Rupert,
They were in the photo captions. Unfortunately, I didn’t record
the source of the photos, and I haven’t been able to find them again. I’m
still looking.
Nelson
-----Original Message-----
From: CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rupert & Maureen
Sent: Sunday,
February 03, 2013 7:03 PM
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CBQ] CB&Q Class
XM-31, XM-31A, and XM-31B Boxcars
Nelson
May one ask the source of the "A" and "B" designations?
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ
----- Original Message -----
From: Nelson Moyer
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, February
04, 2013 8:45 AM
Subject: [CBQ]
CB&Q Class XM-31, XM-31A, and XM-31B Boxcars
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