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When did FRA/AAR change rules on this aspect of construction and safety appliances was a big topic on this list yrs ago. To recap: (I was a Safety Mgr with C&NW @ the time). The rule change was that IF you wanted to keep roof walks/running boards on a car, they had to be maintained or otherwise removed. Most RR's were not using them as originally intended due to changes in their own safety rules, improved brakes, etc. Thus they tended to fall into disrepair esp. if wood as opposed to steel. However some RR's esp. those with branch line grain loading or special usages, kept them which was AND is perfectly legal IF maintained. Thus BN heritage 40 & 50' cars could still be found with them well into the "70's. Special use box cars kept them too out of necessity such as old GN 40' box cars with roof hatches for hide loading and a few remaining bunker ice reefers.. And of course they were & are kept on covered hoppers and tank cars today as access is needed at terminals. So depending on what era you model AND which RR, you can & could have them atop your model box cars And since presumably folks on this list model CB&Q making them focus pre-BN, they should appear on Q box cars. Looking at proto slides/prints will show you which RR's aggressively removed running boards/roofwalks and which maintained them. Obviously most new cars & rebuilds were built/modified without. Gerald __._,_.___
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