ExactRail - EN-51207-4 - Boxcar, 50 Foot, Evans 5277 - Mississippian Railway - 304037

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: The MSRW opened in 1924 to move lumber and general freight from Fulton to a connection with the Frisco in Amory, Mississippi, a distance of 25 miles. During the Second World War, a large bentonite clay deposit was discovered which contributed greatly to traffic on the line. In fact, they adopted the nickname “The Bentonite Road” as a result. The bentonite ran out in 1968 but other customers moved in including a copper products company. Mississippian operated with a pair of 2-8-0’s well into the 1960s. Number 77, a former Frisco engine built in 1920 wasn’t sold off until 1968. In the late 70s, the line was nearly abandoned, not for lack of traffic but because it was in the way of construction of the Tennessee – Tombigbee Waterway. Local interests won the day and the railroad was saved. Today, the MSRW runs three days per week, moving 8 to 10 cars on a typical operating day.

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.