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2012 Soo Line hinge-door potato car
2012 Soo Line plug-door potato car
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2012 SLHTS Model Car - Potato Car Produced by Accurail exclusively for the SLHTS using artwork developed and provided by the society. Printable Form for ordering without Paypal or Credit Card As new potato processing plants were being built in the fertile Red River Valley region of North Dakota and Minnesota, the Soo Line was fortunate to gain a large share of the shipping traffic. Most potatoes were originally shipped in bags in refrigerator cars, which provided insulation from the extreme seasonal temperature changes in that area. As markets expanded east, bulk shipping of potatoes became a reality. To provide for this type of transport, the Soo Line purchased a total of 40 used 40-foot steel refrigerator cars. For easier loading and unloading, they were rebuilt with conveyors and sloped floors. They were also equipped with mechanical temperature controls. Cars were painted white with black lettering, but the most unique visible feature of these cars were their blue doors. In the newly adopted “Colormark” system, blue designated cars designed for bulk loading. All other new specially equipped Soo boxcars and mechanical refrigerator cars received red doors in the “Colormark” system. The 25 cars in the first series (1100011048, even) were built by Pacific Fruit Express in 1947 and 1948. These hinge-door cars were rebuilt for potato service by the Soo Line at North Fond du Lac, WI in 1966. Original capacity was designated at 84,000 pounds. Trucks were ASF Ride Control. Lettering for these cars was four-foot block billboard “SOO LINE” with the familiar earlier seriphed Roman reporting marks, car numbers, and smaller lettering. The 15 cars in the second series (11050-11078, even) were built by Pacific Car & Foundry in 1951. These plug-door cars were rebuilt by Fruit Growers Express at its Jacksonville, FL facility in 1969. Capacity of these cars was 110,000 pounds. Trucks were Barber S2C. In contrast to the first series, lettering for these cars was done with the billboard “SOO LINE” in the Venus Bold Extended font and Gothic-style smaller lettering. These models were again produced for us by Accurail based on their new reefer kit. Artwork for all lettering was developed and provided by the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society. |
2011 Soo 1950s Fond du Lac-built 40’ Steel Boxcars with 1970s Repaints (Sliding Door)
2011 Soo 1950s Fond du Lac-built 40’ Steel Boxcars with 1970s Repaints (Plug/Sliding Door)
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2011 SLHTS Model Car - 7 Post Boxcar Produced by Accurail exclusively for the SLHTS using artwork developed and provided by the society. Printable Form for ordering without Paypal or Credit Card As the new “7-post” 50’ boxcars were being assembled at the Soo’s North Fond du Lac shops in the 1960s and 70s, most of the earlier 40’ boxcars constructed there in the 1950s were ready for upgrading and repainting. These later repaints also received the new Venus Bold Extended billboard lettering which had been adopted for the “New Soo” image after the 1961 merger. All other lettering on these cars was done in a more modern Gothic style. The sliding door model represents a car built at NFduL in 1953 and upgraded and repainted there in 1971. Its reporting marks and car numbers are 7” high. All lettering is white on a dark oxide car body. The plug/sliding door model represents a car built at NFduL in 1959 and upgraded and repainted there in 1973. This car’s reporting marks and car numbers are 9” high in a later style. Again, all lettering is white on a dark oxide car body. Anyone modeling the Soo or other mid-Western railroads from 1970 forward needs some of these commonly seen upgraded 1950s Soo Line boxcars to roll along with newer equipment. |
2010 Soo “7-Post” Boxcar (1968 as-built brown)
2010 Soo “7-Post” Boxcar (1979 white repaint)
2010 Soo/WC “7-Post” Boxcar (modified version)
2010 Undecorated "7-Post" Boxcar |
2010 SLHTS Model Car - 7 Post Boxcar Produced by Accurail exclusively for the SLHTS using artwork developed and provided by the society. Printable Form for ordering without Credit Card 2010 Soo “7-Post” Boxcar (1968 as-built brown) This series of boxcars was built in 1968 by the Soo Line at its North Fond du Lac shops. “7-Post” boxcars were relatively uncommon on other railroads, but were the Soo Line’s signature boxcar from the mid-1960s through the 1980s. These models are based on the Accurail 50’ boxcar with unique side moldings specially commissioned by the SLHTS. (The simulated unpainted galvanized roof on the model shown here was done by the modeler.) 2010 Soo “7-Post” Boxcar (1979 white repaint) When brown “7-Post” boxcars needed repainting in the 1970s, they were finished in the red and white scheme previously reserved for specially equipped freight cars. This 1979 repainted version features the single-line condensed 9” reporting marks, car numbers and red sill stripes first applied to new Soo freight cars in 1974. 2010 Soo/WC “7-Post” Boxcar (modified version) The model shown here has been modified from the original brown car described above to better reflect the appearance of the prototype cars. Those changes include a reworked side-sill profile, new stirrup steps and the simulated unpainted galvanized roof. Instructions for thes optional modifications are included in each kit. A great many Soo “7-Post” boxcars were sold to the new Wisconsin Central Ltd. after 1984. Decals are available from Accurail for renumbering these cars as well as for changing the reporting marks to “WC” as shown here. The car in the photo has also been renumbered. The Accurail decals are printed on backgrounds that match the paint of the car on which they are to be used. Information for ordering these decals from Accurail is included with each kit order. (Modified cars are not available to order.) |
2009
Soo Line (ex-Belt Railway of Chicago) Triple Hopper Car Released October 2009 |
Produced by Accurail exclusively for the SLHTS using artwork developed and provided by the society. Soo Line (ex-Belt Railway of Chicago) Triple Hopper Car The Soo Line (W.C.) purchased 50 70-ton offset-side triple hopper cars from the Belt Railway of Chicago in 1950. At least some of these cars were painted over in black and given new Soo Line reporting marks and car numbers. After a few years, the original BRC lettering and herald began to show through the black paint. Available as #68505 or #68541 for $15.00 -or- both for $29.00 We've attempted to replicate this effect in our 2009 limited-run HO cars. |
2008 DSS&A 41’-6” Gondola Car
2008 Soo Line 41’-6” Gondola Car (1960s version) 2008 Soo Line 41’-6” Gondola Car (1970s version) |
Produced by Accurail exclusively for the SLHTS using artwork developed and provided by the society. DSS&A 41’-6” Gondola Car In 1953 American Car and Foundry built this 100-car series of gondola cars for the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic. This version represents the car in its original DSS&A 1953 paint scheme. Cars were numbered 4100-4199, all. These models are based on the new Accurail 11-panel gondola kit. Soo Line 41’-6” Gondola Car (1960s version) In 1961 the Soo Line inherited these eight-year-old gondola cars from the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic and gave them new reporting marks, but the number series was retained. Many were eventually repainted, as in this 1965 version. The small “D.S.” in the upper left corner of the car side indicates its former DSS&A heritage. Soo Line 41’-6” Gondola Car (1970s version) This mid-1970s version of a repainted former DSS&A gondola features the bolder reporting marks and COTS stencil of the time. By this stage in their careers, the gons were used primarily in pulpwood service, as indicated by the sublettering on the left-most panel. |
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Soo Line 50-ton
Hopper Car
In 1937 Pullman-Standard built a 100-car series of 50-ton two-bay offset-side hoppers to the 1934 AAR design for the Wisconsin Central. The W.C. was under long-term lease to the Soo Line and was operated as its Chicago Division. There were 97 cars from this series still on the roster in 1961 and the paint and lettering scheme was essentially unchanged throughout their working lives. LS&I 50-ton Hopper Car These Lake Superior and Ishpeming hopper cars were purchased from the Lehigh and New England. They were built by Bethlehem Steel Company to the 1934 AAR design for the L&NE in 1936. Purchased by the LS&I in 1961, the 150 cars were renumbered 5100 to 5249. |
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Soo Line "Sawtooth" single sheathed box car This model is a reissue of the original Dennis Storzek kit with several enhancements. The models will now be cast as one-piece bodies and will also include injection molded sill steps custom made and color-matched to match this prototype along with Accurail Andrews trucks also custom color-matched for this prototype. The underframe is comprised of entirely new patterns based upon drawings that have come to light. The kits also include all detail parts and decals. Here’s your chance to relive an updated classic! This is sponsored by the SLHTS. |
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"Soo Locks" 40-foot Boxcar 2005 marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Soo Locks between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. These locks eventually opened Lake Superior to overseas as well as in-Great Lakes shipping and provided the Soo Line Railroad with its name. |
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DSS&A 70-ton Offset Side Triple Hopper Car Produced by Accurail exclusively for the SLHTS using artwork developed and provided by the society. In 1955 the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic purchased 40 second-hand 70-ton offset-side triple hopper cars from the Delaware Lackawana & Western. These cars were built from 1926-1929 and were renumbered DSS&A 1800-1839. |
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Green Bay & Western 50-foot Sliding Door Outside-Braced Steel Boxcars Produced by Accurail exclusively for the SLHTS using artwork developed and provided by the society. These yellow modern 50' outside-braced sliding-door boxcars are based on an on a unique custom-designed version of the Accurail ACF outside-braced boxcar, modified to represent the "7-post" Youngstown sides used on the Soo Lines Fond du Lac-built car. They represent the 20 cars in the 1700-1719 series acquired by the GBW in the mid-1960s. The black lettering on these cars is unique and distractive. |
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Brass Soo Line Steam Era Models (HO) The Soo Line Historical and Technical Society, through the efforts of member Dennis Storzek, has developed etched brassed parts for accurate and highly detailed limited-run HO scale kits. Steel Mail & Express, Steel Baggage, Wood Mail & Express, and Wood Baggage are currently available. Below photo and model provided by Ray Grosser.
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ACF 4650 cu. ft. Colormark covered hopper (HO) All painting and lettering applied by Atlas. This year's car, manufactured and decorated exclusively for the SLHTS by Atlas, represents the 1973 Colormark version, the largest series (250) of ACF Centerflows purchased by the Soo Line. Cars are painted off-white with green, black and gold lettering. These cars feature thin metal roofwalks and highly accurate painting and lettering. |
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Special-run 7-post models (HO) 50-foot outside-braced plug door "Fond du Lac" boxcars All painting and lettering applied by Accurail. These 50-foot cars, manufactured, custom painted and lettered for the SLHTS by Accurail, Inc., represent 7-post general-purpose cars built by the Soo Line's Fond du Lac shops in 1970. |
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50' foot Soo DF Boxcars (HO) All painting and lettering applied by Accurail. Soo (oxide) 50' Plug Dr. DF Boxcar (#176822) |
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40' foot Boxcars (HO) 2000 limited-run HO scale models All painting and lettering applied by Accurail. Soo Line and Wisconsin Central 1950s-era Fond du Lac |
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