Two Missouri Pacific questions

[gmhtrains]

Although my main modeling interest is railroads of Mexico (circa 1980), I've decided to model the Missouri Pacific interchange at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo. As I have started to purchase MP rolling stock, I find that many cars have reporting marks for MP's subsidiary companies. i know what NOT&M and I-GN stand for, but have not yet identified WCW. Anyone know what this MP affiliate is/was?

Second, MP "Herbie" boxcars are plentiful in the model world, with Bachmann and several other manufacturers producing them. But in the prototype world did just one exist? Or did MP create a small fleet of "Herbies"? What would be the earliest year that the prototype(s) existed? Was this design offensive to Mexicans and thus kept out of international interchange?

Thanks for any information you can supply.   Gil Hulin, Oregon.

[Len]

CWC =  Charleston & Western Carolina Ry

Eventually ended up as part of CSXT.

Len

[James in FL]

Were only two "Herbie's".
First one painted May 1979.
Second one was painted after the UP merger.
"Herbie" history here;

http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/herbie.html

Google is your friend.

[Trainman203]

Join:  http://www.mopac.org.  Well worth your money. 

Available through the  MPHS are historical books, track profile books, accurate MP models and much more.  There are close to 1000 members but the dozen or so key members know everything you'd ever want to know about the MP.  And they become friends after awhile.

I've never been sorry I joined.

I'm modeling the NI&N, the MP sub I grew up on.    The MPHS has provided me with detailed 1943 data of track construction, bridge ratings which tell me the biggest engine ever operated there, locations and types of lineside industries, water tank locations, and on and on.

[Piyer]

8<--- I know what NOT&M and I-GN stand for, but have not yet identified WCW. Anyone know what this MP affiliate is/was?

Gil, could you please point us toward a photo - model or prototype - with the WCW reporting marks?

Len's "CWC =  Charleston & Western Carolina Ry" though correct, is also a flipping of the initials you gave. And besides, the CWC never physically came near the MP - heck, they never even operated in the same state. As for WCW, I'm not finding it in the 1956 and 1972 Official Equipment Registries as an entity, nor as a mark of the MP, nor even as an MP interchange connection. Tis a mystery!!!

[Len]

Argh! Dyslexic fingers strike again.

Did MoPac have anything to do with "World Championship Wrestling"??

Len

[Piyer]

Argh! Dyslexic fingers strike again.
Did MoPac have anything to do with "World Championship Wrestling"??
Len

Goof or not, Len, flipping the letters to the CWC makes sense given that WCW doesn't seem to show up anywhere, not even as a subsidiary of a subsidiary.

[Len]

Are there any photos of an actual MP car with the 'WCW' on it??

All I'm finding are pictures of a few models, mostly AccuRail, with the 'WCW'. Which makes me wonder if it's a misprint from the mfg.

Len

[Len]

Update: I think I've finally found it!! Instead of searching for 'WCW' I tried 'W&CW' and 'WC&W'. 'W&CW' found nothing, but 'WC&W' came back with:

Wabash, Chester & Western

If there's another railroad out there that fits 'WCW' and comes anywhere near the MoPac I'm hanged if I can find it.

Len

[Ken Clark]

    From MOODY'S Steam Railroads 1945 Edition..

     Wabash, Chester & Western R.R. Co
    Incorporated Feb 20th 1878 as successor to Iron Mountain, Chester & Eastern Ry.
    Chester & Mt Vernon acquired the W,C &W. Sept 10th 1927 at a  foreclosure sale.

    Operated under lease as of Sept 6th 1927 by Missouri Pacific,
     100% ownership by MP Aug 1931.

    Petition for Reorganization Filed Dec 1st 1937, into MP system.

     Line operated from Menard Ill. to Mt Vernon Ill with a mileage of 63.72 miles and
     siding's of 20.34 miles.


    Ken Clark
      GWN

[Trainman203]

Back to the MP.......

Anyone here besides the OP and me who are actually modeling the MoPac?

[gmhtrains]

I started this thread and today weathered the "WCW" Missouri Pacific Lines boxcar in question. I got the car off eBay a week ago. It is a nice dull finish double-sheathed wood 40-foot boxcar, made by Accurail. BUT although the dimensional data and car number [45037] are PRINTED on the sides, the W.C.W. initials and Mopac buzzsaw herald [in red] are obviously DECALS. I now think that the W.C.W. initials may refer to the original owner's name for his model railroad rather than some obscure MP subsidiary. Thank you all for questioning the validity of this car.

Now for my next project. I need someone with the May, 1974, Railroad Model Craftsman magazine to photocopy one page for me. As pictured in the article Rails to the Border, I want to model the ex-Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis boxcar that had been sold to one of the regional Mexican railroads. I have the 40' red boxcar with three yellow stripes and "Dixieland" slogan, but want to get the new ownership data correct. I know that it was either Sonora-Baja California (S-BC), Chihushua al Pacifico (Ch-P) or Ferrocarril del Pacifico (FCP), and not NdeM. Please let me know if you have the issue and I will designate who should send it. I don't need five or six photocopies all arriving at once, as I will reimburse your postage and copy cost.

As for the suggestion that I join the MP historical society, I checked out their website and am intrigued that 2016's convention is in Jefferson City, MO. I rode through Jefferson City in the late 1960's aboard the Missouri River Eagle, but didn't get out and haven't returned since.  I would seriously consider attending, but have already discovered that Amtrak will not quote a routing nor fare for Eugene, Oregon, to Jefferson City, Missouri. They are talking about an overnight stay required in Chicago or St. Louis, while I am thinking that Eugene to Los Angeles to Kansas City to Jefferson City would be simple. We'll see . . . .

Gil Hulin

[Len]

You may be on to something. Came across this on Trainweb, it's the MoPac paint scheme for 45xxx series wood sheath boxcars circa 1919:



Not even close to what you have.

Len

[Trainman203]

That WCW guy isn't the only one lettering his equipment like an MP sub.  Here is one of my cabooses:

[Trainman203]

On the 1919 USRA double sheathed boxcar photo, "C.T." does not denote a MoPac sub.  It stands for "Columbia Trust."  Used on USRA owned equipment that was assigned to the railroad. If then purchased the CT was removed.