Re: [CBQ] types of gallery cars

["zephyr98072" <glenehaug@msn.com>]

UNDERBODY changes:  the most dramatic underbody differences are to the CB&Q cars, which also account for some changes to the retrofitted BN cars.  Underbody differences may be of no consequence to some modelers, but these cars had no skirts, so some of the differences are noticeable. 

 

All of the CB&Q gallery cars were equipped with Waukesha ice engines, two per car.  The first two orders did not include sub-coolers.  I can only assume that after 1953, the Q had determined that the ice engines by themselves did not provide enough cooling, so all subsequent cars (740 on) were equipped with two sub-coolers, one on each side on the forward end of the car.  Cars 700-739 were never equipped.  This is one underbody detail that is eliminated when the cars were retrofitted, but it is probably also the most noticeable on a pre-merger car. 

 

All of the remaining underbody changes relate to the air brakes, which I know nothing about, so I can’t explain why there is so much difference, but this is what my research found. 

 

The air-brake system on the first 60 cars consists of two 16” x 72” main reservoirs (left side - one forward and one rear of the center door), a D-22 brake control valve (right side - forward of the center door), a combination reservoir (also right side – forward of the center door), and several other smaller reservoirs.  When retrofitted by BN, the rear 16” main reservoir was removed. 

 

The 1965 trailers had one 16” x 72” main reservoir (left side – rear of center door) and a 26C brake control valve (right side – rear of center door), plus other smaller reservoirs, but not the same size as the first 60 cars. 

 

Control cars 790-795 had two 20” x 72” main reservoirs instead of 16”, a 26C brake control valve (right side – rear), and a 16” x 36” reservoir (right side – forward) instead of the combination reservoir.  Control cars BN 796-815 were the same, except they had one 16” (forward) and one 20” (rear) main reservoirs.  BN trailers 816-820 appear to have a different brake control valve, but in the same location.

All of the described differences may be very important to some, not at all to others.  Take your pick.  The good news is that there are enough changes that occur between the first 60 cars and the 1965 cars, that Rapido ought to be able to rationalize.

Glen Haug

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From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> on behalf of trains@davidstreeter.net <trains@davidstreeter.net>
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2022 11:41 AM
To: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io>
Subject: [CBQ] types of gallery cars

 

The apparent confusion at Rapido got me to thinking...

 From my personal observations, there are five types of Burlington
gallery cars.

1: name board, no toilet, no cab, starting with 700.
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4541152
2: name board, toilet, no cab, ending with 787. (I have never seen a 788
or 789.) http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2694678
3: name board, toilet, cab, 790-795. (no photo found on rrpicturearchives)
4: no name board, toilet, cab, 796-815.
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3308020 (shown with cab
blanked)
5: no name board, toilet, no cab, 816-820.
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3200666

I believe types 1 and 2 were ordered in alternating lots, but I don't
have ready access to my notes detailing which numbers are which types.

I believe Metra has purged all of type 1.

Metra has removed the cabs from all type 3 and 4 cars, plating over the
end and side windows.

In my mind, types 4 and 5 are "BN cars," but I don't know when they were
actually ordered. I assume they were bought by WSMTD rather than the
railroad itself.

All cars with toilets are oriented with the toilet in the southwest
corner. This was the biggest flaw with the Holgate & Reynolds and Kiel
(Keil?) Line models: they had the toilet in the wrong place so it would
be the northwest corner.

In all groups, underbody details changed over time, first with 480V HEP
replacing the propane air conditioners, and I think the HEP connectors
were modified when the E9s were retired. And of course the big  BN logo
boards were added below the windows, etc.

After type 5 come the various orders of "RTA cars" which look different
and have 4-digit numbers.

Do I have all of this right?

--
David Streeter

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