CNR Boxcar Calculator |
APRIL 2002
In many ways, this month's topic is an extension of the September 1999 topic, where numbers of CNR boxcars based upon the roster published in the January 1945 Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) were applied to a sample roster in HO scale. As a result of numerous requests from readers over the past 30 months, I am hereby presenting a CNR boxcar "calculator", if you will, which can be used to determine a cross section of home road boxcars for any year modelled over the 1945-59 period.
I have taken roster numbers from the ORER over the timespan, tabulated them and calculated a theoretical roster of 100 CN boxcars for July 1st of each year. What does this mean to the modeller? Well, if you determine a target roster of CN boxcars for your layout, you can then easily create a breakdown type-by-type of which cars to purchase.
I have identified the basic CN boxcar types as Fowler 5' or 6' door (available from Westerfield, Kaslo and soon Proto 2000), nine-panel steel-frame with wood or steel ends (Accurail), seven-panel steel-frame (Funaro & Camerlengo, Sylvan and Kaslo), steel 10'-0" with 6' door (Red Caboose), steel 10'-6" with 6' door (Branchline or Inter Mountain), steel 10'-6" with 8' door (Branchline), various steel auto cars (Sylvan), steel-frame auto cars (some Accurail prototypes), and miscellaneous (36' double-sheathed wood cars and rebuilt cars--Sylvan).
For our 100 cars in the middle of 1945, we should have 41 Fowlers (30 with 5' doors and eleven with 6' doors), 28 steel 10"-0" cars, 16 seven-panel cars, ten nine-panel cars (eight wood ends, two steel ends), three steel-frame auto cars, one steel auto car and one double-sheathed wood car or rebuilt boxcar (470000-470249 series).
In 1946, the number of 5' door Fowlers decreases to 29, the nine-panel cars are down to 15, and the steel-frame auto cars are reduced to two. Offsetting these declines are an increase to 31 for the steel 10'-0" cars. The numbers remain the same for 1947. In 1948, the 5' door Fowlers are reduced to 26, the 6' door Fowlers are reduced to ten, the nine-panel wood-end cars go down to seven, and the 10'-0" steel boxcars drop to 30. These losses are replaced by the appearance of six new 10'-6" steel cars. For 1949, the Fowlers continue to decline (to 25 and nine respectively), the seven-panel cars drop to 14, and the 10'-0" steel cars are reduced to 29. Gaining are the 10'-6" cars (to eight) and the auto boxcars (to three).
The only changes for 1950 are a decrease in 6' door Fowlers to eight, with a corresponding increase in seven-panel cars to 15 (as with other apparent increases to be seen, this does not reflect new cars, but rather a greater proportion due to decline of other types). In 1951, the Fowlers continue their decline to 23 and seven respectively, while the seven-panel cars drop to 14 and the 10'-0" steel cars are reduced to 28. The gains are made by 10'-6" steel cars (to 13). For 1952, the 10'-0" steel cars decrease to 27 and the miscellaneous category drops away entirely. Continuing their increase, the 10'-6" cars are up to 15.
In 1953, the Fowlers drop again (21 and six), as do the seven-panel cars (13). Making gains are 10-6" steel cars (18) and auto cars (four). Fowlers drop again in 1954 (18 and five), with 10'-6" steel cars making up the difference (22). Similarly, in 1955 the 5' Fowlers drop to 16, with the 10'-6" steel cars making up the difference (24). In 1956, the decrease in Fowlers (14 and four) is offset by a final increase in 10'-6" steel cars (26) and the introduction of 10'-6" 8' door cars (one). In 1957, the 5' Fowlers drop to eleven, the 10'-0" steel cars decrease to 25, and the 10'-6" steel cars are reduced to 25. Making gains are the 8' door cars (seven) and the auto cars (five). The year 1958 sees a further decline in Fowlers (ten and three), offset by a relative increase in 10'-0" and 10'-0" 6' door steel cars (both 26). Finally, in 1959 the 5' Fowlers decrease further to eight, while the relative number of 10'-0" steel cars increases to 27 and the auto cars increase to six.
It is interesting to note that up until 1953, more than half the CN boxcar roster was wood cars! If you wish to develop a representative roster of CN boxcars for any time over the 1945-59 era, take the month which you are modelling and interpolate the numbers. Then apply those percentages to your target roster of CN boxcars. Various articles by Stafford Swain over the years cover everything you need to know. For hundreds of photos showing all types of CNR boxcars in service, please refer to the Allandale, Stratford or Palmerston books. Happy kit building!
Ian Wilson
April 2, 2002
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