Category Description: Information about model and prototype boxcars.
"Urban Ore" Carriers: Modeling EMAX Cars
Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-06 pg. 58 Scale: HO Author: Frank Cicero
Prototype and model photos accompany this article about 60-foot boxcars that carry municipal waste. There is a sidebar on how to make the car's decals using WordPerfect for DOS.
2-foot Gauge Bridgton & Harrison Railroad Boxcar #56
Narrow Gauge And Short Line Gazette 2007-01/02 pg. 57 Scale: (none) Author: J.R. Dunlop
Scale drawings of this car.
ABCs of Boxcars
Model Railroader 1987-11 pg. 110 Scale: (none) Author: Jim Kelly
Describes the history and evolution of boxcars.
ABOX: A Two-door Version of the Railbox Part 1
Railroad Model Craftsman 1980-07 pg. 62 Scale: (none) Author: Jim Panza & Ed Crist
Railbox is made up of high quality, free-running, general-service boxcars capable of running all of the nation. ABOX refers to those boxcars with 16-foot door openings rather than the default 10 feet. It has a 6-foot plug door added to the standard 10-foot door. These started appearing in May of 1978. The article includes prototype photos and scale drawings.
Aristo Reworks 40-foot Boxcars
Model Railroad News 2008-12 pg. 68 Scale: G Author: John Sipple
This review article covers the double-door, 40-foot boxcar and the plug-door, 40-foot boxcar. It also covers prototype information about these cars.
Bangor & Aroostook Newsprint Boxcar in HO
Model Railroader 1987-11 pg. 114 Scale: HO Author: John Nehrich
Prototype and model photos.
Boxcar Questions
Model Railroader 2000-04 pg. 40 Scale: (none) Author: Jeff Wilson
When were running boards banned? Did boxcars haul grain?
Boxcars for the Fun of It
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-09 pg. 53 Scale: N Author: Will Jacobs
The author describes how he built a fleet of boxcars from blocks of wood. Several variations are presented. Includes construction photos, detail drawings, parts list, and completed models photos.
Crown Custom Imports X30 Boxcar Model
The Keystone Modeler 37 August 2006 pg. 33 Scale: HO Author: Bruce F. Smith
Includes the prototype history, followed by a description of the product review of the Crown Custom Imports model of this 74-foot 1931 boxcar.
Detailing Athearn Sieco and Branchline Berwick Boxcars
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-07 pg. 64 Scale: HO Author: Mike Rose
Prototype and model photos. Detailed photos of constructing the grab irons. Painting and weathering shows how to simulate a boxcar belonging to a former railroad but that name has been over-painted.
Detailing a Conrail 86-foot Auto Parts Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-06 pg. 47 Scale: HO Author: Rob Sundberg
Three Walthers boxcars are used to show how the author updated them with crossover platforms, coupler pockets, uncoupling levers, airhoses, brake lines, and replacing the trucks with the correct ones.
Detailing a M&St.L 1937 AAR Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-08 pg. 68 Scale: HO Author: Clark Propst
Includes model and prototype photos of this car modeled in HO-scale. Also includes several historical scale drawings.
Detailing an Apalachicola Northern, ex-East Camden & Highland, FMC Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-09 pg. 56 Scale: HO Author: Mike Rose
The author discusses the modifications he made to the MDC's model of this prototype. The weathering on the author's model is particularly striking (rust spots).
Detailing and Weathering Wood-sheathed Boxcars
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-01 pg. 86 Scale: HO Author: Greg Martin
The author describes his unique method for artificially creating shadow using pencils on his models.
Essential Freight Cars Part 1
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-04 pg. 79 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
The first installment of an on-going series of articles that cover the transition era. The first article covers the St. Louis - San Francisco single-sheathed boxcar. Includes prototype photos, builder's roster, available HO models, and a sidebar on the tools needed to modify those models.
Essential Freight Cars Part 2
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-05 pg. 65 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
This installment covers the 1937 Great Northern's double-sheathed boxcars. Includes prototype photos, a roster listing, and lots of how-to-model information. A sidebar describes how to build an accurate, rectangular box.
Essential Freight Cars Part 4
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-07 pg. 86 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
Prototype and model photos of the NP's 10000-series double-sheathed boxcars. It has an excellent sidebar on how to make grab irons.
Essential Freight Cars Part 5
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-08 pg. 78 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
St. Louis Southwestern's (Cotton Belt) double-sheathed boxcars which were built from 1923 to 1925. Includes prototype photos, and many model photos. A side bar on modeling AB brakes is also included.
Essential Freight Cars Part 6
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-09 pg. 76 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
The article covers the Southern Pacific's single-sheathed boxcars, and modeling the B-50-13 and -14 cars. A side bar on modeling KC brakes and release rods is included. Several close-up detail photos of the model are also included.
Essential Freight Cars Part 23
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-09 pg. 93 Scale: (none) Author: Ted Culotta
1932 ARA 40-foot steel boxcars owned by the MP, SAL, and WM. Includes model and prototype photos.
Essential Freight Cars Part 27
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-01 pg. 97 Scale: (none) Author: Ted Culotta
This article covers the PRR's X31 round-roof boxcars. Includes many prototype photos and some modeling photos.
Essential Freight Cars Part 28
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-02 pg. 96 Scale: (none) Author: Ted Culotta
Lehigh Valley "Wrong-way" boxcars. Includes model and prototype photos.
Essential Freight Cars Part 32
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-07 pg. 82 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
Soo Line single-sheathed boxcars. The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie purchased 750 of thes cars in 1912. The article has model and prototype photos and a modelers parts list.
Essential Freight Cars Part 33
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-08 pg. 92 Scale: (none) Author: Ted Culotta
This installment covers the Santa Fe's rebuilt USRA reefers. Includes prototype and model photos.
Essential Freight Cars Part 35
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-01 pg. 90 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
This is the first of two installments covering the Pennsylvania X29 boxcar, of which there were almost 19,000 on the road. Several prototype photos are included. The last part of the article covers how to model this car in HO-scale, with several finished model photos.
Essential Freight Cars Part 36
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-02 pg. 90 Scale: HO Author: Ted Culotta
This is the second installment of the PRR X29 boxcar. Also covered are the X28 automobile transport cars, and how to model both in HO scale.
Freelanced Three Footers
Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-11 pg. 28 Scale: HOn3 Author: Ralph Dockham
Based on the D&RG design, these four-wheeled cars were made from various commercial parts. The article include model photos, scale drawings, and a parts list.
Further Detailing of the Athearn PS-5344 Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-02 pg. 70 Scale: HO Author: Mike Rose
Using this boxcar model, the author created a model of the KCS #250236. Includes prototype and model photos.
Kitbashing a Modern Conrail Plug Door Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 1996-03 pg. 62 Scale: HO Author: Michael Rose
Two MDC kits were used to build this model of the 60-foot car that was new in 1993. Includes prototype and model photo, and drawings.
Kitbashing a Santa Fe Bx-108 Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2004-10 pg. 60 Scale: HO Author: Stephen M. Priest
Model photos and scale drawings.
L&NE ARA Boxcar Upgrade
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-12 pg. 65 Scale: HO Author: Chuck Killian
Includes prototype and model photos, as well as "surgical" photos of the upgrading the author did to his out-of-production Train-Miniatures "X-29" boxcars. Includes a detailing parts list.
Lowering InterMountain N-scale Boxcars
Model Railroader 2000-03 pg. 83 Scale: N Author: Keith M. Kohlmann
Milwaukee Road Boxcars
Model Railroader 1989-09 pg. 94 Scale: (none) Author: Gordon Odegard
Prototype photos and a scale drawing of the unique ribbed-side house cars.
Modeling Modern Short Line Boxcars
Railroad Model Craftsman 1979-03 pg. 60 Scale: (none) Author: Tony Koester
The author describes how one could model the unique short line boxcars with custom decals. Includes scale drawings of a typical ACF Railbox car.
Modeling Those Green M&St.L Boxcars
Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-02 pg. 77 Scale: HO Author: Clark Propst
The M&St.L had 700 boxcars built in 1952 that were painted a signature green. In addition to the history, the author also describes how to model this car.
Modeling a C&O Twelve-panel Side PS-1 Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-02 pg. 74 Scale: HO Author: Montford Switzer
The author used an Intermountain kit to build this model. Includes prototype and model photos, including construction close-ups. The article has a sidebar on how to model rivets using the Archer Fine Transfers, which are decal-like sheets that allow modeling of straight rows of rivets.
Modeling a Canadian Pacific 40 ft Steel Boxcar Fleet
N Scale Railroading 2006-01/02 pg. 40 Scale: N Author: Brian Morgan
The author describes how he built a sizable inventory of CPR boxcars to represent the interchange on his layout. Includes lots of prototype information about these cars. There are also lots of photos of step-by-step modifications made to the models.
Modeling a Muncie & Western R.R. Wood Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-08 pg. 58 Scale: HO Author: Montford Switzer
The article covers how to build an outside-braced model of this well-known glass-jar logo boxcar. Includes many prototype photos, boxcar ORER, model construction photos, and a parts list.
Modeling an Illinois Central Boxcar
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-03 pg. 65 Scale: HO Author: Charles Derus
Building a replica of the IC's 11280 boxcar. Mostly text, not many step-by-step photos.
Modeling the PRR Boxcar Fleet Part 3
The Keystone Modeler 37 August 2006 pg. 21 Scale: (none) Author: Ben Hom
This installment covers the Class C29b. Detailed history, rebuilding information, prototype photos, and references are included.
Modeling the PRR Boxcar Fleet Part 3A
The Keystone Modeler 37 August 2006 pg. 28 Scale: HO Author: Steve Hoxie
Describes how the author created an accurate model of this car. The article includes many large close-up photos, a scale drawing of the prototype car, and a sidebar and what models are available in HO, N, and O-scale.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad's Box Car Fleet Part 8
The Keystone Modeler 61 August 2008 pg. 9 Scale: HO Author: Elden Gatwood
This installment covers modeling the PRR's X26c using the Sunshine resin kit. Includes model and prototype photos, service information,
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad's Box Car Fleet Part 9
The Keystone Modeler 62 September 2008 pg. 6 Scale: HO Author: Elden Gatwood
Discusses the PRR's X37b class using the Sunshine resin kit. Includes a full description of the prototype, with photos of the prototype and the model.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad's Boxcar Fleet Part 2
The Keystone Modeler 31 February 2006 pg. 26 Scale: (none) Author: Ben Hom
The article is an overview of the classes in service from 1944 to 1968. The meat of the article is two tables, one listing all the boxcar classes and the other listing the possible models for these classes (HO-scale only).
N Scale Milwaukee Road Ribbed-side Boxcars
Model Railroader 1989-09 pg. 91 Scale: N Author: Gordon Odegard
The author kitbashed some 40-foot boxcars to include the horizontal rib configuration.
NCNG Boxcar No. 36
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-03 pg. 53 Scale: Author: Rich Nealson
The mysterious history of this Nevada County Narrow Gauge RR boxcar revealed by newly discovered photos. Includes prototype photos and scale drawings.
PRRPro Class X31 Preliminary Feature
The Keystone Modeler 60 July 2008 pg. 35 Scale: HO Author: Al Buchan
Includes only model photos.
Protofile Part 61
Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-06 pg. 59 Scale: HO Author: Robert Kessler
This installment covers the Souther Pacific cushion underframe boxcars and how to model them.
Pullman Mini-Hy-Cube Boxcar
Model Railroader 1989-07 pg. 63 Scale: Author: Gordon Odegard
A brief article on this car includes scale drawings and a prototype photo.
Santa Fe 50 ft Indian Red Shock Control Cars
N Scale Railroading 2006-03/04 pg. 46 Scale: N Author: Mike Komosinski
The author uses his collection of boxcars to show the various paint schemes the Santa Fe Shock Control cars when through in their 25-year service. These cars provided smoother transportation of their content.
Santa Fe Beer Cars
Model Railroader 2000-04 pg. 90 Scale: HO Author: Ken Edmier
This article describes the 62-foot long insulated boxcars that are assigned to transporting beer for the Coors company. The article includes model and prototype photos and detailed construction photos of where the author took the Eel River Models car and converted it into one of these models.
Scratchbuilding C&NW Narrow Gauge Boxcar No. 10
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-09 pg. 48 Scale: On3 Author: Tom Houle
This article includes many prototype photos, scale drawings, construction photos, and a bill of materials for modeling this car.
TTX Company's "TBOX"
Model Railroading 2005-07 pg. 44 Scale: (none) Author: David G. Casdorph
This article is a photo essay of the modern boxcar (starting in 2003).
The First Five Years of RBOX 10013
Railroad Model Craftsman 1980-07 pg. 82 Scale: (none) Author: Jim Panza
The article details the history of this one box car with a listing of all the other boxcars, a map of the interchange points where this particular car has been sighted, and many close-up photos of the car.
Union Pacific's Boxcars Part 5
Model Railroading 2000-11/12 pg. 46 Scale: Author: David G. Casdorph
This prototype photo article shows various boxcars owned by railroads merged into the UP.