SP Supply Train (Part 7) - 1945 Consist Info From Ken Harrison's SPMW Book

In Modeling an MOW Supply Train (Part 1), I covered the July, 1946 Consist of the Supply Train from Bruce Petty's SPMW book. 

Now in 2023, Ken Harrison's new SPMW book has been printed and released by the SPH&TS.  Included in the Appendix II (pgs. 474-475) is a consist for the LA General Shops Department for Oct 18, 1945.  I'm going to do my usual modeling consist analysis of how to model it with cars available in HO scale.  I'm also going to look at the differences from the previous consist in Part 1.

The new resource for SPMW modeling from Ken Harrison

The consist is basically the same, but it is expanded with extra spare cars, filling the consist from 9 cars to 25 cars.  I wonder what the reason for the 1945 consist of 25 cars verses the consist of 15 months later dropping to only 10 cars (counting caboose).  Perhaps the 1946 consist still had some of the other storage boxcars behind the 'caboose', but maybe the consist really did shortened down as the post-war rebuilding of the railroad was getting caught up after 4-5 years of war time shortages.

October, 1945 Supply Train Consist

1. Gondola, 40ft - Empty

SP 53825 G-50-6/8-class kitbash

If the SP was using revenue gondolas to support the Supply Train, then I would think that they would have been using G-50-6/8 class cars.

SP Rule 229 states that "All coal and wood falling from trains must be picked up from the right of way, piled at section-houses, and held subject to orders from the Superintendent."

So maybe these extra empty cars were filled with this reclaimed material, maybe loaded by hand using shovels?

2. Gondola, 40ft - Empty

Same comments as for Car #1, above.

3. Flatcar, 40ft - Empty

SPMW 1413 with more 'orderly' sideboards than the more random ones I'll show later on 161 and 229.

I do wonder if this empty flatcar would have full sideboards, partial, or removable sideboards.  It's not clear exactly what this car's purpose for being empty is.

4. Flatcar, 40ft - Push Cars & Speeders, etc (this is the first car of the previous consist list from Part 1)

SPMW 1782, while assigned to T&M service, I think would have similar sideboard arrangement.

The speeder car I think would have to use low and removable sideboards, to allow the equipment to be loaded and unloaded.  I also wonder if there was a small jig crane or other mechanical assistance to load and unload this car along the right of way.  I'll probably do a car with "removable" sideboards based on a couple of cars showing that type of arrangement in the Ken Harrison book.

5. Flat or Gondola, 40ft - Lumber Car

NWP 4474 loaded with stacks of rough cut wood.  I would think that the lumber cars in Supply Train would be finished sizes and to order based on the requests from the division.

The source doesn't say if it's a gondola or a flatcar loaded with lumber.  So this car could certainly be a revenue flatcar or a revenue gondola, or just as easily a MW service car, reloaded specifically for the Supply Train.

6. Gondola. 40ft - Load New, S.H., Scrap Rail

Example of one of the few SPMW gondolas, in this case a G-50-3, heavily kitbashed from a Bachmann/Tyco gondola.

The cars assigned to spot #6 and #8, and possibly spots #1 & 2, probably could also be standard revenue gondolas.  I'm showing SPMW "Ready Shop" cars... I'm not sure that the SP used their "Shop" cars in this way.  I need to do more research if 'Shop' cars were used for scrap and secondhand material to haul back to the 'shops' or if they were really used to move 'Shop' supplies, like raw steel from the big material yards, like Sac General Shops to the various outlaying division shops.  Compared to the Supply Cars, there weren't many 'Shop' cars, and no gondolas assigned to Supply service.  Given those conditions, I'm more thinking that gondolas in this consist were revenue cars.

7. Flatcar, 50ft - with Crane SPMW 3400, SPMW 2011 - F-50-14

Likewise, SPMW 5879, also an F-50-14, which was retired to MW service after 1954 and fitted with Burro SPO-257.

The consist shows SPMW 2011, one of only two 53ft F-50-14s retired in 1940, probably specifically for the LAGS and Sac General Shops' Supply Trains.  I believe this assignment would use an electro-magnet on the crane to pick up and handle the steel and iron materials.

8. Gondola. 40ft - Load Track & Car New, S.H., Scrap Materials

SPMW 1162, an ex-EPSW gondola assigned to Ready Shop service.

Same notes as for Car #6.  SPMW 1162 isn't quite done in this shot.  I'll probably do some more finishing work on it, and do it's own blog post at some point.

9. Tankcar, 40ft - Gasoline Supply, SPMW 1317 - O-50-8

SP 58578, while a regular O-50-13, shows the paint scheme that SPMW 1317 used.

This car is equipped with pump, meter equipment in the A-end of the tank and hoses to fill the gasoline cans at each station.  These cars were painted SP Colonial Yellow (light yellow) on the tank with black frames and lettering.

I plan to kitbash an Athearn tank car to model SPMW 1317 as an O-50-8, which will require converting the car to a radial course construction and installing all of the pumping, metering, and hose boxes.  I'll be covering that project when I do it.

10. Tankcar, 40ft - Switch Light Oil, SPMW 1633 - O-50-11

SPMW 1633 Supply - Switch Light Oil Tank Car O-50-11 - Brian Black & Nolan Black collection

The hoses and support gear were fitted for use on the Supply Trains delivering switch light oil.  I'll probably kitbash a model of SPMW 1633 using the various techniques to model the radial tank with teh smaller 54" dome, in addition the boxes for the hoses and meter boxes.

SP 58684 is a later class than the SPMW 1633, but shows the Diesel scheme.

Diesel Fuel Oil and Switch Light Oil cars were painted aluminum (silver) with black lettering.

11. Boxcar, 40ft - Misc Scrap & Old Tools - Pool Car

SPMW 701 Supply Car "Pool Car" kitbashed from Accurail wood 40ft boxcar

I'm guessing this would be a car out of the SPMW "Supply Car" pool, these cars should probably have the ladder and stirrup to the left of the side door.

12. Boxcar, 40ft - S.H. & Scrap & S.H. Picks Only, SPMW 1165 - B-50-10

It would appear that there was an assigned car for this position, probably with tool racks and bins inside.

13. Boxcar, 40ft - Motor Oil, SPMW 1341

The 1341 is a B-50-6, which was retired on Dec 31, 1952, being scrapped in Feb 1953. 

Harrison's new book and roster data CD states that this car is equipped as follows:
    Equipped with six internal tanks and pumps for oil supply service.
    First assigned to Los Angeles. At Los Angeles 8/19/1948. 
    Last assigned LAGS.  Dismantled Los Angeles 2/20/1953.

Interesting statement paired with the Appendex II consist of the Supply Train shows this car was used for Motor Oil, so I'm guessing this was six tanks of various weights of motor oil for refilling cans along the resupplying route.  The car was converted to SPMW service in Sept, 1937 and retired in 1953.

 This car was specially fitted with six tanks for motor oil.  I don't know if this car was replaced in the supply train service with another car before 1956's roster.  I've not seen another car like this in the roster.

14. Coach, 67ft - Office, SPMW 1370

These office and crew cars provided space for the Supply Train crew to stay during their multi-day trips around the system.  At least two of these "Office" cars had to be in service at any point in time, as one Supply Train worked out of Sacramento General Shops and one out of Los Angeles General Shops.
The SPMW 1370 was an ex-Baggage-Club combine car assigned to "Office" service in 1937 at Los Angeles from SP 3077, and retired Oct 31, 1946 and in February, 1953, a retired B-50-13 was assigned to SPMW 1370 as a Bunk car.  

SPMW 740 - Very similar to SPMW 1370 - both were built as wood underframed Baggage-Buffet cars, rebuilt with steel underframes (Circa 1913), and eventually converted to Baggage-Club cars (circa 1925).

SPMW 740 right side of prototype - Tony Johnson Photo Collection (cropped, used with permission)

Previously, I covered the SPMW 740 which was used from circa 1935 from SP 3073, until retired after 17 years in 1952, dismantled in 1954.  The SPMW 598, ex-SP 2935 Lounge replaced SPMW 740 in December 1953, transferring the internal fittings over to the new car.

Given that the 1370 was built in 1899 and was a wood-UF Bag-Club car, it should appear very similar to the 740.  At this time, I'm not sure if I'll repaint my model of SPMW 740 (shown below) or if I'll leave it as 740 (Sacramento Supply Train) and fill the spot in the 1945 consist with a protection coach or something.

15. Flatcar, 40ft - Truck Mat'L

This Supply Car, SPMW 161 with sideboards, I decalled for assignment to Sacramento Stores Department for a customer.

I'm suspicious that this should read "Track" Mat'L... as I doubt that in 1945 "Truck" material would be shipped in the supply train.  Freight car trucks... like brasses? or is it talking about trucks, like the MW support vehicles?  For now I'm leaning towards this meaning 'Track" material.

16. Flatcar, 40ft - Spikes

Another flatcar, SPMW 229, a Supply car assigned to LA General Stores Dept.

There's actually a photo of a Spikes car being unloaded in the new book!  These would be kegs of spikes.  The car has low sideboards, like my SPMW 229, but with a removable door between the center stake pockets.  The crews were using sliding the kegs down to the ground level on the ramp using a C-channel ramp.

The car shown in the new Ken Harrison book is a revenue F-50-1/2/3 class car (40214) with sideboards, like my SPMW 229, but with a center removable section for unloading the kegs.  I may end up building a removable spike load with the sideboards attached that can fit on one of my revenue F-50-5+ series cars to use temporary in Supply Train service.

17. Boxcar, 40ft - Small Supplies, SPMW 3698 - B-50-10

SPMW 3698 ready for its Supply Train assignment.

I'm assuming this one was fitted with racks for small materials, like is shown in SP This is My Railroad 1947 for signal lenses, etc.

The 1956 roster shows a B-50-10 retired in 1951, and also assigned to this service.  Thankfully the 3698 from 1945 is shown in a photograph in Harrison's new book on pg. 336, which clearly shows the car to be a B-50-10.  So I'm guessing that either the 1956 roster is a typo on the date the car was retired... or that the 1945 B-50-10 #3698 was retired and replaced by the new car in 1951 with the same number, maybe for the same assignment.

18. Boxcar, 40ft - Track Tools, SPMW 1343 - B-50-9

SPMW 2272 is a Ready Boxcar, B-50-6/9 were almost identical, so I'm showing it as a stand-in for SPMW 1343.

Probably an assigned car, fitted with tool racks and hangers for the specific track tools.  The 1343 was retired in 1950.

Note that this car is a B-50-9, which is interesting, as this car appears to be the only B-50-9 Supply car, while there were 6 other B-50-6s in Supply Car service.

19. Boxcar, 40ft - Peddler?, SPMW 2164 - B-50-5 (Bunk Car) or SPMW 2195 - B-50-10

No idea what "Peddler" is supposed to mean in this case.  It seems that two cars are assigned to rotate through this position in the consist.  It would seem that these cars were used at least in 1945 Supply Train service as cars with sleeping accommodation for a clerk to keep track of the supplies and storage racks for supplies.

 

A possible look for B-50-10 with Bruce Petty's "Klamath Falls Supply Car" style windows (using my SPMW 438 Scale Repair Car kitbash as example)

An interesting thought on what this car might be found in Bruce Petty's SPMW book from a drawing on page 25 for a Supply Car for the Klamath Falls Branch from 1924.  This plan shows plenty of windows (4-5 window to each side of the door, and two in the side door) on both sides.  I think the car must have been a double-sheath car, B-50-1/2/4/5 or B-40-series to have so many windows.  The interior shows many multiple compartments for misc tools below the work bench, 'pigeon holes' on about 1/3 of the wall length.  Also there is a berth, stove, closet and lockers, presumably for the Stores Department worker.  I'm guessing this K.Falls car was used to transport on a regular basis, company material for the branch so a multiple car Supply Train didn't need to be sent up the branch. 

Perhaps this is why there are two cars that are assigned to the LA Supply Train, which allows them - or at least one - to 'roam' on the branches, while the other stays with the train.  The problem with this theory is then, why would they need a car like this in the regular train with accommodations, when the "Office" car probably has sleeping accommodations for the regular staff for the Supply Train.

20. Boxcar, 40ft - Rack for Oils, SPMW 2209 - B-50-10

SPMW 2209, assigned Supply Car service.

I'm assuming a car with racks for various oil containers.  The assigned car makes me thin the car is fitted with racks or other restraints for the drums or cans.

On the 2209 I used the "SUPPLY CAR" from OwlMtModel's SPMW (Decal #1214) which is smaller than the "standard" lettering, which I've seen on post-war examples (such as SPMW 2681).  Instead I followed the example found on page 336 of Ken Harrison's new SPMW book, showing SPMW 3698 which has this style of smaller "SUPPLY CAR" lettering.  The rest of the decals came from a mix of the OwlMtModels sets and the SPMW Boxcar and Pullman sets from Todd Osterburg's artwork.

I also applied some of the "KEEP FIRES & LIGHTS AWAY" stencils, as this car would be hauling various oil and petroleum products.  I placed two pairs of these: one just to the right of the weight information and the other on the door near the locking levers. - We're redrawing this stencil artwork for the new OwlMtModels #1218/1219 SPMW Supply Car decal sets which are in the works (2023, May), so it should be more in scale with the photos of other applications (SPMW 3165) when applied to car sides for permanently assigned car loading, instead of temporary placards - as seen on tank cars.

I still need to do a little more on this one with the mid-car ladder and stirrup step fabrication and installation.

21. Boxcar, 40ft - Drums For Oils, SPMW 2196 - B-50-10

Maybe for distributing smaller oil containers.  I'm not sure if those would be loaded or empty.  The assigned car makes me thin the car is fitted with racks or other restraints for the drums. This car should be fitted with "Flammable" placards or stencil warnings for this kind of loading.

22. Boxcar, 40ft - Supplies, SPMW 3724 - B-50-10

SPMW 3724 assigned Supply Car

Obviously the SPMW 3724 was fitted internally with something special for carrying these "Supplies" as it is specified by number for this assignment, possibly racks, etc.

Like the 2209, I still need to do a little more on this one with the mid-car ladder and stirrup step fabrication and installation.

23. Boxcar, 40ft - Misc Supplies, Pool Car

SPMW 2681, pool SUPPLY CAR.

I'm guessing this would be a car out of the SPMW "Supply Car" pool.

24. Boxcar, 40ft - Renewals, Pool Car

SPMW 498, another pool SUPPLY CAR.

I'm guessing this would be a car out of the SPMW "Supply Car" pool.

25. Boxcar, 40ft - Drum Gas, Pool Car

SPMW 2676, the last B-50-12 in MW service and in use as Supply Car.

I'm guessing this would be a car out of the SPMW "Supply Car" pool.  I'm also guessing this car was carrying bulk drum gasoline which could be unloaded at various stations.  This car should be fitted with "Flammable" placards or stencil warnings for this kind of loading.

- BTW, I know this is the wrong car number, now that Ken Harrison's SPMW book came out, the 2676 is wrong decalling, 2767 is actually a B-50-11.  I will have to redecal this car yet a 3rd time to either 3931 or 3932, which were both retired (USRA) B-50-12s and assigned to Supply Service on 17 Sept, 1945 at Bayshore and lasted until July 31, 1953 and April 1949 respectively.

Comments & Thoughts

I tend to disagree with Ken Harrison's assertion in the book that the SP used revenue boxcars in the Supply Train service, as the 1956 roster seems to show about 120 cars, a healthy number of available boxcars, assigned for such use.  

The availability of gondolas on the other hand in the SPMW roster is a problem.  Most are assigned to the SP Shops, not Supply Train service... which I find interesting.  They usually show as Ready Gondolas, and were mostly G-50-2 and G-50-3s, perhaps sand service?  I'm not sure if these would have been borrowed or if regular revenue GS gondolas would have been used in the Supply Train service.  It's also possible that these "gondolas" were actually F-50-series flatcars fitted with metal ends, like the wheel cars and possibly wood sides or stakes that could have been removed easily.

I would guess that the first two empty gondolas in the consist are meant to be available to swap into the 6th and 8th positions when the cars next to the crane get full?  The same is probably the case with the 3rd car, an empty flatcar, but it's not obvious which car this empty is protecting.  Cars 15 & 16 seem to be unloading materials, not loading used material, so they wouldn't get replaced with an empty car.

The SP took delivery of the G-50-22s in the end of 1948, so these were not available for the 1945/1946 consists.

I should also comment that these consists are from 1945 and 1946, several years before the orders of F-70-6/7s, F-50-16 and G-50-18/20/22/23 were built, so the newest GS gondolas available would be the G-50-9/10/11/12 Enterprise cars and the majority rest of the SP Pacific Lines gondolas would have been G-50-3/6/8s which had squared floor-side joints, but only half drop doors.  Likewise the majority of the flatcars in service would still have been the F-50-series cars.  This means that if I was to build this exact consist, for 1945/1946, I couldn't use the Red Caboose G-50-18 and G-50-22s in the train.

In Closing

Supply Cars SPMW 2681, 701, 2676, & Ready Box 2257.

This post was supposed to be mostly a quick update for my Supply Train series now that Ken's book is out.  I'm still planning to do some more kitbashes to better model some of the unique cars used on the Supply Trains.

Jason Hill

Related Articles:

Freight Car Overview Index - Links to various SPMW blog posts

Modeling an MOW Supply Train (Part 1) - Back to the beginning of this series.

This is My Railroad - Steam Version (1947) - YouTube link