Micro-Trains - 29020 - Boxcar, 40 Foot, Wood Sheathed, Outside Braced - Sierra Railroad - 539

Prototype History: The outside braced single sheathed box car proved to be a significant development in railway freight car technology in North America. Thousands of them saw use on North American railways beginning in the late 19th century through the 1960s. They carried bulk products such as grain and coal. They also carried packaged or bagged lading referred to as clean lading. While most of the outside braced cars were built for general service, some were built specifically to carry machinery and automobiles. For forty years freight trains on the prairies and indeed all across the country consisted of long lines of outside braced boxcars. They could commonly be found at elevators and loading platforms in communities small and large. They dominated railway yard scenes well into the 1940s.

The use of steel for the under frame (center and side sills), side and end frames initiated a new form of railway freight car building technology. Steel center sills and other under sill framing gave the cars the strength necessary to withstand the stress of longer and faster trains as well as the considerable stress involved in the contact necessary to activate closure of the knuckle coupler while being made up into trains in rail yards or from being picked up from local sidings along the line. The steel frame and the single wood side sheath minimized the weight of the car. This type of car design led to easy construction and repair. Its initial construction cost was low. The design provided secure joints between sides, ends and floors which prevented grain leakage.

Road Name History: The Sierra Railway Company of California was launched in 1897 and constructed a line from connections with Southern Pacific and Santa Fe at Oakdale to Jamestown and Tuolumne City, California. The Tuolomne City end was later abandoned leaving the 49 mile Oakdale to Jamestown line. Although SERA began to dieselize in 1955, a portion of their antiquated steam fleet was kept in operable condition which made the line a favorite location for Hollywood film studios. In 1971, SERA opened “Rail Town 1897” as a tourist attraction featuring the line’s steam power and facilities in Jamestown. In 1979, the owners split the tourist operation and the freight hauling railroad and put them up for sale. The state bought the tourist operation and the railroad was sold first to Silverfoot Inc, then to Sierra Pacific Coast Railway. In 2003, SERA was merged with Yolo Short Line (the two didn’t actually connect) to create the Sierra Northern.

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: 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.
In October 1990 Kadee separated in two companies, with the newly created Micro-Trains® Line Co. continuing the Z, Nn3, and N Scale product ranges, with Kadee retaining the HO range.