Photo 14. Both sides of the double deck car are shown after addition of door hardware, rivets, hand grabs and other details.

Read stories about the people whose actions shaped the railway, those who
experienced the railroad way of life, and those whose actions preserved it for us all.

http://cnwhs.org/railroad_stories.htm

www.cnwhs.org 11

Photo15. Sides have been attached to the underbody/floor. Angle iron supports for the top deck have been put in place
based on spacing seen in Photo 12.

Photo 16. The subassembly now includes the ends and roof supports. It has been primed and the top deck of v-grooved
styrene has been painted and added.
Photo 17. The underside of the roof with the “alignment bars” in place has been primed. The underside of the running
board (Tichy Train Group) shows the running board supports, which I fashioned. Each support consists of three pieces of
strip styrene; one long and two short with a ‘gap’ in between to accommodate the roof center contour.

12 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Photo.18 The ‘A’ end of the car is pictured. 13

www.cnwhs.org

Photo 19. Shown is ‘B’ end of #72005, Class SF. The ends were identical on both classes. End ladders are Tichy Train Works.
Grabs (Tichy Train Works) and stirrup steps (‘A’ Line) have been added. Vertical brake staff is also Tichy Train Works. Cut le-
vers are fashioned from .015” brass wire. Models were spray painted with Floquil Boxcar Red over a coat of Model Master
Gray Primer. Couplers are Kadee #148.

14 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Photo 20. #73001, Class SM.

Photo 21. #73049, Class SM, center, modeled with one door open.

Photo 22. (#72005, Class SF). Trucks are Accurail Bettendorf trucks with metal wheelsets. Decals are from Train Detail
Works (Gerald Glow). Note that the SM cars have a square placard under the herald (M&StL referred to this as the ‘mono-
gram’) while the SF car has a circular placard (compare with the prototype photos, above). The SF cars displayed the 3-color
red-white-black M&StL herald/monogram. Weathering with chalks included some white to represent the lime that was
used in the livestock trade to provide a (mostly futile) measure of sanitation.

www.cnwhs.org 15

This was an enjoyable and rewarding project. I was the rivets!); I may build three more to double the
satisfied with the results. Even though the project size of my M&StL stock car fleet.
was a bit time-consuming (especially providing for

Parts List for M&StL Stock car project

Manufacturer Part # Description
Tichy Train Group 3019 40’ Boxcar underframe
3013 AB brake gear
A Line 3033 Freight car ladders
Plastruct 3029 40’ wood roofwalk w/ grabs
Evergreen Plastic 3070 Door Hardware
8017 .020” rivet heads (200)
Detail Associates 3021 18” straight grab irons
Accurail 29002 Stirrup Steps
Kadee 90500 1/32” angle x 10” (Z-bracing, deck supports on Class
Model Supplies SF)
Train Detail Works 90531 1/16” channel x 10” (channel bracing on sides)
112 .015 x .040 (bracing)
122 .020 x .040 (bracing)
8204 Scale 2” x 4” (sides)
8206 Scale 2” x 6” (sides)
8208 Scale 2” x 8” (sides)
8210 Scale 2” x 10” (sides)
2050 .020” thick V-groove styrene sheet (roof )
4067 .040” thick car siding (ends)
2206 Wire eyebolts (20/pkg)
200 Bettendorf trucks/metal wheels
148
2506 .019” brass wire (brake piping, door guides)
2505 .015” brass wire (cut levers, brake rigging)
M&StL Stock Car decals (Gerald Glow)

16 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Dont Miss North Western Lines!

North Western Lines is a quarterly publication, which began in 1974. Today, it is considered one of
the premer historical publications. Each issue contains current news, articles, a photo section, and

modeling information. A one-year subscription is free for members!

http://cnwhs.org/nwl.htm

www.cnwhs.org 17

Building a 1970s Grain Boxcar Fleet – Part 3

Riveted PS-1 Boxcars Using Kadee Cars and Archer Rivets
By Dennis Eggert
Prototype Information:

As written in parts 1 and 2 of this series, the C&NW
had 4,625 Pullman-Standard PS-1 40-foot boxcars
with riveted side panels. The cars were built in four
groups between 1948 and 1953. By the time of my
mid-1970s modeling era, 3,900 40-foot riveted PS-1s
were still in service, which made up about 19% of the
six-foot door, 40-foot boxcar fleet.

Using the grain boxcar roster data from part one,
my 30-car HO grain boxcar fleet needed to have
five riveted PS-1 cars to have a prototypical mix of
cars. With the riveted car described in part two, four
additional cars were still needed. The availability
of prototype photos is good for the cars numbered
1 to 625, which were built in 1953. It seems rail
photographers found the cars in the low number
series interesting. Because of the abundance of
prototype photos, I chose to build models of cars 1,
354 and 478. For the fourth car, I chose car 108504
from the 1949 group. Good photos of the even
numbered, riveted cars in group 6200-7398, built in
1951, have been difficult to find, so I did not build a
car representing that group.

Right: The car diagram, for cars 1-625, is from the Chicago
and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams, dated March
15, 1976.

18 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

The car diagram above, for car 108504, is from the Chicago and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams, dated March 15, 1976

www.cnwhs.org 19

CNW #1, from the 1953 order, is shown at Clinton, IA in June of 1977. The Clinton Paint Shop records show this car re-
painted on October 14, 1965. It appears that welding steel plates on the side of the car has repaired car body damage.
Dennis Eggert photo.

Cars 354 and 478 at Huron, SD in December of 1978. Larry Nast photos from the collection of Lloyd Keyser. It is unknown
why these cars each have a white dot near their numbers.

20 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

108504, from the 1949 order, is shown at Mankato, MN in July of 1974. Dennis Eggert photo.

Construction: Making the Battens:

I experimented by building models using two Where the side panels come together on the riveted
different methods. I first built one riveted car using boxcars there appears to be an overlap or batten,
a Kadee PS-1 and Archer rivets, then a second car which needed to be added to the body shells at each
using an Intermountain AAR boxcar kit (as described seam. Using a fresh Xacto #16 blade and a straight
in part two of this series). The Kadee HO 40-foot edge, I cut strips from a sheet of .005” thick styrene
boxcar is a beautifully rendered model of the welded approximately .03” wide. Then using a North West
Pullman-Standard PS-1. The cars are nearly a perfect Short Line“Chopper II”, I cut 64 pieces from the strips,
match for the C&NW riveted cars; only the rivet detail each 1.34” long. Using the cast-on weld lines on the
needs to be added. My choice was to build three car bodies as guides, I glued eight pieces on each
more riveted units using Kadee cars. The last three car side using Testors Liquid Plastic Cement. I like
cars were built simultaneously using the exact same using the Testors cement for this type of glue joint
process as the first car. because it has a long work time, and will allow some
The Kadee cars are available in ready-to-run and in adjustment before completely setting up. Care must
kit form. These cars have cast metal underframes be taken to not use too much cement as it may
and plastic body shells. The running boards and all of completely dissolve the .005” styrene!
the fine details on the cars are cast in an unbreakable
plastic. All of the fine details snap onto the car body
shell without glue, which makes the RTR cars easy
to disassemble for kit bashing and painting. The car
body shells are painted and the unbreakable plastic
details are unpainted, but cast in plastic with colors
matching the body shells.

While attending a swap meet, I found a vendor with a The battens were made by cutting narrow strips from a
good price on the RTR Kadee cars and bought several sheet of .005” thick styrene, using a straight edge and a
of them. The first step in my construction process Xacto knife with a #16 blade. Several strips were cut “by
was disassembling the cars. I like to think of the eye” and those too narrow or too wide were discarded.
acronym “RTR” as meaning “Ready To Rip apart”. On
a warm fall evening, I took several of the body shells
outside to our picnic table where I soaked them in
Chameleon Paint Remover. After a light scrubbing
with a soft brush, the cars became undecorated.

www.cnwhs.org 21

The battens were cut to length using a
North West Shortline Chopper II. A block
of styrene was clamped into place to
mass-produce 64 of the 1.34” long strips.

Adding the Archer Rivet Transfers: shell. Applying Archer rivets is similar to applying
Archer Fine Transfers (www.archertransfers.com) a wet transfer decal, except they are applied before
produces a product line of three dimensional resin painting the model. After some trial and error, I
rivets, welds and louvers on clear decal film. The determined they adhere best to a glossy surface, and
“Archer rivets”, as they are known, revolutionized the brushed on a little bit of Future (trademark) (acrylic
modeling world by making the adding of rivet detail floor finish) where the rivets were applied. I also used
much easier than ever before possible. Without Walthers Solvaset, just as I do on decals, to make the
the Archer rivets, converting these welded Kadee decal film conform to any irregular surfaces. The
cars would not be feasible. After closely examining rivets can be applied individually, or can be cut in
one of the Kadee body shells, I chose the Archer long strips and applied in mass quantities. On the
sheet number AAR88026 (5/8” diameter) which boxcars, I cut them in long strips and applied the
closely matches the existing rivets on the body rivets as one piece.

This photo shows the applica-
tion of a group of Archer rivets
as they are being slid off the
backing paper.

22 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Archer rivets were added on top of each batten, and horizontal rows of rivets were added just below the eave and a
row above the bottom sill.

This shows car 354 after all of the Archer rivets were applied. Note the added horizontal rows of rivets just below the 23
eave and just above the bottom sill, which are black.

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Two of the four Kadee cars converted to riveted cars, came with Kadee’s new Self-Centering “HGC” 2- Piece Equalized
Trucks. One of the trucks is shown here after painting and weathering. The wheel sets were replaced with Intermoun-
tain code 88 semi-scale wheels.

Three of the body shells are shown with all of the Archer rivets applied. The small details can now be replaced.

24 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Painting and Lettering: I have learned the hard way that masking tape can
The sides of the three cars with billboard lettering lift off the Archer rivets. To avoid masking over the
(354, 487 and 108504) were painted PRR Tuscan. The rivets, I broke the rule of painting light colors first
sides of car 1 were painted Boxcar Red. The ends on and painted the ends of the cars black first. Next, I
all four of the cars were painted Engine Black. The removed the running boards, and painted the roofs
roofs of all four cars were painted with a mixture of of the four cars silver. I did not mask the ends of the
Aluminum and Primer Gray. All of the paint used cars, and used care when airbrushing the roofs. The
was Polly Scale, and was applied with an airbrush. running boards were painted while removed from
The decals for cars 354, 487 and 108504 were from the cars. I then masked the roofs and ends and
Microscale set #87-1006 for 40-foot slogan boxcars. airbrushed the sides of the cars.
The decals for car 1 were from my decal scrap box.

Cars 1, 478 and 108504 are shown here just after applying the decals. The trucks, couplers and underbodies of the cars
have already been weathered. Car #1 had a black rectangle painted behind the number. Perhaps it was to make it clear
that no other digits were present. The black rectangle was made on the model by applying a piece of black decal.

www.cnwhs.org 25

Weathering: scraping off some of the ink. I will not repeat the
Before weathering the cars, I scratched off some of remaining weathering process details here, since it is
the decal ink to give the lettering a faded look. This identical to the process described in part two.
was done using a sharp Xacto #16 blade, and lightly The following photos show the four finished models.

26 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Next Issue: Chicago and North Western Ry. Book of Car Diagrams,
In Part 4, I’ll show how to make some of the C&NW’s dated March 15, 1976
secondhand ex NYC, P&LE and Western Pacific AAR Mainline Modeler, December 1982, Pullman-Standard
boxcars using Intermountain and Red Caboose kits. PS-1 Boxcar, Data and Research by Todd Sullivan
Sources:
The Official Railway Equipment Register, Vol. 92, No.3 27
Issued January 10, 1977

www.cnwhs.org

Modeling a Chicago & North Western
Class J-S Part 4 – The Brakeman Shelter By Lloyd Keyser
There was no love between the engineer and fire- in territories where necessary. The railroads are
man and the head brakeman in the cab of a loco- allowed five years in which to install such seats in
motive. The brakeman was considered to be just in locomotives coming under the agreement. All new
the way and sat on a board beside the boiler or had locomotives covered by the agreement, however,
to stand in a very small and hot location while the will be equipped when built. The negotiations be-
engineer and fireman had cushioned seats. After tween the trainmen and the railroads resulted from
years of complaining and union negotiations with a complaint filed by the former with the Interstate
the railroads, the head brakeman finally got relief. Commerce Commission in an effort to have an
The October 16, 1937 issue of Railway Age pub- order issued requiring that such seating facilities
lished the following: be furnished by all railroads.”
“Head brakeman on freight trains will henceforth Compliance with the agreement was accomplished
ride in heated quarters fitted with spring cushion in various ways by the railroads. Some railroads
seats with arm and back rests, as a result of an added brakeman shelters on the tenders in various
agreement announced on October 13 between the locations, some modified the fireman’s side of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Associa- cab, and some extended the left side of the cab and
tion of American Railroads.” others added extensions to the back wall of the cab.
The joint statement in this communication from The C&NW implemented this order to various de-
A. F. Whitney, president of the B.R.T., and J. J. Pelley grees, between the years of 1937 through 1940 to
president of the A.A.R, says: forty-eight Class J, J-S and J-A, all fourteen Class J-4,
“Under the agreement, which becomes effective seven Class H and at least one Class Z (possibly a
November, spring cushion seats with arm and back switch of tenders). The records are not always clear
rests will be provided head brakemen and will be as to the exact number of tenders to which the shel-
installed on locomotives used for freight service, ter was applied. Due to the height of the tenders
combination freight and passenger service, and on the Class J-4, Class H and some extended height
combination freight and helper service. Such a seat Class “J” tenders, the shelters were recessed into the
either will be installed in the locomotive cab or in water tank dropping the shelter roof to the level of
a shelter cab placed on the tender of the locomo- the slope sheet.
tive, the location being optional with the railroad. Brakeman shelters were located in various locations
Heaters are also to be provided in the shelter cabs as dictated by the available area on the tender deck.

The J small 8250 gallon tender required the water hatch The J-A extended length tenders equipped with ATS
to be relocated farther back on the deck and the ATC box allowed the shelter to be placed in the center of the deck
rotated 90 degrees to provide room for the shelter. behind the coal pusher.

28 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

The J tenders that had their height increased twelve inches had the shelter located to the left of the coal pusher, cut into
the slope sheet and recessed into the water tank.

Modeling of the shelter for the J-S dle and drill locations for the grab irons. Due to over
The shelter is provided as a brass etching which etching, care must be taken to not separate any
contains the rivet patterns, door hinges, door han- portion of the sides.

1. Drill the four grab iron holes with a #79 drill bit. 2. Locate and drill the steam line holes with a #74 drill bit. 3. Using a
fret cutter such as a Xuron #440 High Precision Scissor, cut the outside frame as you go to provide direct access to the fret.
Cut as close as you can. 4. Do not remove the side panels attached to the roof until after the roof is formed.

www.cnwhs.org 29

5: Remove the remaining portion of the fret using 400-
grit sandpaper. Sand at the edge of a board so as to pre-
vent distortion of the brass etching. Sand with downward
strokes.

A very useful modeling tool for providing a 90-de- 1x4 wood to a longer wood base being sure the
gree corner for cementing, soldering and assembly short vertical piece has been cut to provide a 90
of parts, can be made by screwing a short piece of degree angle.

6. Carefully bend one half of the back to 90 degrees as shown and cement a .030 x .040 piece of styrene to strengthen the
corner. Leave a .040 space at the bottom edge for the placement of a .040 floor. Orient the styrene to clear the windows
for securing the glazing.
7. Do not bend the four mounting angles at the bottom of the sides at this time.

30 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

8. Very carefully, work your way around the remaining
corners until the two back half walls come together. Align
the two halves and add a .040 x .250 piece of styrene and
CA in place. Hold until it sets. Measure the opening and
cut a .040 piece of styrene for a snug fit at the bottom of
the shelter.

9. Before cementing in place, drill and file a rectangu- 31
lar hole. This will allow access for adding the glazing or
attaching the roof.

www.cnwhs.org

10. Now to the roof. Form to fit the roof to the shelter top.
It has been recessed to overhang the sides. Take a soft
rubber kneepad and with an Exacto handle begin to roll
back and forth to the ends of the side panels until the
roof fits perfectly. Then the side panels may be removed
with the fret cutter and the sides of the roof sanded
smooth. If the panels were removed prior to forming, the
two edges of the rest of the roof would be straight and
not properly fit the curve of the end walls.

11. Construct two steam lines from .020 brass rod and CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2
solder on the Precision Scale elbows #48394 which are
cored for .020 brass rod. The holes in the elbows will
need to be cleaned out with a drill. The steam input line
is long to fit under the coal sheet and the steam exhaust
is short and vertical to the tender deck.
Grab Irons are made from .012 brass rod. Use CA to hold
all of the steam lines and grab irons in place on the inside
of the shelter.

32

12. Bend the four mounting angles and paint the shelter
and roof with your choice of black.
13. You may fit the glazing either through the hole in the
bottom or from the top. I choose the top. Cut three pieces
of .005 clear styrene 7/32 x 9/32, a little larger than the
opening for attaching. I chose canopy cement, to attach
the glazing in place and apply the cement to the four
corners and the middle of each side with a piece of wire.

www.cnwhs.org 14. The roof may now be applied. I chose to apply several
dots of canopy cement (which dries to a clear transparent
finish) through the hole in the bottom of the shelter, to
the joint of the roof and sides in order to attach the roof.
15. The shelter is now ready to attach to the tender deck
either by soldering or CA. Refer to the two tender photos
in Part II.

33

From the Archives

Sample AFE for shelters from the CNWHS archives.

34 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Installing DCC and Sound in a CNW Alco S-1
By Chris Thompson
Chicago & North Western Proto1000 ALCO S-1 switcher needed a Micro Tsunami, speaker, and LED lighting installed. The
search for a speaker to fit led me to a new source for speakers and the future looks bright for sound installs on small locos
with limited spaces inside the body. Here’s a look at the factory-stock S-1.

The locomotive as it looks with the shell off. 35

www.cnwhs.org

Cut the factory light bars short, and mount a 35x28mm warm-white LED to the lens.

Paint all but the end of the LED flat black so no light bleeds through. CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

36

I had to isolate the motor from the frame. The S-1 uses the frame for power and needed to be isolated. I cut the tab con-
necting the bottom motor brush to the frame, soldered a wire lead on instead and then used electrical tape on the frame
bay and the bottom of the motor to ensure isolation.

www.cnwhs.org 37

Here’s the completed Tsunami and lighting install with plugs and all, minus the speaker.

The speakers are commonly called “sugar cube” speakers. They’re intended for use in cell phones or tablets but after
reading and watching YouTube videos about them I thought I’d better give ‘em a try. I ordered two sizes – 13x18x4.5mm
and 11.6x15x4mm. They came from TVW Miniatures in Wisconsin (tvwminiatures.com) and include a laser-cut plywood
speaker box for 7 and 6 bucks respectively. This picture shows them with a motor next to them for size reference.

38 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Here’s the 13x18 speaker next to the Railmaster 14x36

My plan here was to place the speaker in the cab roof but I found where someone had removed the cab interior to install
a speaker. This got me thinking because I don’t like the idea of a speaker hanging down inside the windows. I decided to
trim the cab interior and mount the speaker there firing down over the rear truck. I cut of the raised part of the cab floor,
control stand, and front cab wall as it is not really visible. The worst part of the deal was having to amputate the engineer
and fireman.

www.cnwhs.org 39

Speaker box painted flat black, crewmen glued to their seat and the speaker enclosure is what holds it together.

40 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

The interior mounted back into the shell. All I can say is these speakers sound WAY better than I thought they would
given their size. After tweaking the Tsunami’s EQ and volumes with Decoder Pro I can easily say I’m satisfied these
speakers. Here are a few pictures of the assembled loco showing how inconspicuous the speaker appears through the
cab windows.

Have you been to the Member Photo section of the
CNWHS website lately? Come by and see what’s new! (And

don’t forget to share yours with us!)

http://cnwhs.org/memberphotos

www.cnwhs.org 41

Some Lettering Variations On Chicago
Great Western Steam Locomotives

Part 2 – The Jacketed Smokebox Issue By David R Webb MD

In Part 1, it was remarked that during the 1930s, the heater. Based upon available photographic evi-
CHICAGO GREAT WESTERN spelled out on the sides dence, by 1931 the CGW had begun doing this to its
of tenders was replaced by the familiar Corn Belt older locomotives. By the end of steam, all but a few
Route medallions, and that this more or less coin- of its small locomotives, e.g., some 0-6-0 switchers
cided with the jacketing of locomotive smokeboxes. and the ex-St. Paul Bridge & Terminal moguls, had
In Part 2, implications for modelers are given further received this treatment. Priority seems to have been
consideration. given first to the larger road engines, the Mikados
Putting a water jacket around a locomotive’s smoke- and Pacifics, then to the ten-wheelers, Consolida-
box was a “poor man’s” way of making a feedwater tions, and prairies and lastly to the switch engines.

Spotting features for unjacketed vs. jacketed smoke- or silvered. In contrast, the jacketed smokebox is of
boxes are nicely illustrated, respectively, by the the same diameter, i.e., is flush with the boiler, its
June, 1933 photo of class K5s Pacific # 925 and the large riveting is covered up, and the jacket is paint-
November, 1948 photo of class L1a Mikado # 729. ed black, with only the smokebox cover and stack
The diameter of the unjacketed smokebox is smaller showing as being graphited. Once these nuances
than that of the boiler, it’s large rivets are readily are appreciated, any modeling infidelity to proto-
noticeable, and the entire smokebox as well as the type in this regard becomes glaringly obvious.
smokebox cover and stack are seen to be graphited
42 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Class T-1 Texas type # 864. The CGW’s modern, “super power” locomotives, the 2-10-4’s, came from the builders with
Worthington feedwater heaters; accordingly, their smokeboxes were never jacketed.

www.cnwhs.org 43

The ex-St. Paul Bridge & Terminal class J-4 0-8-0 # 3. As a general rule, excepting the Texas types,
18 was a unique and somewhat puzzling case. It during the early to mid-thirties, locomotives with
is shown above in August, 1935, shortly after the unjacketed smokeboxes had tenders with CHICAGO
CGW’s acquisition of the SPB&T, with an Elesco feed- GREAT WESTERN spelled out; those with jacketed
water heater. In the lower photo from May, 1946, smokeboxes had tenders with CBR medallions.
the feedwater heater had been removed and the 4. By the late thirties, excepting the Texas types, en-
smokebox jacketed. Possibly, the Elesco unit had gines with unjacketed smokeboxes were decidedly
failed, and the CGW not having other locomotives uncommon. Modeling a CGW locomotive having
with that type of heater decided to remove it rather an unjacketed smokebox and a tender with a CBR
than to repair or to replace it. It would be interest- medallion should therefore be road number, time
ing though to know the actual story. and place specific.
As previously noted, by 1931 the CGW had also The conundrum for modelers is that very few accu-
begun applying the Corn Belt Route medallion to rate models of CGW steam locomotives have been
tenders, i.e., coincidentally with the onset of jack- made and none with jacketed smokeboxes. When
eting the smokeboxes. The changeover in tender required, the jacketing would have to be fabricat-
lettering was completed by 1937, somewhat earlier ed, or at least simulated by painting the smokebox
than the more labor intensive and time consuming black. The most commonly available models appro-
smokebox jacketing. For this reason and because a priate for CGW steam are of USRA light Mikados and
given engine might be coupled at different times 0-6-0 switchers. In an era in which standardization
with different tenders, during the changeover was hardly welcome, the USRA locomotive designs
period one might occasionally find an engine with proved so successful that not only did many of the
unjacketed smokebox coupled to a tender with a original locomotives continue in service, but copies
CBR medallion. continued to be built, right up to the end of steam.
That said, the following generalizations may be In all, 1266 light Mikes were built, used by more
permitted: than 50 different roads, and 255 war time 0-6-0’s
1. Prior to 1931, no steam locomotives had jacketed were built, going to 24 different roads. It is not
smokeboxes or tenders with CBR medallions. surprising then that these ubiquitous locomotives
2. From 1937 to the end of steam, all tenders had would seem attractive to model manufacturers – a
CBR medallions. wide potential market with minimal need for differ-
ent tooling – and models have indeed been offered
in both brass and plastic and in different scales.

Very nicely detailed model of a class L-3, 1918 Baldwin-built, USRA light 2-8-2. This brass model of the CGW # 750 “as
delivered” (with unjacketed smokebox) was built by Samhongsa and imported by Key Imports in 1981. It is one of only
three HO scale model runs ever done specifically representing a Chicago Great Western steam locomotive.

44 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Otto C. Perry photo of L-3 Baldwin USRA 2-8-2 # 758, with unjacketed smoke box, Des Moines, Iowa, 09/27/29.

Broadway Limited Imports offered this generic plastic model of a USRA light 2-8-2 with DCC control and QSI sound. With
its graphited, unjacketed smokebox, it is suitable for a CGW class L-3 Mike, circa 1918 to early thirties. It has been lettered
similarly to the prototype # 758 above. N.B.: In all available photographs, all USRA Mikes with unjacketed smokeboxes
had tenders with CHICAGO GREAT WESTERN spelled out; all with jacketed smokeboxes had tenders with CBR medallions –
various model manufacturers/importers offerings notwithstanding.

www.cnwhs.org 45

Class B-6 1919 Alco-built USRA 0-6-0 as it appeared in June, 1935, assigned to the Baltimore and Ohio Chicago Terminal
Railroad. The smokebox remains unjacketed, but the USRA tender has been modified for clear vision, and a CBR medal-
lion has been applied.

A nicely done brass model of an “as built” USRA 0-6-0, built by Republic of Korea/American (Rok-Am) and imported by
Northwest Short Line in 1976.

The NWSL model, modified with clear vision tender, arch bar trucks and other details, and painted and lettered specifical-
ly to represent the class B-6 # 483 as pictured above. Professionally finished by David Long (Kelly Creek Backshops).

46 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Wm. K. Walthers offered this generic plastic model of a USRA 0-6-0 with DCC control and QSI sound as part of its Proto
2000 Heritage series. It has been fitted with a clear vision tender top and lettered to resemble # 483 as pictured above
Class E7s 1910 Baldwin-built ten wheeler # 509 as it appeared in the mid-thirties and forties, coupled to two different
appearing tenders. The smokebox has been jacketed, and the CBR medallion has been applied to the tender(s). Besides
the tender differences, the configuration of the locomotive handrails at the front of the engine is also different.

An M. B. Austin brass model of a class E7s 4-6-0, professionally finished by David Long to represent the # 509 as pic-
tured above. In this 1959 vintage model, the smokebox and boiler diameters were about the same, and the jacketing
was “finessed” by simply painting the smokebox black. In retrospect, an improvement would have been to file off the
smokebox rivet heads before painting. This MBA model is the rarest of models ever produced specifically to represent a
Chicago Great Western steam locomotive.

www.cnwhs.org 47

Class K5s 1913 Baldwin-built 4-6-2 # 930 as it looked in September, 1946.

Oriental Limited offered this model of a USRA light Pacific as part of its no-frills Powerhouse series. It has been slightly
modified, painted, and lettered to resemble the # 930 as pictured above. The jacketed smokebox has again been simulat-
ed by simply leaving it painted black.

(All photographs and models from author’s personal collection.)
48 CNWHS Modeler - Volume #7, Issue #2

Three N scale “Michigan Type” taconite ore jennys created using 3d printing technology available from Shapeways,
accompanied by an Athearn caboose. These taconite cars were painted with Polly Scale C&NW green (no longer
available) and decaled with Microscale set #60-562.
The cars are available at Shapeways.com. Look for Shapeways - Official Site, and find the minatures page. Than for a
quick link, use the search for “cnw taconite”. Models by Aaron McKinzie