SPA Modeler

Above: rain fan photos, 1942



For Wig Wiggins, who was there

In 1942 the US Navy purchased excess narrow gauge equipment stateside for use at the Naval Depot at Pearl Harbor. The Nevada County Narrow Gauge operated their final train in July of that year. The scrapper sold off what equipment of value remained and a number of boxcars and flats were rebuilt for the Navy. The cars were rebuilt in Grass Valley which captured the attention of locals and rail fans who photographed the progress.

Prior to shipment the car was rebuilt with many NCNG style details and changes. The original AC&F 4' wheelbase was modified with truck hung brakes. The grab iron ladders have been replaced with NCNG style ladders and the stirrups replaced with the standard NCNG style. The second fascia board has been removed and replaced with a single board. NCNG style door guides were added and a new door put on the car (with no handle). The truss rods in the ends of the car were removed.

The freshly shopped cars were partially lettered for Naval Supply Depot Pearl Harbor. They were apparently not numbered until they arrived on Oahu. When the cars were taken to Colfax for shipment a reporter in Colfax noted they were painted green. The US Navy didn’t use Olive Drab at this time, and I wondered what the shade of green could be. It was 5 pm, quitting time for me, so I sent the photos and illustration to Carlos with this question. I crossed my fingers. Almost immediately he sent back a ton of stuff, pretty much priceless intel on early USN colors. I asked him for his best guess.

Here it is:



Caveats: There are only a handful of photos showing the Navy cars on Oahu because photography was forbidden.



Nothing to see here…

Only cars that ventured out on the Oahu Railway were photographed and there are no views of former F&CC box cars on Oahu. There is a photo of a NCNG built 26' car numbered 249, the rest of the known views show former C&S, RGS and D&RG cars. In those photos the numbers were added as an afterthought, some are roman, most are block. I am going to use two sets of specialty decals!



Why post here? Trains are scenic dependent models, so—dioramas seems to be a spot I can post this project, and I have done this before. If it’s not your thing, at least I’ll be quiet here in the bowels of the forum.

Components (to date):

Rail Line (vintage) 30-ft Box Car (styrene kit) in HOn3
R. Robb 4’ archbar trucks with wheel sets
Couplers? Probably Kadee

Great pics Bruce, great info.

There is just something special in trains and train cars

- Kari

Model rail is one of them things that always interested me but never had the room for. But small rail dioramas that is very doable! This will be very interesting to watch!

Post it where you feel fits best. Railroad layouts certainly fall under dioramas, and this would just be one small component of such a layout.

I think I want to take a shot at this little critter too.



Looks like I can grab an old resin kit off eBay, surgically remove and reorder the pieces just like the Navy yards did and look for a power unit.



Redrew wheelbase length:



Reference, also possibly a future purchase:

Looks like a fun project. I've been considering this since I stumbled upon the pic a few years ago

Incredible photo! Please don’t hesitate to ask me for anything. I have samples of ballast that will work in several scales, if you are going to add the track.

Great pics. I have another F-84F in the stash. But where to source 1/48 rail cars…

I know dragon and trumpeter offer some in 1/35 scale not sure about 1/48. You could always 3d print them. The new elegoo Saturn would be a good option for that.

Floki is right. Both Sabre and Dragon make kits of Gmmr flat beds (2 axle) in 1/35. I know I have seen a model made using 1/35 and 1/32. 1/48 or O Scale is going to take 3D printing and scratch building skills to get it done.