03-25-2017, 01:22 AM
gna Wrote:....It doesn't have truss rods; it has a fishbelly frame. It was different, so I bought it, but as far as I can tell it's a complete foobie. I am thinking of converting it to a PRR XL car, or a B&O M-12:...
I've read that cars with those shallow, pressed-steel fishbelly sidesills first appeared in the first decade of the 20th century. They were all part of the Harriman-owned roads, which included the Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Illinois Central, and the Chicago & Alton. After the break-up of the Harriman empire, the IC continued to build these cars as late as 1924.
There's a good photo of such an IC car on Page 39 of Richard Hendrickson's Focus on Freight Cars - Volume Two. It is, however, a double sheathed wood car, similar to the Pennsy car which you show.
Wayne