Box Car 67 - Official Work Thread

[Paul Uhland]

Nice, thorough photo series.
Since 9 is about done, 67 will keep you all busy this winter. 

[Richard Cavalloro]

I didn't realize they let their rolling stock sit and rot like that.   So glad it was rescued!!!!   How many spare trucks etc does MNG have?
 Rick

[John Kokas]

Since we pride ourselves on being prototypical, I would suggest we finish the car in a 1920's-30's paint and lettering scheme that it had on the B&SR.  It will also make it a real conversation piece and a delight for photographer specials.

[Wayne Laepple]

Hmmmm.... And I was thinking it would be cool to have it in gray with black lettering to contrast with the otherwise uniform boxcar red color.

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Thanks to the crew for a lot of hard work!

If votes are being counted - i go for B&SR 67 - keep it historically correct.

[Ted Miles]

Folks,
         I have walked around in the weeds at Maine Narrow Gauge Museum and seen and photographed the poor old 60 and 67. I am glad it has a new home!

It is lucky the car is complete and the museum does not have to go hunting for trucks, parts etc.

It should be painted as it was on the Bridgton & Saco River. I very much doubt that many of the freight cars got any paint during the Bridgton and Harrison period.

And it is always good to have another box car around.

Ted Miles
Life Member WW&F Ry Museum

[Philip Marshall]

I really like Wayne's idea of going with the early B&SR scheme of gray with black lettering. In addition to providing a bit of visual interest, it would be fun to portray an earlier period in history.

[Paul Uhland]

Using 67 as a mobile tool car makes total sense,  as do ATSF 3751, 2926 and other restoration societies.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

Ok, since we seem to be engaging in "Primary Season" here, I will cast my vote:
I think a historically accurate number only scheme would be best as it maintains the integrity of the car's appearance but also does not detract from the fact it's NOT on the B&H.
Of course, there COULD be occasions where she wear her B&H or B&SR markings as paint isn't THAT expensive.

[James Patten]

My opinion is if it's going to retain the B&SR number, give it B&SR markings.  Otherwise give it a WW&F number (321 is the next in the boxcar class) and WW&F lettering (either WW&F Ry or WW&F RR for variety).

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

I may have had a hanging chad there-
I did mean B&SR markings too.

[Ted Miles]

James,
          I am surprised that you would consider making that box into a counterfeit WW&F car. it always was a B&SR or B&H box so it should be restored that way.

Actually as a Laconia built car I can see a number of differences between the Portland Company cars on the property and that Laconia product. Like the inside sheathing.

It will be great to see it restored. It is wonderful that the museum has a friendly saw mill down in Massachusetts.

Ted Miles
WW&F Life Member

[Mike the Choochoo Nix]

Hmmmm.... And I was thinking it would be cool to have it in gray with black lettering to contrast with the otherwise uniform boxcar red color.

What about one side and one end red, lettered W W & F and the other side and end gray lettered B & S R?
That way it could look like a W W & F car on photo freights, but still show it's original heritage.
Mike Nix

[Stephen Piwowarski]

It's an interesting problem:

Restore it in a WW&F paint scheme and it denies the car's historical background which is a shame because there aren't all that many B&SR cars left.

Restore it in a B&SR car and we need to interpret why there is a B&SR car on the WW&F which it never interchaged with.

I think there is value in it as a B&SR car because the story of why the B&SR and WW&F didn't connect is a valuable one: both were feeder railways that connected small towns with the larger standard gauge system with one eventually being owned by the standard gauge system.

Just a thought.

[John Kokas]

I think we need to look at the issue this way.  Is our mission to replicate the WW&F exclusively, or carry the WW&F banner while also recognizing and preserving Maine NG railroading overall.  If we are to be WW&F only, then why do we have 67, 51, 52, 10, etc. as they are not WW&F equipment?

I would think that Harry would approve of the bigger picture of preserving all Maine equipment regardless of heritage but noting that the WW&F is now home.  With that in mind, I would not look favorably at re-designating #67 to WW&F.  It's a B&SR car and should be recognized as such.  Maybe we could have it in the grey scheme for 3-4 years and then switch to the red scheme for another 3-4 years and have some variety as both schemes are prototypical.

OK, now stepping off my soapbox.............