The Greenville Steel Car Company 60-foot boxcar stands as a pioneering design in the history of freight transportation, specifically engineered to meet the burgeoning demands of the auto parts industry. These robust Plate C boxcars became a familiar sight on numerous North American railroads, including the Louisville & Nashville (L&N), Detroit, Toledo and Ironton (DT&I), Grand Trunk Western (GTW), Missouri Pacific (MP), Nickel Plate Road (NKP), New York Central (NYC), Norfolk & Western (N&W), and Wabash (WAB), among others. Their distinctive double doors and slightly smaller profile compared to the later hi-cube cars of the late 60s and 70s have cemented their iconic status among railroad enthusiasts. Thrall and American Car & Foundry also produced similar designs, further underscoring the importance of this car type for auto parts logistics.
Surprisingly, despite their significance, a highly detailed, ready-to-run plastic model of the Greenville 60’ boxcar, comparable to offerings from Tangent, Genesis, or ExactRail, has never been commercially produced. Consequently, model railroaders seeking to replicate these classic Box Car Parts haulers have long relied on resin kits from manufacturers like Robin’s Rails, Con-Cor, and A-Line as essential starting points for their projects. Notable modelers such as Bobb Losse, Stuart Thayer, and Rick Jesionowski have showcased impressive kitbashed and detailed Greenville models in publications like Railroad Model Craftsman and MainLine Modeler, and online forums like Diesel Detailer and the Atlas Rescue Forum, demonstrating the enduring appeal of these box car parts carriers.
My own modeling focus centers on railroads operating east of the Mississippi, particularly the Norfolk & Western and the Family Lines System. The L&N’s acquisition of twenty 60’ Greenville boxcars (#105600-105619) in 1966, primarily for service to the Ford glass complex in Nashville, piqued my interest. These cars, boasting a 6,000 cubic foot capacity, 8’ double plug doors, ASF 100-ton Ride Control roller bearing trucks, DF-2 loading belts, and Keystone Shock Control cushioning, represent a fascinating piece of railroad history in auto parts transportation.
Finding photographic references for the L&N Greenvilles proves challenging. Steven Johnson’s “Louisville & Nashville Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment Volume I” offers glimpses of cars over a decade into service, revealing the wear and tear of revenue service. Inspired by these images, I aimed to model a car in a condition reflecting approximately 5-10 years of use, showing some weathering but not yet heavily deteriorated.
I chose the A-Line kit as the foundation for this project.
A-Line 60′ Greenville boxcar kit, representing early production models for model railroad enthusiasts interested in box car parts.
The A-Line kit, while a good starting point, represents an earlier production version with 41’ truck centers. The L&N’s Greenvilles, being later builds, featured a stretched 46’3” wheelbase. While modifying the A-Line frame was an option, I opted for the floor and underframe from an Atlas 60’ ACF auto parts car. These components offer the correct wheelbase, enhanced weight, and superior detailing compared to the A-Line kit parts, crucial for accurately modeling box car parts haulers.
To accommodate the Moloco cushioned draft gear, I carefully removed the cast-on coupler pockets. Some filing and sanding of the floor ends ensured a proper fit with the A-Line body.
Atlas 60′ ACF auto parts car underframe used for improved wheelbase and detail in box car parts model project.
A known shortcoming of the A-line shell lies in the flat, undetailed plug doors. Inspired by TBird1958’s NKP model, I replicated his technique of removing the molded-on door details and replacing them with Evergreen plastic rods. For my model, I utilized .02” Tichy brass wire and small Precision Scale brackets to achieve even greater dimensionality, enhancing the realism of these key box car parts.
Detailing plug doors on an A-Line box car model with Tichy brass wire and Precision Scale brackets for realistic box car parts representation.
Prototype photos confirmed that the Greenvilles lacked roofwalks and featured low mount hand brakes and ladders. I incorporated ExactRail 4-rung ladders, a CalScale Ajax brake appliance, and a Kadee Ajax brake wheel to accurately represent these details.
The model’s ends were further refined with Plano coupler walkover platforms, Moloco Stanray lift levers, Moloco train-lines, and Kadee #158 couplers. ExactRail sidemount stirrups, while delicate, added a final touch of finesse. The model rides on Athearn ASF 100-ton roller bearing trucks equipped with 36” wheels.
For painting, I chose Tamiya Blue with a Titanium Silver roof. A Tamiya gloss coat prepared the surface for Microscale #1331 decals, supplemented with assorted numbers and stencils. Another gloss coat sealed the decals, followed by a final coat of Tamiya flat clear. Subtle weathering, simulating road dust, was applied to the side sill and roof using a diluted mixture of Tamiya NATO black, khaki, flat clear, and lacquer thinner.
Side view of finished L&N Greenville 60′ boxcar model with Tamiya blue paint and Microscale decals, showcasing detailed box car parts modeling.
End view of the completed L&N Greenville boxcar model, featuring Plano walkover platforms and Moloco draft gear, essential details for box car parts accuracy.
Top-down view of the finished L&N Greenville 60′ boxcar model on model railroad tracks, highlighting roof and overall detail of this box car parts replica.
This project highlights the enduring appeal of the Greenville 60’ boxcar, a crucial workhorse in the transportation of auto parts. By combining readily available kits with careful detailing and accurate components, modelers can create compelling replicas of these important freight cars, preserving a piece of railroad history in miniature.
