Micro-Trains - NSC MTL 10-69 - Boxcar, 40 Foot, PS-1 - Western Railway of Alabama - 18188

Specific Item Information: Only available as part of 3-Pack PNS0038

Model Information: This is Micro-Trains first body style. It was introduced in 1972. Its is a model of a Pullman-Standard PS-1 boxcar from circa 1957. Micro-Trains does not market it as a PS-1 so as to allow themselves some latitude so they can use this car to model non-PS prototypes. Hundreds of different releases have used this body style in various paint schemes and road names. They are equipped with 6' sliding doors, either Youngstown (4/5/4 rib pattern) or Superior (7 panels). It is not a model of a "modern" steel boxcar as the length (40 foot) and the roofwalk are more typical of the transition era (1939 - 1957).

In 2019, Micro-Trains started releasing this model with new body-mounted couplers attached to a new underframe.

Prototype History: The 40' Boxcar is widely known as one of the most popular freight cars used by railroads as they transitioned from steam to diesel. In particular the Pullman Standard or PS-1 design was one of the most popular and was widely used by North American railroads. These boxcars were built beginning in 1947 and share the same basic design, with certain elements such as door size, door style or roof type varying among the different railroads and production years. When production of these cars ceased in 1963, over 100,000 had been produced.

So just what is a PS-1? Well the simple answer is it is any boxcar built by Pullman Standard from 1947 on. The design changed over the years – sometimes subtly, sometimes for customer request, and sometimes in a larger way. In general, most PS-1’s built from 1947 to 1961 share the same dimensions and basic construction techniques. These cars all had a length of 40′, a height of 10’5″ or 10’6″, welded sides and ends and roof of Pullman’s own design. The greatest variation was in the size and style of doors used. Pullman Standard also offered 50′ and later 60′ boxcars – also with the PS-1 designation.

Road Name History: Also know as the 'Western of Alabama', The Western Railway of Alabama was formed in 1883 as a result of the reorganization of the Western Rail Road of Alabama and was converted from 5’ gauge to standard gauge in 1886. This pocket size Class 1 railroad linked Selma and Montgomery, Alabama with West Point just over the Georgia border 133 miles to the east. There they connected with their sister road Atlanta & West Point. The two roads together were referred to as "The West Point Route" and were closely affiliated with the Georgia Railroad. Locomotives from the three companies moved freely across each other’s lines.

WoA relied heavily on 4-6-0’s in the early part of the 20th century but would later build up a fleet of seven Mikados for freight service and four Pacifics for passenger service. The biggest power on the WoA consisted of five 4-8-2 mountains, three of which were former Florida East Coast engines that were repossessed by the bank during the Depression. WoA’s first diesels were switchers from Baldwin but it was EMD that would earn all of WoA’s road service locomotives until the end.

WoA hosted Southern Railway’s Crescent Limited between West Point and Montgomery for most of that train’s history.

Western of Alabama, Atlanta & West Point and Georgia Railroad were controlled jointly by L&N and Atlantic Coast Line (SCL after 1967.) As such, Western of Alabama was one of the "Family Lines." In 1983, all of the Family Lines roads were merged to form Seaboard System. Traffic was relatively heavy and the route continues today to be an important line in the CSX system.

Text Courtesy of Bluford Shops

Brand/Importer Information: Micro-Trains is the brand name used by both Kadee Quality Products and Micro-Trains Line. For a history of the relationship between the brand and the two companies, please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide.

Manufacturer Information: Micro-Trains Line split off from Kadee Quality Products in 1990. Kadee Quality Products originally got involved in N-Scale by producing a scaled-down version of their successful HO Magne-Matic knuckle coupler system. This coupler was superior to the ubiquitous 'Rapido' style coupler due to two primary factors: superior realistic appearance and the ability to automatically uncouple when stopped over a magnet embedded in a section of track. The success of these couplers in N-Scale quickly translated to the production of trucks, wheels and in 1972 a release of ready-to-run box cars.

Micro-Trains Line Co. split off from Kadee in 1990 to form a completely independent company. For this reason, products from this company can appear with labels from both enterprises. Due to the nature of production idiosyncrasies and various random factors, the rolling stock from Micro-Trains can have all sorts of interesting variations in both their packaging as well as the products themselves. When acquiring an MTL product it is very important to understand these important production variations that can greatly enhance (or decrease) the value of your purchase.

Please consult our Micro-Trains Collector's Guide

Commissioner Information: Prototype N Scale Models, by George Hollwedel
2108 Buffalo Tundra Dr, Austin, TX 78754-5960
512-796-6883
proto.nscale@yahoo.com