The PMHS's Custom-Run HO Freight Cars

Updated: 23-JAN-2007

 
Kit #B-111 (top) in the as-delivered scheme,
and kit #B-112 (bottom) in the post-1931 scheme

The Prototype

For 2005, the PMHS freight car project was a pair HO scale boxcars representing members of the 80000-81999 series.

These were built in 1919 and 1920 by Pacific Car & Foundry, McGuire Car Co., Keith Car and Manufacturing Co., and Standard Steel Car Co. Although the PM was originally allocated 500 cars by the USRA, this was later increased to 2,000 cars, based on a reassessment.

The Model

These cars are easy-to-assemble Accurail kits produced exclusively for the PMHS in the PM's red-brown and white paint. These kits require minimal construction time.

We are offering two car numbers, one in each of the schemes that these cars wore while on the PM: Car #81808 represents the scheme worn by these cars when they were first delivered. Many of these cars wore this paint until their retirement. Car #80837 represents a car repainted after 1931 and wearing the more modern PM paint and lettering scheme. From the late 1940s on, these cars could be found in company service in either paint scheme.

These kits feature:

Crisp, accurate lettering printed from actual PM diagrams. Accurate all-boxcar red paint scheme. Screw-mounted trucks and coupler box covers

AccumateTM Kadee-compatible couplers. Injection-molded plastic construction.

Car #81808 in the early scheme is PMHS item #B-111. Car #80837 in the later scheme is PMHS item #B-112. A set containing both cars is PMHS item #B-113.

• The price for kit #B-111 or #B-112 is $14.00, plus $4.00 shipping and packaging.
• Item #B-113 (1 car of each number) is $25.00, plus $5.00 shipping and packaging.

For orders shipped outside of the US, please add an additional $4.00 shipping to the figures quoted above.

Ordering information is found at the bottom of this page.

The Prototype

For 2003 and 2004, the PMHS freight car project was a series of three HO scale boxcars representing members of the 82000-83499 series. These 1,500 cars were the first steel boxcars purchased by the PM, delivered in 1930. They were built by the Standard Steel Car Company to a design very similar to that used by the Erie and the C&O, as documented in Pere Marquette 1930 Boxcar - Part I by Jeffrey Koeller in the May, 2001 issue of Mainline Modeler magazine.

The Model

This boxcar differs from our previous kits in two very noticeable ways: First, it is a lower car than our previous models, and second, it has "reverse-Dreadnaught" ends which manufacturer Red Caboose has captured very well in the tooling for this car.

These kits are of the same high quality as our previous releases, but are produced in somewhat smaller quantities per car number. We have released three car numbers: 82000, 82450 and 83499. As Red Caboose does not have the tooling for the Hutchins roof these had, we include instructions describing ways to replace or modify the roof provided with these kits to more closely match the prototype.

This car is a Red Caboose kit produced exclusively for the PMHS in the PM's red-brown and white paint. These cars are available only through the PMHS, and will not be rerun.

These kits feature:

Crisp, accurate lettering printed from actual PM diagrams. Accurate all-boxcar red paint scheme. AccumateTM Kadee-compatible couplers.

Injection-molded plastic construction. Free-standing grabs, ladders, tack boards and brake gear. Instructions for replacing or modifying the roof to correctly model this car's Hutchins Dry Lading roof.

Single cars are PMHS item #B-108. A set containing all three car numbers is PMHS item #B-109.

• A single car is $16.95, plus $4.00 shipping and packaging.
• The set of all three cars (one of each number) is $45.00, plus $6.00 shipping and packaging.

For orders shipped outside of the US, please add an additional $4.00 shipping to the figures quoted above.

Ordering information is found at the bottom of this page.

 

The Prototype

The first of the two cars we released in 2001 was numbered 83848 and was built by American Car & Foundry in January, 1941 as part of a 200-car order.

The second car was a re-run of our PM 100th Anniversary boxcar, originally released in March, 2000. This reissue is numbered 84199, as a car from the batch of cars delivered by AC&F in July, 1941.

The Model

Red Caboose produced a limited number of 1937 AAR steel boxcar kits exclusively for the PMHS in the PM's red-brown and white paint. These cars are available only through the PMHS, and will not be rerun.

These kits are accurate representations of PM steel boxcars, and feature:

Crisp, accurate lettering printed from actual PM diagrams. Accurate all-boxcar red paint scheme. AccumateTM Kadee-compatible couplers.

Injection-molded plastic construction. Free-standing grabs, ladders, tack boards and brake gear.

Red Caboose did an outstanding job of painting and lettering these cars, using artwork provided by the PMHS. Even the finest lettering is legible. The photos truly do not do them justice.

A limited number of these cars are still available. Car #84199 is PMHS item #B-106. Car #83848 is PMHS item #B-107.

• A single car is $13.00, plus $4.00 shipping and packaging.
• A set of two cars (one of each number) is $25.00, plus $5.00 shipping and packaging.

For orders shipped outside of the US, please add an additional $4.00 shipping to the figures quoted above.