Milwaukee Road Box-Express    $30.00

Body Shell Casting

The Milwaukee Shops built 25 Box-Express cars in late 1941 to handle express shipments on passenger trains. Their overall height of 13 feet matched well with the new Milwaukee Road lightweight equipment. As built or soon after, the low profile cars were equipped with high speed swing motion trucks but later on they were replaced with standard freight car trucks. Incredibly some of these cars lasted in service into the 1960's. Original numbers were 50475-50499 however they were renumbered in June 1945 to 925-949 and lastly to the low 1600's (1601-1625?)

 

The body shell is cast in light gray resin and should be washed in Mineral Spirits in order to remove the mold release compound. Most of the flash to be cleaned up is around the step stirrups. Start by drilling a couple of small holes inside the stirrup. Next use a sharp #11 Xacto blade to carefully remove small bits of resin a little at a time until clean up is complete.

A Fox Valley Models 50 foot rib side car was used for most of the parts needed to complete this car. The underframe and trucks fit perfectly. Also use the brake wheel, brake wheel etched step and roofwalk supports. While the Fox Valley roofwalk can be used, a more accurate one is available from Plano Model Products. Use the Plano #250 50' Boxcar Walkway - Slotted Pattern.