Burlington Bulletin No. 15 has an article on the bomber boxes. Sixty XA-14D cars were converted from series 36650-46749.
To follow up on an earlier comment about whether or not the extended roof XA-14Ds were rebuilt to eliminate the 26 in. extension, I quote Hol Wagner from BB#15
p. 31, “The 60 class XA-14D “high cube” boxcars went back into general service, retaining their raised roofs until the end. A number of them lasted well into the 1960s.” That makes them prototypical through the end of steam into the first generation of road
switchers on the Burlington Route. The article has several prototype photos, and there are prototype photos in the Sunshine PDS.
Nelson Moyer
From: CBQ@groups.io [mailto:CBQ@groups.io]
On Behalf Of Bob Chaparro via Groups.Io
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2020 12:01 PM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: [CBQ] CB&Q "Bomber Boxcar"
CB&Q "Bomber Boxcar"
A model photo from the NAPM Model Railroad Club:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/napmltd/41672943110/
Caption: "In 1942 the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy modified some of their 50' automobile boxcars to carry wings of B-26 Marauder bombers to an Army Air Corps assembly plant near Omaha. The CB&Q shops built 26" high side extensions and reattached the old
roof to the raised sides. The wings were loaded and unloaded through the hinged doors on the 'A' end of the boxcar.
After the war these cars were used for high cube, lightweight loads such as appliances and furniture. The cars fared poorly in their new assignment — those types of loads weren't as robust as airplane wings — with cargo damage often the result of excess
sway. Eventually the boxcars were put into general service alongside normal-height 50' cars."
Does anyone have a prototype photo or link to a prototype photo?
How many cars did the CB&Q modify?
Thanks.
Bob Chaparro