The 1960s freight car building boom was fueled by specialty car types.  60’ box cars designed for dense auto parts such as engines, bumpers, axles, and glass were an emerging car type.  Thrall Car Manufacturing Incorporated, based in Chicago Heights IL, was a new carbuilder in the 1960s who had a strong market offering of specialty auto parts box cars.  Thrall built its first 60’ auto parts cars in 1963 and utilized welded construction.  In 1969, Thrall constructed this modernized Plate C 5880cf design for Ford service with centered, double plug doors, distinctive “double weld” side construction, and “X-Panel” roofs.  Twelve railroads initially bought these cars, and these workhorses remained in service into the 2000s, including service in the conspicuity stripe era.

More than 500 Thrall 5880cf box cars were built in 1969, and production included two different underframe/EOC Cushioning variations:

• CN, LN, MILW, NW, SLSF, SN and WP orders were built with Freightmaster End-Of-Car Cushioning and Stanray Coupler Centering devices.

• ATSF, CP, MP, SP and UP opted for Keystone End-Of-Car Cushioning, larger underframe I-beam caps at the large cross bearers and a more offset underframe brake equipment layout toward the B-End of the car.

The Tangent Scale Models Thrall Car Manufacturing Company 5880cf 60’ Double Plug Door Box Car is a dimensionally-accurate replica of the real car, designed from actual blueprints. Tangent Scale Models Thrall 5880 60’ system includes multiple underframe and cushioning configurations, plug door details and end brake appliance configurations appropriate for the era of the model.  Additionally, Tangent Scale Models include a beautifully-rendered Stanray “X-Panel” roof, accurate Stanray ends and the signature Thrall “double welds” walking down the sides of the model. Underneath, the car includes full prototypical brake piping, appliances, and Tangent Scale Models “near-scale” draft gear box including side cushioning/centering device detail.  These cars are ready to roll with Tangent-accurate Barber 100-Ton Barber S-2 trucks and 36 inch wheels. Tangent Scale Models ready-to-operate replica is finished with coupler lift bars, accompanying Kadee scale couplers, sufficient hidden weights, and CNC-machined wheels to ensure the model operates as good as it looks.

 

Features for Tangent Scale Models Thrall Car Manufacturing Company 5880cf 60’ Double Plug Door Box Car replicas include:

• Dimensional accuracy – designed from Thrall Company plans

• Highly correct “true to life” colors

• “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement

• Multiple road numbers for each scheme where appropriate

• Multiple Thrall Underframe and Draft Gear assemblies to handle end and underframe phase/era feature combinations 1969-2000s

• Separately applied door rods, handles, tackboards.

• Separately applied door track details.

• “See through” Apex, Gypsum or Morton end crossover platforms where appropriate

• Genuine Kadee scale couplers

• EOCC (End Of Car Cushioning) “near scale” draft gear with “Keystone” and “Freightmaster” variations

• Underframe detail and brake system variations

• Separate flexible rubber air hoses

• Beautiful details – metal stirrup steps, metal coupler lift bars and “Tangent-Thin” ladders – no thick “chunky” plastic details anywhere!

• Three coupler lift bar variations

• Two Ajax and two Equipco 3750 prototypically-accurate brake stands

• Two different Auxiliary Top Crank arm parts to be configured in multiple ways

• Precision Tangent Scale Models 100-Ton Barber S-2 trucks with roadname-specific rotating bearing caps and separate brake beam parts

• Four “rotating” roller bearing truck cap options for 100-Ton Barber S-2 Roller Bearing truck

• CNC-machined 36” wheels with accurate front and back profile detail

• Replacement 36” semi-scale wheels for Tangent Scale Models “rotating bearing cap” trucks are available separately from Tangent in either blackened or nickel-silver finish

• Genuine Kadee scale “scale-head” couplers

• Recommended age 14 years and older

 

– Western Pacific WP “Original Red 2-1969” replicates the as-delivered scheme applied by Thrall to the WP’s order of nine cars. The WP logo is big and bold, filling up the right side of the car. The WP’s cars were delivered with Freightmaster End-Of-Car Cushioning, Stanray coupler centering devices (see those handles flanking the draft gear!) and an Ajax handbrake with a modern wheel. Top to bottom, this is a sharp looking car, with the large “Western Pacific” road name properly executed. The ACI label is mounted on a stand-off plate, just like the prototype. The box car is equipped on Tangent 100-Ton Barber S-2 trucks and are equipped with rotating Timken caps. The “CODE 65” lettering above the reporting marks means the box car is in Ford parts service and returns to the N&W Railway Melvindale, MI (Detroit). This is another great example of an auto parts car that roams the Ford pool lanes, carrying parts to assembly plants or distribution centers nationwide. Do not miss out.

 

 

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