Large Scale Central

1:20.3 Standard Gauge boxcar

Modeling
#1

Some Narrow gauge railroads, (EBT and D&RGW comes to mind) operated with dual gauge trackage at some locations. Sometimes they would park the NG cars and SG cars side by side and transfer loads by hand. Sometimes they simply lifted the SG car off of it’s trucks and placed it on NG trucks and continued to the destination. The Colorado Midland Railway exchanged with the D&RGW.

So out came my Colorado Midland books for research. I chose an early 1900’s 40’ box car. All the plans and dimensions were in the book.

A custom frame and parts from Phil Dippel and I went to work. Decals by Stan, of course. Right now my model is riding on Andrews NG trucks. I have some feelers out for a set of SG trucks from Iron Horse Shops.

The car right out of the shop.

A 1:20.3 D&RGW NG 30’ box car behind it.

A 1:20.3 40’ NG reefer.

Another 40’ comparison view.

The width is only 1/2" wider on both sides. The height scales out to about 1" higher.

It fits thru my truss bridge. Whew!

#2

Nice! I want to make a SG 100 ton hopper for a coal transfer facility.

#3

Nice looking boxcar John. How can I get a copy of the plans so that I can print them in 1/29th scale and start building a few for my Spokane International RR.

Chuck

#4

Sure like that Refg. car… nice work.

#5

Nice John.

Just goes to show a person how big 1:20.3 scale is or just how small 3’ narrow guage is.

#6

It would be neat to have a length of standard guage trackage coming from ‘somewhere’ to a transfer dock next to our narrow guage.

John I take it that the trucks you are looking for will actually run on 70mm guage track.

#7

Randy,

I am going to make up a 6’ section of dual 1:20.3 gauge track just for a “Diorama.”

Once I find a set, I’ll change out the NG trucks.

This model is basically a conversation piece.

#8

Chuck, Chuck, Chuck,

You have a beautiful 1/32 Consolidation. Make them in the correct 1/32 scale and we can interchange rolling stock.

#9

Beautiful job on the car John,

I have a freight transfer shed on my railroad with a F-scale D&RG boxcar on one side and Fn3 on the other side. The shed is modeled after one that was on the EBT.

Standard gauge trucks are a little on the spendy side, around 150 last time I priced them. I got mine for a lot less otherwise the car would be sitting on cribbing not trucks.

Rick

#10

Very nice John! Great job!

#11

John, can you send me any info about getting the frame and parts from Phil? Also a web address for Iron Horse Shops? When i search all i come up with is a hobby store in Pittsburg.

Terry

#12

Don Niday has contacted me about 1:20.3 SG Trucks.

I thank him for his quick response! They aren’t inexpensive, but since they are all hand crafted out of metal, with bearings, they are worth it. Especially if I am to have this one car only.

http://www.ironcreekshops.com/home.html

Phil Dippel. Go to Contact.

Mention my model and he will know what parts are needed.

http://www.philsnarrowgauge.com/

#13

Ive been planning on adding SG cars to the operations for years…no reason it has to be just a display…Since I use No1 scale KDs i had figgered to use G scale couplers on them to provide a larger looking coupler and stand in for the aluminum casting the EBT used to use as an adaptor…

#14

Thank you John.

#15

Here’s one of Don Niday’s 1:20.3 standard gauge 36’ boxcar kits running in my EBT hopper train behind #12. (Presidents Day steam-up, Scranton, 2012.)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/petert/_forumfiles/IMG_3401-ebt12-scranton2012-stdgaugeboxcar-8.jpg)

If I remember correctly, it has a pair of Bettendorf trucks, probably from Old Pullman years ago, that look like EBT 3’ gauge vulcans. Not that you can see the trucks with that overhang!

#16

End of the NG.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/jebouck/dualtrack.jpg)

Great photo, Pete.

I plan on running mine as soon as I can find my layout under all the leaves and other crap.

#17

Sounds like a work day for the “Gezzers” John, then we can start running trains again.

BTW I have way to much 1/29th stuff to change over to 1/32nd, but nice try.

Chuck

#18

Great looking car John. I’ve had plans for a standard gauge flat for a couple of years. Picked on an LGB flat to bash, but it’s never made it to the front of my project list.