ExactRail - EN-51209-1 - Boxcar, 50 Foot, Evans 5277 - Ferdinand - 153

Prototype History: With the Per Diem rules implemented by the US government to encourage railroads to purchase more boxcars, boxcar manufacturing roared into gear in the 1970s. Every major manufacturer cranked out 50 foot boxcars to satisfy the demand. Evans was no exception. Empowered by its acquisition of United States Railway Equipment (USRE), Evans-USRE boxcars became ubiquitous during the IPD boxcar boom of the 1970s. With modern upgrades such as box-corrugated, non-terminating ends, Stanray X-panel overhanging roof, and riveted car sides near the end posts, the Evans-USRE 5277 is a classic boxcar of the IPD era.

The former Evans railcar repair facility in Springfield OR is now owned/operated by Gunderson.

Road Name History: This 6.5 mile branch line was completed and placed in operation in 1909. During its existence, it went through six changes of ownership, and was operated under various names.

One of the main sources of revenue for the Ferdinand RR was the Evans Transportation Company, which used the Ferdinand RR as the base for a large freight car leasing operation. In 1986 there were 897 freight cars with the FRDN reporting mark, and in 1987 it grew to 1068 cars, more than could have been stored on the Ferdinand Railroad's track. (See a picture of a Ferdinand boxcar.) When the lease fleet era closed and the Ferdinand returned to local freight operations, it could not survive. By 1990-91 it was down to moving 18 cars per year. The last carload of freight was moved in March 1991. The line was abandoned in June 1991 and dismantled in 1991-92.

Brand/Importer Information: Dedicated to creating replicas that continue to define standards for precision and authenticity, through its unique expertise in mold creation and product design, Provo, Utah based ExactRail has produced some of the industry's most acclaimed models; true benchmarks for quality over the last decade.

With the N-Scale Series, ExactRail offers precision micro-tooled replicas in 1:160 scale. Each model features fine-scale detail, expert hand-assembly and the finest finish-work in the industry. ExactRail's N-scale Series offers enthusiasts innovative small scale replicas with unprecedented quality and design.