General Information

1. The AAR defined double-door cars, whether or not 50 feet long, as automobile cars.
   

Early Automobile Cars

A-40-1

    SP #61810-62059

    50’ long, with Andrews trucks and Murphy outside metal roof.

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 32, 41
   

Modeling A-40-1 Cars

A-40-2

    SP #62560-63059

    40’ 6” long, with Vulcan trucks and Hutchins roof.

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 40
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 32, 46-49
   

Modeling A-40-2 Cars

A-50-2

    SP #61160-61659

    40’ long with Bettendorf T-section trucks.

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 40
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 32, 39, 42
   

Modeling A-50-2 Cars

A-50-3

    #61974

    #62060-62559

    40’ 2” long with Vulcan trucks and Murphy outside metal roof.

    These cars (A-50-3) were all gone by 1956.

Paint

1. Cars would have been repainted after 1946, especially since any coming due for new paint during WW II wold likely have been postponed until after the war.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 465
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 32, 45   
   

2. 1951 photo of the A-50-3 #62098:                    SP in Oregon Pictorial", p. 147 has a in the pre-1946 paint scheme.                                                
   

Modeling A-50-3 Cars

1920’s Automobile Cars

A-50-4

    SP #63080-63329

    SP #63600-63746    ex T&NO acquired by the Pacific Lines in 1936

1. 40’  long and came with its funky steep diagonal brace at the right side of the door, created when the door opening was enlarged. They would haul lumber (a common SP use for double-door cars no longer suitable for automobiles). It would no longer have been in automobile service by 1953, but retains that lettering because at that time the AAR still defined double-door cars as automobile cars.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Details

Trucks

1. They came originally with Vulcan trucks.
   

2. Some with Andrew trucks.
   

Roof

1. Chicago-Cleveland outside metal roof.
   

Brakes

1. Lots got AB brakes before 1948 and were gone by '53 when K brakes were outlawed in interchange service.
   

1. First, the batch built for SP, numbers 63080-63328:
   

2.     #63084, 63094, 63140, 63197, 63297
   

3. All had received AB brakes in 1949 or 1950, mostly at El Paso
   

4.     #63246, 63261 -- received AB brakes early in 1953
   

5.     #63180, 63325 -- did not receive AB brakes
   

6. 
   

7. Second, the batch built for T&NO and acquired by Pacific Lines in 1936, SP 63600-63746:
   

8.     #63666, AB in 1946
   

9.     #63699, 63707 (5-54), AB in 1949
   

10.     #63727, AB in 1948
    

Trucks

1. For each car surviving into 1953, I have indicated whether trucks were replaced, and the date of replacement. When replaced they received new U-section cast steel AAR trucks. You will see that of the 13 cars in this list, only five got new trucks before scrapping.
   

2.      First, the batch of 250 cars built for SP in 1921, numbers 63080–63328:
   

3.           63084, trucks replaced 10-48
   

4.           63094, trucks not replaced 
   

5.           63140, replaced 2-49
   

6.           63180, trucks not replaced 
   

7.           63197, replaced 6-49
   

8.           63246, replaced 2-53
   

9.           63261 trucks not replaced
   

10.           63297, trucks not replaced 
    

11.           63325, trucks not replaced
    

12.      Second, the 150-car batch built for T&NO in 1921 and acquired by Pacific Lines in 1936, SP 63600–63746:
    

13.           63666, trucks not replaced
    

14.           63699, trucks not replaced
    

15.           63707, replaced 11-53 (scrapped summer 1954)
    

16.           63727, trucks not replaced
    

17. This list probably isn’t exhaustive but it should provide truck information for nearly all or all of the survivors past 1-53.
    

18. Tony Thompson 
    

Scrapping Dates

1. A fair number got scrapped in the 1948-53 time frame. Below is a list with scrapping dates after 1-53 (these data are from the SP car ledgers). Dates in parentheses are retirement dates, i.e. removal from service; scrapping was usually within a couple of months.
   

2. 
   

3. First, the batch built for SP, numbers 63080-63328:
   

4.     #63084 (9-53), 63094 (3-53), 63140 (5-53), 63197 (6-53), 63297 (7-53)
   

5.     #63246 (9-53), 63261 (3-53)
   

6.     #63180 (6-53), 63325 (1-54)
   

7. 
   

8. Second, the batch built for T&NO and acquired by Pacific Lines in 1936, SP 63600-63746:
   

9.     #63666 (4-54)
   

10.     #63699 (6-53), 63707 (5-54)
    

11.     #63727 (6-53)
    

12. 
    

13. This list isn't exhaustive but it should give you car numbers for most of the survivors past 1-53.
    

14. Tony Thompson
    

Paint

1. Cars would have been repainted after 1946, especially since any coming due for new paint during WW II wold likely have been postponed until after the war.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. After 1946, there came the new spelled-out scheme.
   

2. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 465
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52-57
   

Modeling A-50-4 Cars

Speedwitch Models

1. The Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society commissioned Speedwitch Models to do a SP A-50-4 single sheathed automobile car kit. It represents the cars late in their lives, with the enlarged side door opening.
   

1. 
   

A-50-5

    SP #68000-68499

    Gen. American made 50' SS Auto Cars for SP.

    A-50-5 had an end door.

1. Though built in the 1920s, the prototype cars survived in SP service into the 1950s, no longer carrying the automobiles they were designed to carry, but carrying other bulky loads and especially lumber.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52, 58-59
   

Modeling A-50-5 Cars

Funaro & Carmelengo   (#6560)

1. Occasionally a kit really stands out. One of them is a Funaro and Camerlengo product, the Southern Pacific Class A-50-5 or A-50-6 kit. The resin kits, from the early ones (cast in a kind of yellow resin) with numerous air bubbles and often warped parts, all the way to often excellent ones today. This SP automobile car, which is the familiar “door-and-a-half” design made famous by the Ambroid kit, is among the best. The castings are crisp and well-detailed, and all dimensions are correct.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

MDC

    Does not match SP cars at all

Walther's

    That car is not accurate for an SP prototype.

A-50-6 

1. SP #66800-67999
   

2. SP #68592-68654    ex-T&NO
   

1. This was a SP A-50-6 single sheathed 50 foot cars. Though built in the 1920s, the prototype cars survived in SP service into the 1950s, no longer carrying the automobiles they were designed to carry, but carrying other bulky loads and especially lumber. 
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 65
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52, 60-64, 69
   

2. 
   

3.                                                                           MM March 1983 - SP Class A-50-6 Boxcar #67099 - SS wood Part #1
   

4.                                                                           MM April 1983 - SP Class A-50-6 Boxcar #67099 - SS wood Part #2
   

5. 
   

    R. Hendrickson's coverage of prototype                  (*see RMJournal    7/1996,   Modeling A-50-6)

Funaro & Camerlengo(#6561)

1. A-50-6 without end door (66800-67999)
   

2. 
   

3. Occasionally a kit really stands out. One of them is a Funaro and Camerlengo product, the Southern Pacific Class A-50-5 or A-50-6 single sheathed 50 foot cars. kit. The resin kits, from the early ones (cast in a kind of yellow resin) with numerous air bubbles and often warped parts, all the way to often excellent ones today. This SP automobile car, which is the familiar “door-and-a-half” design made famous by the Ambroid kit, is among the best. The castings are crisp and well-detailed, and all dimensions are correct. A-50-6 SS Autocar box car kit that came with the K brake system.
   

4. Tony Thompson                 
   

MDC

    Does not match SP cars at all

Roundhouse

1. The Roundhouse cars were based on MP, T&P, and WP prototypes. A couple of the 7 permutations (doors, ends) are not correct for any prototype.
   

Walther's

    Athearn has done some upgrades to the older Roundhouse double door wood boxcars. That car is not accurate for an SP prototype.

Drawing HO Scale

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 61
   

                                                                                                  Mainline Modeler    April 1983

Reference

    R. Hendrickson's coverage of modeling  A-50-6     (*see RMJournal    7/1996)

                                                                                                   Mainline Modeler    April 1983

A-50-7

1. SP #68680-68879
   

2. SP #68880-68979
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 65-66
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52
   

Modeling A-50-7

MDC

    Does not match SP cars at all.

Walther's

    That car is not accurate for an SP prototype.

A-50-8

1. SP #68655-68679    ex -T&NO
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 72
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52, 67
   

Modeling A-50-8

A-50-9

1. SP #68980-69229
   

2. Very few are shown in records as sold other than for scrap.
   

3. An A-50-9 had a long under door stiffener.
   

4. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 78
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52, 73, 79
   

2.                                                                           http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/5/351/october-1989-page-43
   

Modeling A-50-9

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

A-50-10

1. SP #69230-69379
   

2. They used Dalman 2-level trucks.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 78
   

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 76
   

                                                                                                  Car Builders Encyclopedia, 1931

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52, 74, 77
   

Modeling A-50-10

Oriental (brass)

Walther's

    Remove all side detail, smoothing to achieve steel sheathing look, apply z-bars from strip styrene.

    Use Dalman 2-level trucks from Eastern Car Works.

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

Microscale

    Microscale set 87-3 (SP lettering).

Reference

                                                                                                      (*see T-56/6)

A-50-11

1. SP #69380-69529
   

2. They used Dalman 2-level trucks.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 78
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 52, 74, 79
   

Modeling A-50-11

Walther's

    Remove all side detail, smoothing to achieve steel sheathing look, apply z-bars from strip styrene.

    Use Dalman 2-level trucks from Eastern Car Works.

Reference

                                                                                                     (*see T-56/6)

1930’s & 1940’s Automobile Cars

A-50-12  Auto Car

    SP #69530-70029

    SP #64100-64924  

    Essentially Style 1 box cars, 50 ft. long inside, 8-ft Youngstown doors.

1. Class A-50-12 had a straight-panel roof with 13 raised panels, along with a smooth panel at each end to accommodate the lateral running boards. They also had 4 + 6-panel sides, meaning four panels to the left of the double doors, and six to the right, and full-length straight side sills. In all these respects. the -12 cars were the same as the A-50-14. But the -12s had sharp-cornered Dreadnaught ends. The ends, then, are the most visible difference between -12 and -14.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

1. A car in auto parts service (AAR type XAP) had a better Ajax brake wheel and Ajax brake gear. These should fall within the number series #64525–64924, which contained the largest number of auto parts cars and which also had Ajax brakes. There were about 65 cars in that group assigned to such service in 1953.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Paint

   Class A-50-12 with auto racks (AAR class XMR) came with the white door stripe.

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a pre-’55 lettering diagram see:                    Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 106
   

2. For a post-’55 lettering diagram see:                   Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 116
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 100-109
   

2.                                                              http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2014/05/modeling-pre-war-sp-50-foot-automobile.html
   

Modeling A-50-12

Details

Brake Gear

1. To model a car in auto parts service (AAR type XAP), replace the kit brake wheel with a better Ajax brake wheel part a better Ajax brake gear.
   

Route Card Board

1. Also add a styrene route card board on the right-hand door on each side. These boards are essential. The dimensions of the boards were standard. A piece of Evergreen scale 1 x 6-inch strip, 10 scale inches long, does the job.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. Cars in auto parts service had new parts racks installed every year in this era, and accordingly would almost always display a reweigh date less than a year old.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Decals

Sunshine

1. These should fall within the number series #64525–64924, which contained the largest number of auto parts cars and which also had Ajax brakes. Some of those numbers can be decaled in just two parts from the Sunshine decal sheet.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Jerry Glow Decals

1. It includes the lettering SP applied on the bottom rib of each end, “BOLSTER SNUBBER SPRINGS.” That legend is in the SP Tank Car decal set, available from Jerry Glow.
   

2. 
   

Athearn

1. The old Athearn 50-foot automobile car was never close to accurate for either an SP Class A-50-12  or -14 auto car. Athearn models of that era had several other shortcomings. The Athearn model does have a sharp-corner end (though in 5/5 instead of 4/5 configuration), but its incorrect roof (12 instead of 13 raised panels), wrong number of side panels (5 + 7), and numerous clunky details such as cast-on ladders, oversize sill steps, and too-short doors, meaning that it really is not reasonable to think about surgery to make an A-50-12, either.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

1. Use the old Athearn double-door car as an “okay” stand-in even with wrong numbers of both side panels and roof panels. Modify by adding a straight styrene strip side sill and new wood running board with grab irons on the lateral running boards. Various detail upgrades include removing the door “claws”. Extend the brake step and adding brake step supports and installing wire grab irons.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. It has the white door stripe.
   

2. 
   

Proto 2000

   You can kitbash the A-50-12 using Proto 2000 with a carbody with earlier ends.

Sunshine

1. There is a good model out there, the Sunshine kit for the A-50-12, kit no. 83.1. It is correct in all ways (roof, ends, doors, side panels) and has free-standing details such as ladders, grab irons, and sill steps, along with correct doors.
   

Lettering & Numbering

Decals

Sunshine

1. The kit decals are largely very nice and are accurate, including the trust stencil that SP applied to the side sill just beyond the end of the lower door track (you can see it in the prototype photo above). The decals also include your choice of door symbols for either auto racks or auto parts. But it does not include the lettering SP applied on the bottom rib of each end, “BOLSTER SNUBBER SPRINGS.”
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Jerry Glow Decals

1. It includes the lettering SP applied on the bottom rib of each end, “BOLSTER SNUBBER SPRINGS.” That legend is in the SP Tank Car decal set, available from Jerry Glow.
   

A-50-13  Auto Car

    SP #63330-63579

    SP #63747-64096

    Essentially Style 1 box cars (square corners), 40 ft. long inside, 7-ft Youngstown double doors.

   The prototype had three panels to the left of the door, five to the right, all of equal (or very nearly equal) width.

    Blt. 1937

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a pre-’55 lettering diagram see:                    Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 106
   

2. For a post-’55 lettering diagram see:                   Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 116
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 100, 110-112
   

Modeling A-50-13

Red Caboose

1. Regard it as an acceptable stand-in. It is close to correct but has too-narrow side doors (6’). A source of 7 foot doors is C&BT Shops. The problem is then the car side. The prototype had three panels to the left of the door, five to the right, all of equal (or very nearly equal) width. The Red Caboose model has that same number of panels, but of course they are wider since the doors are only six feet each. Adding wider doors covers up some of the side, and makes at least one side panel not the same as the others (probably one on each side of the door opening). Naturally this can be ignored if you wish.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

1. The Red Caboose car isn't tall enough, and the width of the doors is wrong for the SP automobile cars. (The Red Caboose models have only two prototypes (SAL W-corner and SOO S-corner).
   

2. Tim O’Conner
   

Sunshine

1. Sunshine makes a kit which IS accurate in both side panels and doors.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

                                                                                                     (*see review in T57/6,  & T-70)

A-50-14  Auto Car

    SP #64925-65424    

    Essentially Style 2 box cars, 50 ft. long inside, 8-ft Youngstown doors

1. Class A-50-14 had a straight-panel roof with 13 raised panels, along with a smooth panel at each end to accommodate the lateral running boards. They also had 4 + 6-panel sides, meaning four panels to the left of the double doors, and six to the right, and full-length straight side sills. In all these respects. the -14 cars were the same as the A-50-12. But the -14 ends were the standard late-1930s Dreadnaught ends with W-corner posts, making the edge rounded, while the -12s had sharp-cornered Dreadnaught ends. The ends, then, are the most visible difference between -12 and -14.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. It had Gothic lettering on one side, circular emblem on the other side. This was Not rare. This was the paint scheme from 1955 to 1957, during the renumbering period, when lots of cars were repainted.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

3. 
   

4. For a pre-’55 lettering diagram see:                    Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 106
   

5. For a post-’55 lettering diagram see:                   Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 116
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 100, 115
   

2. 
   

3. See the entire AAR document page about automobile car door markings is in SP Freight Cars, Vol. 3, on page 19.
   

Modeling A-50-14

Athearn

1. The old Athearn 50-foot automobile car was never close to accurate for either an SP Class A-50-12  or -14 auto car. Athearn models of that era had several other shortcomings.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Life Like / Proto 2000

1. This was an earlier version of the Proto 2000 A-50-14.
   

Walther’s Proto 2000

   Proto 2000 does an A-50-14.                            http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-102007

1. It is a good representation of most everything about SP's Class A-50-14. Yes, it's accurate, but it is definitely unusual.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

The model itself is of a 4 + 6 panel side design with the 5/5 Dreadnaught end.

Lettering & Numbering

1. This issue is a rare lettering arrangement, coming from the 9 months or so, following the fall of 1955, in which SP was applying the Gothic lettering on the right of the car side, but not yet renumbering. This model DEFINITELY IS correct for the SP Class A-50-14. Ignore the artwork. What is rare about the newly announced model is the pre-1955 number combined with a 1955-57 paint scheme.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

1. The white rectangle (24"x8" for a 50' car) above the white stripe indicates the car is equipped with loaders, but they are stored and inoperable.
   

2. Guy Wilber
   

Reference

1.                                                                          http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com
   

1940‘s & 1950‘s Post-War Automobile Cars

A-50-15

1. SP #65425-66174
   

    All had Improved Dreadnaught ends, 4 + 6 panel sides

Drawing

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 125
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 120-125
   

Modeling A-50-15

1. Postwar 50-foot cars, classes A-50-15, cannot be readily modeled at present because of SP’s continued use of the 4+6 side-sheet pattern (typical of prewar cars) into the postwar construction. Available models with postwar characteristics such as Improved Dreadnaught ends and diagonal-panel roofs do not have the correct pattern of panels. It may be possible to change the panel pattern using Archer rivets, as described for box car class B-50-30.
   

2. See:                                                     http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2011/08/choosing-model-car-fleet-sp-50-ft-box.html
   

3. Tony Thompson
   

A-50-16

1. SP #66175-66674    renumbered  #200588-201084
   

1. After World War II, Southern Pacific bought its last class of 40-foot automobile cars, Class A-50-16. Delivered in November and December of 1947, these had modern (Improved Dreadnaught or ID) ends and wide double doors, and were numbered 66175–66674. The SP cars had straight-panel roofs.
   

1. According to a 1965 SP roster sheet, there were 3,160 cars in the #173000-177999 series and 419 in 200000-201084. (No pictures of any of the 200000 series cars.) There must have been more conversions later, since shots of cars in #178000 and #191000 series as well. Some cars received new ends in the 1970's and this accounts for the extra row of rivets seen near the ends of some cars.
   

2. 
   

3. SP had  26,944%  10'0"  40' box cars, so maybe none of the 12 panel cars, and maybe none of the 1937 AAR cars, was ever converted.
   

4. They used A-3 ride control trucks, 1-W wheels.
   

   This particular car is AAR class XMR for auto service.

Wheels

1. All have 5 digit numbers. There may have been some iron wheels used but steel was more likely. By that time SP certainly preferred wrought steel wheels, but supply was short.
   

2. Tony Thompson   
   

Paint

   This particular car is AAR class XMR, thus the white door stripe.

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                                Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 129
   

Reference

1.                                                                           Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 120, 126-129
   

2. 
   

3. [There is an error about these cars in Table 7-1 of my Volume 3 (in the series Southern Pacific Freight Cars), where Class A-50-16 cars are described  as having diagonal-panel roofs, though photo captions in the same chapter correctly identify the A-50-16 roofs as straight-panel.]
   

Modeling A-50-16

McKean

1. Use as a stand in for this 40’ car. The model really depicts a later car, with a later design of ID end, what is called a 1+3/4 end. That means two end panels, the upper with three major ribs, the lower with four, and the “1” refers to a different kind of rib at the top of the upper panel, rectangular in this case. The model also has a diagonal-panel roof, whereas the SP cars had straight-panel roofs.
   

1. Modify the side sill profile to match Class A-50-16, but the glaring discrepancy (beyond the already-mentioned ends and roof) is that the car has 6-foot wide doors, whereas the prototype doors were each 7 feet, 3 inches wide.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Sunshine

1. Sunshine Models offered a kit for some years for a correct model of SP’s Class A-50-16, with correct 4/4 ID end, straight-panel roof, and 7-foot doors (kit 40.2).
   

A-50-17

1. SP #190000-190499
   

    All had Improved Dreadnaught ends, 4 + 6 panel sides.

1. A total of 1,500 A-50-17's were built in 1950-1951. Yet the 1959 ORER shows only 899 cars remaining! As usual with SP, cars like this were assigned into two number series in 1956: one for general service (for the A-50-17 class, 208050-209547) and also into various 600,000 series depending on assignment. They all had a "place" in the general service series for whenever they went back to it, along with their numbers in the 600,000s. You can never find out how many cars there were by looking at the general service series in the ORER; in fact, only a minority of most dual-number-assigned cars were ever in such series.
   

2. 
   

3. One of them shows a A-50-17 modified with a high roof with the original offset doors. Until SP #659000 was modified in the early 1960s, all SP high roof cars did not have the door openings raised. The original version of 659000 did not have openings raised. That's from the shop photo of the as-constructed car, September 1964. Shop photos show the details of the conversion of rebuilt A-50-17 cars of this class, including the internal racks for auto bodies.
   

4. They used Barber S-2-4 trucks.
   

1. #681207, this one also is XMR, assigned automobile service.
   

2. Tim O'
   

References

Drawing

1.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 132
   

2.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 4: Box Cars, pg. 458
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a lettering diagram see:                               Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 138
   

2. For a General Service lettering diagram see:      Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 148
   

Reference

1.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 120, 130-134, 139
   

Modeling A-50-17

Branchline

1. A model of SP's 1951-52 built automobile Class A-50-17 car, can be made from a Branchline kit by respacing the side panels with Archer rivets. Remove the kit panel lines and rivet rows, and creating new ones of a different spacing and rivet pattern. The Archer rivet set (AR88108) is the one to use.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

1. Background:                                              http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2014/12/modeling-southern-pacific-class-50-17.html
   

2. Modeling, Part 1:                                       http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2015/01/modeling-sp-class-50-17-modeling.html
   

3. Modeling, Part 2:                                       http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2015/01/modeling-sp-class-50-17-conclusion.html
   

4. An article about kit modification                    Trainline, Winter 2015
   

A-50-18

1. SP #193000-193999
   

2. The class renumbering to SP 209548 - 210547.
   

3. 
   

4. 50 ft double door boxcar
   

5. It had the early improved Dreadnaught ends with 4+6 panel sides used SP. The roof on these cars was a hybrid of rectangular panel and diagonal panel. This was found on many auto box cars of this era. The 4 rectangular panels were used to stow the auto loaders.
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. It features a large road name to the right of the doors, minus the black and white round herald.
   

2. 
   

3. The SP lettering in that period was all Roman, even the smallest stuff.
   

Reference

1. A link to a prototype photo of one of these cars follows:
   

2. http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/sp/sp210210ssa.jpg
   

3. 
   

4. There are MUCH clearer photos of this scheme
   

5.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 120
   

Modeling A-50-18 boxcar

1. Something like a B-50-36 or -38 would fit that body nicely.
   

2. Tony Thompson
   

Accurail / Front Range 5200 boxcar

1. It's got the correct 4+6 side panel configuration. It has the incorrect ends (late improved Dreadnaught ends) and too-wide a door opening (16ft door).
   

2. Mark Heiden
   

3. 
   

4. The 16' opening is correct for several series of combination door (plug + slider) cars for SP/SSW -- FR did both welded and riveted versions, and SP/SSW had both types.
   

5. Tim O'Connor
   

6. 
   

7. The early improved Dreadnaught ends and diagonal panel roof are available. Stan Rydarowicz sells replacement cast resin roofs of this type. The 4+6 panel sides used by SP are, to my knowledge, not available.
   

8. Tony Thompson
   

9. 
   

10. This inset sill can be modeled but it definitely requires more effort to build a fleet of them!
    

Intermountain

    Postwar 12-panel car (SP 10’ interior)

Red Caboose

    Rerelease of round corner box cars (W corner post) version of 1937 AAR box car.

1. 
   

Lettering & Numbering

1. For a General Service lettering diagram see:      Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 148
   

Decal

1. It looks like Microscale 87-3 will work for the roadname, reporting marks and car numbers. Microscale suggests using 87-1, Roman freight car data, and 87-2, Gothic freight car data, for the rest of the lettering.
   

2. Mark Heiden
   

Reference

1.                                                                          Southern Pacific Freight Cars, Volume 3: Auto and Flat Cars, pg. 120, 135-137, 149