Remembering the Rutland - Remembering the Milk Trains


The "Green Book"
of
Scale Brass Milk Cars
Latest revision date: 07 March 2004


Introduction

This page came about for two reasons. The first reason was my frustration with the lack of rolling stock, and in particular passenger cars (and, by definition, head end cars such as milk and express reefers), in The Brown Book of Brass Locomotives. The second reason was to have more content for the Remembering the Milk Trains section of Remembering the Rutland

I began by cataloging my own collection. Next I added the models mentioned in the email responses of a few other collectors and modelers. Then I went through my collection of Presicion Scale Newsletters and various dealer catalogs. The latter are not as definitive as one might think. Importers sometimes announce models that are never produced. Dealers occasionally misstate a model's features (e.g. wood vs. steel construction of the prototype).

Precision Scale is a particular problem. At one point circa 1991 they announced a series of 41-foot wood round-roof and peaked-roof General American Pfaudler cars in HO scale. They were to be available singly and in sets of three.  I believe that most if not all of these cars were produced, but we need verification. The PSC table lists the undecorated version of each (#16610 and 16612) and all of the others that we have confirmed as having been produced. To add to the mystery, I have listed a Whiting's car that was produced in that run but (as far as I know) was never announced. Another example of the enigma that is PSC is that circa 1992 they announced a future run of 53-foot wood GPEX cars in both single- and double-door versions (Overland had previously done the double-door version). To my knowledge none of these cars were produced, which is a shame because I am sure they would have been a successful item for PSC.

This page is an ongoing project. I am relying on you, the modelers and collectors out there, to assist me in maintaining this list as accurately as possible. Wherever you see a "?" in the tables it means that I need your help. The beauty of the internet is that corrections and updates can be implemented almost immediately, unlike a book which must wait for the next edition, should it come at all.

I decided to list the models by importer and not by railroad or owner as was done in the Brown Book. And unlike the Brown Book I refuse to list the value of a model as this is simply too subjective and likely to change. I would rather not delve into the realm of whose model is more accurate; these tables are simply a listing of what's been produced.

If it was up to me, brass express refrigerator cars would be next.  Then brass passenger cars.  But that will have to wait...

-Jim Dufour


Importers - HO scale
Overland Models, Inc.
Precision Scale Co.
Railworks
NJI/Custom Brass
Alco Models
Nickel Plate Products
Challenger

Importers - N scale
Precision Scale Co.
NJI/Custom Brass
Key

Importers - S scale
South Wind
River Raisin

Importers - O scale
Overland Models, Inc.
NJI/Custom Brass
The Car Works
Precision Scale Co.

Legend to Abbreviations
Notes


Overland Models, Inc.
HO scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year
see Note #2

Comments

Borden's

"Butter dish" Milk Tank Car

OMI

3082

MS

1986

w/ fins. Unpainted.

Borden's

"Butter dish" Milk Tank Car

OMI

1369

MS

1986?

w/o fins. Unpainted.

B&M

4 door, wood

OMI

3063

Ajin

1986?

w/ thermo-king. Unpainted

B&M

4 door, wood

OMI

3062

Ajin

1986?

Unpainted

B&M

4 door, steel

OMI

3065

Ajin

1987

#1900-1914. Unpainted

B&M

2 door, steel

OMI

3066

Ajin

1987

#1915-1934. Unpainted

GPEX

53' wood 2 door

OMI

3061

Ajin

1986?

Unpainted

GPEX

Express type "A", wood

OMI

3160

MS

1989

Unpainted

GPEX

Express type "B", wood

OMI

3161

MS

1989

Unpainted

GPEX

Express type "C", wood

OMI

3162

MS

1989

Abbot's "A". Unpainted

GPEX

47'-7" wood

OMI

3055

Ajin

1986?

Unpainted

GPEX

40'-6" steel

OMI

3054

Ajin

1986?

Unpainted w/ lighted interior. [photo]

GPEX

40'-6", steel

OMI

3054

Ajin

1986

GPEX #1057. Unpainted w/ lighted interior

GPEX

53' wood 2 door

OMI

3061

Ajin

1986?

Unpainted

GPEX

47' steel

OMI

3055

Ajin

1986?

GPEX # 1021. Unpainted

GPEX

40' steel, straight bottom

OMI

3064

Ajin

1986?

Unpainted. [photo]

NX

Flat w/ 2 containers

OMI

3158

MS

1989

Unpainted. [photo]

MDT

Flat w/ 2 trailers

OMI

3159

MS

1989

Unpainted

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3451

Cheyenne

2000

Unpainted. CV #530-549, 1924-38 era.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3451.1

Cheyenne

2000

CV #530-549, 1924-38 era. Custom paint: silver & green scheme.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3453

Cheyenne

2000

Unpainted. CV #530-549, 1933.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3453.1

Cheyenne

2000

CV #530-549, 1933. Custom paint: silver & green scheme.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3454

Cheyenne

2000

Unpainted. CV #530-549, 1938 era.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3454.1

Cheyenne

2000

CV #530-549, 1938 era. Custom paint: green scheme w/ square herald.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3455

Cheyenne

2000

Unpainted. CV #530-552, 1947 era.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3455.1

Cheyenne

2000

Unpainted. CV #530-552, 1947 era. Custom paint: green scheme w/ square herald.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3456

Cheyenne

2000

Unpainted. CV #530-552, 1962-72 era.

CV

40' wood
class BM-42-A

OMI

3456.1

Cheyenne

2000

CV #530-552, 1962-72 era. Custom paint: green w/ "wet noodle" logo.

Overland Models, Inc.
O scale

 

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year
see Note #2

Comments

GPEX Express type "C", wood OMI 0743 MS ?? Type "A" & "B" also done?
GPEX 40'-6" steel OMI 0074 Ajin ?? 47' version done also?
MDT Flat w/ 2 trailers OMI 0774.1 Ajin 1993? Factory painted MDT #1500. Undec also offered?

[Back to Importers List]


Precision Scale Co.
HO scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

GPEX

40' wood

PSC

15678

FM

1991?

Painted Pfaudler

GPEX

40' wood

PSC

15680

FM

1991?

Painted HP Hoods (circular cow emblem)

GPEX

50' wood

PSC

15688

FM

1991?

Painted Pfaudler

GPEX

50' wood

PSC

15690

FM

1991?

Painted GARE-Hoods (circular cow emblem)

GPEX

50' (wood?)

PSC

15692

?

1991?

Painted Borden's

GPEX

40' steel

PSC

?

Woosung

?

Unpainted
GPEX 41' (wood?) PSC 15780-1 Woosung ? Painted Hood's/GPEX #995

GPEX

50' steel

PSC

15784

Woosung

?

Unpainted

GPEX

50' steel

PSC

15784-1

Woosung

1991?

Painted Hood's

GPEX

41' wood round roof

PSC

16610

FM

1992

Factory painted as Whiting's Milk #11

GPEX

41' wood round roof

PSC

16610

FM

1992

Unpainted

GPEX

41' wood peaked roof

PSC

16612

FM

1992

Unpainted

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

17222-1

FM

1996

With full fins. Painted white with black letters.

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

17222-2

FM

1996

With full fins. Painted red with yellow sheet metal letters.

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

17222-3

FM

1996

With full fins. Painted aluminum with black letters.

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

17224-2

FM

1996

With end fins. Painted red with yellow "sheet metal" letters.

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

17224-4

FM

1996

With end fins. Painted green with yellow letters.

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

17226-4

FM

1996

With no fins. Painted for Borden's Chemical Division.

Precision Scale Co.
N scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

GPEX

41' wood

PSC

67002

FM?

1998

3-pack: Painted Borden's, Fairfield Farms & Hood's

GPEX

41' wood

PSC

67003

FM?

1998

3-pack: Painted Hood's, Pfaudler & Breyer's

GPEX

41' wood

PSC

67004

FM?

1998

3-pack: Painted Borden's, Abbott's & Reid

GPEX

41' wood

PSC

67005

FM?

1998

3-pack: Painted Whiting's, Chateau Martin & United Farmers

GPEX

41' wood round roof

PSC

67006

FM?

1998

Unpainted

GPEX

41' wood peaked roof

PSC

67007

FM?

1998

Unpainted

GPEX

41' wood peaked roof

PSC

67008

FM?

1998

3-pack: Painted Fairfield Farms, Supplee-Willis-Jones & Breyer's

Precision Scale Co.
O scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

16047-1

FM

??

With full fins. Painted white with black letters. (Also available undecorated?)

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

16049-1

FM

??

With end fins. Painted red with yellow ("sheet metal"?) letters. (Also available undecorated?)

Borden's

"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car

PSC

??

FM

??

With no fins. Painted (aluminum? for Borden's Chemical Division?). (Also available undecorated?)

[Back to Importers List]


Railworks
HO scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

Borden's

"Butter Dish"

RW

R102A

Sam

1986

w/ full fins. Unpainted w/ decals.

Borden's

"Butter Dish"

RW

R102A

Sam

1986

w/ full fins. Factory painted w/decals. (qty-30 pieces)

Borden's

"Butter Dish"

RW

R102B

Sam

1986

w/ end fins. Unpainted w/ decals.

Borden's

"Butter Dish"

RW

R102C

Sam

1986

w/o fins. Unpainted w/ decals

DL&W

Wood, 42'

RW

R202

WBM

1992

Unpainted

Rutland

Wood, 42'

RW

R2021

WBM

1992

350-355 series; ex-DL&W

DL&W

Wood, 42'

RW

R-314

Boo-Rim

1998

Unpainted

Rutland

Wood, 42'

RW

R-313

Boo-Rim

1998

350-355 series; ex-DL&W. Also sold paired with combine #255

NYC

Wood

RW

R-317

Boo-Rim

1999

6400-series w/ low side vents. Unpainted

NYC

Wood

RW

R-317P

Boo-Rim

1999

6400-series w/ low side vents. Painted

Rutland

Wood

RW

R-319

Boo-Rim

1999

303-335 series w/ truss rods. Unpainted

Rutland

Wood

RW

R-319P

Boo-Rim

1999

303-335 series w/ truss rods. Painted.

Rutland

Wood

RW

R-323

Boo-Rim

1999

340-348 series w/ fishbelly. Unpainted

Rutland

Wood

RW

R-323P

Boo-Rim

1999

340-348 series w/ fishbelly. Painted
Rutland Wood RW R-390 Boo-Rim 2001 #337. Unpainted.
Rutland Wood RW R-390P Boo-Rim 2001 #337. Factory painted & lettered.
Rutland Wood RW R-391 Boo-Rim 2001 #338. Unpainted.
Rutland Wood RW R-391P Boo-Rim 2001 #338. Factory painted & lettered.
B&M Wood RW R324 WBM 2001 1700-series, four door, ice cooling. Unpainted.
B&M Wood RW R324P WBM 2001 1700-series, four door, ice cooling. Factory painted (red) & lettered. Includes separate numbers on decal sheet & Brookside signs.
B&M Wood RW R325 WBM 2001 1700-series, four door, Thermo-King cooling. Unpainted.
B&M Wood RW R325P WBM 2001 1700-series, four door, Thermo-King cooling. Factory painted (red) & lettered. Includes separate numbers on decal sheet & Brookside signs.
B&M Wood RW R326 WBM 2001 1600-series, four door, ice cooling. Unpainted.
B&M Wood RW R326P WBM 2001 1600-series, four door, ice cooling.  Factory painted (green) & lettered. Includes separate numbers on decal sheet.

[Back to Importers List]


NJI/Custom Brass
HO scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

NYC

Wood Milk Reefer

NJI

675-S

FM

1988

Sliding Door w/ fishbelly side sills. Unpainted

NYC

Wood Milk Reefer

NJI

675-H

FM

1988

Hinged Door w/ fishbelly side sills. Unpainted

NJI/Custom Brass
N scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

NYC

Wood Milk Reefer

NJI

675-NH

FM

?

Hinged Door w/ fishbelly side sills. Unpainted

NJI/Custom Brass
O scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

NYC

Wood Milk Reefer

NJI

675-OH??

FM

?

Hinged Door w/ fishbelly side sills. 6401-6660 series. Unpainted

NYC

Wood Milk Reefer

NJI

675-OS??

FM

?

Inside Sliding Door w/ fishbelly side sills. 6401-6660 series. Unpainted

[Back to Importers List]


Alco Models
HO scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

NYC

Wood Milk reefer

ALCO

X-119

Kobra

1970

Unpainted

[Back to Importers List]


Nickel Plate Products
HO scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

Erie (B&M)

Steel

NPP

-

NAP

1973

Unpainted. Also sold paired with modernized coach.

NYO&W

Wood

NPP

-

NAP

1972

Unpainted

Borden's

"Butter Dish"

NPP

-

NAP

1971-72

w/ fins. Unpainted

[Back to Importers List]


Challenger
HO scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

B&M

4 door, steel

OMI

2069.1

FM

1993

#1900-1914
Painted McGinnis era

B&M

2 door, steel

OMI

2070.1

FM

1993

#1915-1934
Painted McGinnis era

[Back to Importers List]


Key
N scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

Borden's

"Butter Dish"
"no fin" version

Key

?

?

?

undecorated

Borden's

"Butter Dish"
"no fin" version

Key

?

?

?

Painted: silver/white

Borden's

"Butter Dish"
"no fin" version

Key

?

?

?

Painted: green/white

Borden's

"Butter Dish"
"no fin" version

Key

?

?

?

Painted: white/black

[Back to Importers List]


South Wind
S scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

NYC

Wood Milk Reefer

SW

SWM-0034

??

c. 1990

Unpainted.

Rutland

Wood Milk Reefer

SW

SWM-??

??

c. 1990

Unpainted. Rutland #340

Rutland

Wood Milk Reefer

SW

SWM-??

??

c. 1990

Unpainted. Rutland #349

Borden's

"Butterdish" Milk Tank Car

SW

SWM-??

??

c. 1992?

Unpainted. With fins

Borden's

"Butterdish" Milk Tank Car

SW

SWM-??

??

c. 1992?

Unpainted. Without fins

River Raisin
S scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

GPEX

40 ft.Pfaudler Steel Milk Car

RR

RRM-0006

Ajin

1990

Factory painted Pullman Green. Included decals for various lessee/owners.

GPEX

47 ft.Pfaudler Steel Milk Car

RR

RRM-0007

Ajin

1990

Factory painted Pullman Green. Included decals for various lessee/owners.

 


Additional information from Jim Kindraka of River Raisin Models:

If you go to our web site (listed below), to the Photo Gallery section, there are photos of both versions [of our Pfaudler milk cars] completely lettered. If you go to the Library section of the same web site, there is an article I wrote for one of the S scale publications on the transport of milk by rail. Thought you might enjoy it...

Best wishes

Jim Kindraka
River Raisin Models
http://www.riverraisinmodels.com

[Back to Importers List]


The Car Works
O scale

Road/Owner

Type

Importer

Model number

Builder

Year

Comments

NX

53' Flat w/ 2 containers

CW

??

Art Hobbies

1994

Series 1350-1359, with "Bell" Tanks

NX

50' Flat w/ 2 containers

CW

??

Art Hobbies

1994

Series 1470-1475, wih "Bordens" Tanks

[Back to Importers List]


Legend to Abbreviations

Owners & Railroads
B&M - Boston & Maine Railroad
CV - Central Vermont Railway
DL&W - Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad
GARE - General American Refrigerator Express
GPEX - General American Pfaudler
MDT - Merchants Despatch Transportation
NX - National Tank
NYC - New York Central Railroad
NYO&W - New York Ontario & Western Railway

Importers
NPP - Nickel Plate Products
OMI - Overland Models, Inc.
PSC - Precision Scale Co.
RW - Railworks
SW- Southwind
RR - River Raisin
CW - The Car Works

Builders
Ajin - Ajin Models (Korea)
Boo-Rim - Boo-Rim (Korea)
FM - F. M. Models (Korea)
MS - M. S. Models (Korea)
NAP - unknown (Japan)
Sam - Samhongsa (Korea)
WBM - Woo Sung (Korea)
Cheyenne - Cheyenne (OMI) (China)


Notes

1. My sincere thanks to the following modelers and collectors who contributed to this effort:

Jeff Ashworth
Charlie Lehmann (Railworks)
George Micklus
Gary Raizes
Mark Rossiter
Steve Schulman
Dwight Smith
Don Spiro
Tom E. Thompson
James VanBokkelen
Dave Sandulli
Ron Morse
Jeff English
Roger Nulton
Mal Houck
Jim Kindraka (River Raisin)
Dick Dermody
Woody Mathews
Todd Roberts
Don Black

 

2. "AJIN models all have the month and year of production marked on the underside of each model, beginning with models produced [circa 1985].  When you look at the underside you will find the word "Ajin" and under it the date, such as 2-1987.  The folks at AJIN were doing so many reruns of the same models that which production run became an important issue for them.  So they decided it was time to place a date on them." [via Tom Thompson].

 

3. There is an additional NYO&W milk reefer in HO that did not make your list. In appearance, it is similar to the Nickel Plate version. Prototypically, it is the same car, with the single ice hatch. The model is very close to the NPP model but appears to be slightly earlier judging from the construction methods. It is Japanese and the importer (I assume) plate on the underbody is a Lima-like diamond with the word "WEBER" inside. Neither various NYO&W modelers, nor long-time brass dealers can ID it. [from Todd Roberts of Great Brass]

4. Send your corrections and additions to Remembering the Rutland.

5. Happy Collecting!

[Back to Importers List]


Copyright Ó1998-2004 Remembering the Rutland
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Latest Revision Date: 20 Mar 2004