Moloco 60017-03 - ACF 50' Hi-cube Ext. Post Waffle Boxcar Burlington Northern (BN) 219265 - HO Scale

ACF Industries (ACF) started producing this general type of 70t Hi-Cube exterior post designed car in 1971, the design developed further in 1973-74 which is the prototype of this car. We believe this car design was tailored to one customer Whirlpool for appliance service. The Whirlpool's plant in Ft. Smith, AR mainly produced fridges and freezers, but also the often overlooked important appliance, hot water heaters. They also produced appliance under contract for the Maytag brand. The Hi-Cube height was important to accommodate various sizes of appliances, with either one-high, two-high or three-high depending on internal or external customer requests. The Plate clearance for these cars pre-dates the Plate F introduction so they were marked with Exceeds Plate C. The Frisco (SLSF) served the Ft. Smith Whirlpool plant directly, but they had always been involved with the nationwide pool for Whirlpool, previously assigning 40-foot DF-2 boxcars. It would make sense that FEC also wanted to be in the Whirlpool national pool, especially cooling products from Ft. Smith.

The typical group of railroads for the Whirlpool pool; PRR, NYC, PC, ATSF, SOU, CBQ, RI,  IC,  ICG,  LN, MP. SLSF, FEC, CNW, MILW,  BN, CO, BO, NW, EL, GMO  UP, SSW and probably a few others (information from D. Holbrook).

These cars only started to be modified in 1978 with some receiving strengthening weldments shoring up the bolster and cross-bearer connections on the bottom sill. About the same time some of these cars received a small CPC stencil next to the door hasp for assignment to Corn Products Company. CPC was a worldwide leader in products from corn and I can estimate the loads were palletized and stacked inside. The FEC cars seemed to stay in appliance serve, but some did receive re-assignment with patched out stencilling. Some cars remained in the yellow Frisco scheme until 1989. Others were painted as early as 1981 into BN green and I believe all were repainted minus the ones that were damaged beyond repair. However, sometime during the BN era these cars were most likely used in paper roll service. Especially, the paper and pulpboard makers of the era were making ever increasing roll sizes, so the extra interior height was much needed.

NOTE: This scheme was painted at the ex-Frisco Springfield shops so has the unique non-standard BN lettering "Springfield" font.

DESIGN FEATURES

• Differing lettering placements for individual car numbers for repainted cars
• Car number specific handbrakes, Ajax, Ellcon-National, Equipco, Klasing or Universal
• Unique very tall 10-6 Youngstown sliding door
• ACF draft gear designed tailored to each prototype
• Multiple versions of door stops, waffles and non-waffles
• Durable rubber air hoses and metal corner stirrups
• 70t trucks with metal wheels and axles, type matched to prototype
• Highly detailed Stanray T3-3-3 ends uniquely used to this Hi-Cube
• Researched accurate lettering, from the smallest stencils to the nuisances of repainted cars
• Kadee ”Scale” Whisker couplers