More Model Interurban Freight Cars (and Locos) [Lesson 6-5]
Update and Additions to Lesson 6-2
by George Jones

July 9, 2006

In 2002, Lesson 6-2 provided my first attempt at listing HO scale model interurban freight cars and locomotives. It was updated in August 2005. For various reasons, it has been decided not to update lesson 6-2 again but to issue updates and additions via this lesson as new information becomes available.

This lesson starts with the most recent developments. Athearn released ready to roll covered hoppers, lettered for Illinois Terminal Company (ITC). In late 2005, they placed a new 40 ft ITC gondola into one of their new model train sets. At the same time, Atlas surprised us all at the iHobby Show held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in October 2005 by unveiling an Alco RS-1 diesel lettered for ITC in two road numbers. They also produced a small number of RS-1s painted and lettered for Central California Traction 80. The biggest news is that Overland Models is importing brass cabooses painted and lettered for Sacramento Northern (SN), in two colors and five numbers. One of the Southern California Traction Club (SCTC) members displayed a Santa Fe caboose painted and lettered for ITC. The letters and numbers were decals, but he stated that this is the way they had been imported. Because of the recent trend in painted and finished brass releases, I have added a new category to my list, i.e. BRASS.

Now this list will be arranged in the same manner as the list in lesson 6-2, with only new items added.