Bill, it wasn’t the Challenger model, but the Leadville Designs model that I build, reviewed, and found wanting. The only reasonably accurate model of the SM-18/18A is the
Sunshine kit. I got probably what was the last 24 kit from Martin, before he shut down Sunshine Models. I don’t recall ever seeing the Challenger model.
Nelson Moyer
From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io>
On Behalf Of William Hirt via groups.io
Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2026 4:55 PM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: Re: [CBQ] Starting some Q branch line modelling
Rick,
Challenger produced HO Scale brass SM-18 painted models about 30 years ago. I think Nelson Moyer has previously noted some prototype discrepancies with the model.
They show up on eBay pretty regularly.
If you want them to roll, you need to replace the wheel sets with ball bearing wheel sets. Intermountian used to offer them.
The Mather cars were leased in the 1960s. Bulletin 25 which discussed stock operations on the Q said it was not clear why the Q leased them. They did lease some Mather cars that were kit bashed by North American Car into 50' stock cars. They carried Illinois
hogs to Tobin Packing in Rochester and Albany, NY. NYC also had some. Life Like sponsored a contest for people to enter kit bashed 50' models.
If you decide you want some of the Mathers, get the assembled ones or the second run of the kits. The second run of kits had metal grabs to be installed which makes the cars look much nicer when assembled.
A large part of the stock transported by rail to the St. Joseph Stockyards came in on the ATSF branch via Atchison KS. The ATSF had trackage rights (along with the MP until 1967) on the Rock Island branch to Atchison.
Steve Sandifer's ATSF Live Stock Operations book said that is 1947 that only 28% of the stock sold at the St. Joseph stock yards were brought in by rail. And that was for a total of 5,266,610 animals. I suspect by the 1960s that had dwindled probably to
not more than 5%. at most.
Bill Hirt
On 7/11/2026 9:40 AM, Rick Woods via groups.io wrote:
I'm curious who produced that CB&Q stock car. I don't think I have ever seen that one before. Is this HO scale?
--
Rick Woods
St. Joseph Terminal Ops
Elkhorn, WI