GREAT NORTHERN

DOUBLE SHEATHED 40’ ARA BOX CARS

In 1937, the Great Northern Railway received 1000 40’6” box cars from Pullman and American Car and Foundry. The cars were built to a design based on the 1924 ARA recommended practice double sheathed box car, but modified to use the then current standard interior dimensions of 10’ IH and 9’2” IW. As the cars also used the common Dreadnaught ends and Murphy panel roofs of their day, they superficially began to resemble the AAR design box cars built by most roads at that time. The GN purchased numerous additional lots: 1939 brought 1000 more box cars built by Pullman; 1000 cars arrived in 1940, split between Pullman and Pressed Steel Car; Pullman, ACF, and PSC delivered 3000 additional cars in 1941; while the last 2000 cars GN received in 1942 were constructed by Pullman, PSC, and General American Transportation. This brought the GN’s total to 8,000 cars, and represented a very significant portion of their roster for many years to come.

The first 1000 cars were equipped with a vertical brake staff, while all others had geared handbrakes. All cars except the 1942 order had metal plates covering the brake valve, and 500 of the 1942 Pullman order had Superior doors rather than the Youngstown doors on all the others.

This kit is available in 7 versions, as the cars came with different doors and four different lettering styles are possible. Refer to the list below to determine what version is appropriate for your modeling era.

The kit contains a pair of polyurethane resin sides and ends, a polyurethane resin underframe, a pair styrene doors as appropriate to the series, a Pacific Rail Shops styrene roof, running board, detail parts and trucks, 8 rung ladders, CDS dry transfer lettering, car data with expanded instructions, and a few other bits and pieces required to build an accurate model of this prototype.

Kit Description Price

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GN-001 Double sheathed 10’ IH ARA box car, 1937-40 production, 4/5 S corner $TBA

Dreadnaught ends, Murphy Rectangular panel roof, Youngstown door, front

facing goat, See America 1937 to early 50’s, AAR trucks

GN-002 Double sheathed 10’ IH ARA box car, 1937-42 production, 4/5 S corner $TBA

Dreadnaught ends, Murphy Rectangular panel roof, Youngstown door, side

facing goat, See America 1941 to mid 60’s, AAR trucks

GN-003 Double sheathed 10’ IH ARA box car, 1942 Pullman production, 4/5 S corner $TBA

Dreadnaught ends, Murphy Rectangular panel roof, Superior Door, side facing

goat, See America 1942 to mid 60’s, AAR trucks

GN-004 Double sheathed 10’ IH ARA box car, 1937-42 production, 4/5 S corner $TBA

Dreadnaught ends, Murphy Rectangular panel roof, Youngstown door, side

facing goat, Great Northern 1948 to mid 80’s, AAR trucks

GN-005 Double sheathed 10’ IH ARA box car, 1942 Pullman production, 4/5 S corner $TBA

Dreadnaught ends, Murphy Rectangular panel roof, Superior Door, side facing

goat, Great Northern 1948 to mid 80’s, AAR trucks

GN-006 Double sheathed 10’ IH ARA box car, 1937-42 production, 4/5 S corner $TBA

Dreadnaught ends, Murphy Rectangular panel roof, Youngstown door, side

facing goat, billboard GN ??? to mid 80’s, AAR trucks

GN-007 Double sheathed 10’ IH ARA box car, 1942 Pullman production, 4/5 S corner $TBA

Dreadnaught ends, Murphy Rectangular panel roof, Superior Door, side

facing goat, billboard GN ??? to mid 80’s, AAR trucks

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