[CBQ] CB&Q Class XM-31, XM-31A, and XM-31B Boxcars

["Nelson Moyer" <ku0a@mchsi.com>]

XM-31 series boxcars were numbered from 28000-28599, however the series was apparently produced in three orders of 200 cars each. Photographs of these cars are available from all three series, and some cars are labeled XM-31A and XM-31B, suggesting that there were differences between the cars in each series. There differences could be simply the number range, i.e. 28000-28199 became Class XM-31, 28300-28399 became Class XM-31A, and 28400-28599 became Class XM-31B. Photographs of XM-31 and XM-31A boxcars show they had either ASF or Barber S-2 trucks, while both photos of XM-31B boxcars show they had National Type 2 trucks. I don’t know if there were other differences between sub-classes, e.g. type of hand brake, etc. Miner hand brakes were used on all XM-31 and XM-31A cars where the B end is visible. End view photographs are available for XM-31 and XM-31A cars, and a partial end view shows part of the hand brake wheel for XM-31B. The type of end ladder stile varies between sub-classes, with some cars having split stiles on the right side of the end ladder and other cars having one-piece stiles on the right side of the end ladder. The bottom grab iron of the end ladder is a half-drop grab iron in every case where the bottom end grab iron is visible. Half-drop grab irons were used with both split and one-piece stiles.

 

Photos are available for 8 cars in the series.

 

Class         Number        Brake                          End Ladder                             Trucks

XM-31      28000           Not visible                    Not visible                                Barber S-2

XM-31      28040           Miner hand brake         Split Stile, half-drop                  ASF

XM-31      28057           Miner hand brake         Split stile, half-drop                   Barber S-2

XM-31A    28265           Not visible                    Not visible                                ASF

XM-31A    28289           Miner hand brake         One-piece stile, half drop          ASF

XM-31A    28381           Not visible                    One piece stile, not visible         Barber S-2

XM-31B    28443           Universal                      Split stile, half-drop                   National Type B

XM-31B    28597           Not visible                    Not visible                                National Type B

 

Disclaimer:

1. I am not an expert on freight car trucks, so the ASF and Barber S-2 designations are my best guess.
2. The photo of 28443 shows only part of the brake wheel, so the identification as Universal is a best guess.

 

I’m building three XM-31 series cars from Sunshine kits, and I’d like to know more about the apparent sub-classes, XM-31A and XM-31B. They are not listed in the CB&Q master boxcar lists available to me; all cars in the series are lumped together as XM-31 boxcars.

 

I’d appreciate a review of these data by any freight car experts out there, and any further information about Class XM-31, XM-31A and XM-31B boxcars.

 

Nelson Moyer

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