Southern Railway 40' PS-1 boxcars: SOU 30000-32018

Tangent Scale Models recently introduced a 40' PS-1 with a 9' door opening unique to several roads. In the southeast, these cars were utilized for appliance, paper, cotton and cloth, and general service. The larger openings were typically found on the larger 50' PS-1s, however, these 40' cars were quite advanced for their build date. In 1951, Southern Railway ordered a series of cars built by Pullman Standard in Lot 8003. These cars have always been unique when comparing standard 40' PS-1s due to their unique side sill profile. 

The series of cars was one of Southern's largest classes and were broken down by assorted car appliances. The series consisted of 2,019 cars and were initially constructed as follows:

Southern Railway 30000-30499, were built in 11-1951 by Pullman Standard in Lot 8003. The cars were equipped with a mix Apex and Morton running boards, Barber S-2-A trucks, and were equipped with Youngstown Steel Door YSD-2 type doors. The cars utilized high mount tack boards on both the ends and doors and were painted brown with white lettering. The earliest of the examples can be seen above by this Jim Sands 1969 photograph of Southern 30453. The cars were equipped with Miner handbrake housings and brake wheels.

The remaining cars were numbered 30500-32018, and were also built in 11-1951 which continued into 1952 which accounts for a varied build dates seen on prototype photos. The 9' door opening was covered by a 9' 7 Panel Superior door with the third panel being larger to account for the application of a tack board. The cars were equipped with Apex and Morton running boards and brake steps, were also equipped with Miner hand brake housing and brake wheels, and rode on Barber S-2-A trucks. The Pullman-Standard builders' photograph showcases the second series of cars.

The series "could have" made a journey to Boca Grande during the 1960s bringing assorted appliances to the area and warrants a model on this front. While I ordered two undecorated Tangent kits, I also remembered an older model which was born of an Intermountain 50' PS-1. The heavy lifting was done by my friend, however, after receiving the Tangent models, it became apparent this model was in need of an upgrade as well. 

The application of Kadee ladders, grab irons, and brake wheel appliances will make this car as equally detailed given it has full brake gear treatment and rides on excellent Tahoe Model Works Barber S-2 trucks with semi-scale wheels. The model will be painted in a dark brown and lettered using a mixture of Speedwitch/National Scale Car Southern Railway decals from sets D-100 and D-151. Due to the later features of the Intermountain car used to construct this model of SOU 30453, Archer rivets will be applied to the welded ends to incorporate rivets applied to this order. 

The initial release of Tangent's models features the later built cars from SOU 30500-32018 and includes the 9' 7 Panel Superior door, making this model unique and a favorite of mine. Other examples will be constructed using the Tangent Scale Models kits from the 1960s which featured removed running boards, lowered ladders, lowered handbrakes, and varied doors. While looking over the Tangent kits, it is possible to apply a Kadee 9' 6 panel Superior door to match modernized cars, however, this will require the removal of a rivet stripe adjacent to the right of the door opening.