Boston & Maine 73000 Series Boxcars

Index

• Builder's Photo
• Classification Card for series
• Specifications
• ORER data
• ORER Notes
• Discussion, General Notes
• Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data
• Paint Schemes
• References
• Photographs
• Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions
• Modeling
• Revision History of this page

Builder's Photo

Builder's photo from Library and Archives Canada, Andrew Audubon Merrilees Collection, image PA-185953
(but I can't seem to find it anymore on their web site, to get the exact citation). Used with permission
Blank areas of the photo have been cropped to reduce file size.
Click on the image to view it in "full" resolution

B&M Classification Card(s)

For more info on the classification cards and "webitizing" them, see this web page

From 1942 class book.

Click on image to see original scan at full resolution (or right-click → "Save Picture As" to download black and white image, to view it at full resolution)

Specifications From Classification Cards

Specification	Value
Builder	Magor
Lot #	61 [From E Hawkins, et al. lot # is P9925] [from The Magor Car Corporation, P-9925, joint order with MEC 6100-6499]
Car Numbers	73000-73199
Quantity	200
Build Date	1942
General Arrangement	Magor A-13793
AAR class	XM
Lt Weight	44,640 (average)
Roof	Murphy Solid Steel
Ends	Dreadnaught S. Ry. Eq. Co. [I believe the "original" design] (4 top 5 lower) Steel
Doors	Youngstown w/ Camel fixtures
Ladders	Wine [side and end]
Running Boards	Wood [per The Magor Car Corporation]
Trucks	Commonwealth Steel side frames
Springs	AAR type "C-2" with Miner Class C-2-XB snubber
Journals	5" x 9" (80,000 lb. nominal capacity)
Journal Bearings & Wedges	AAR
Journal Box Lids	Davis Tor. Spring Type.
Side Bearings	Stucki 656-C
Wheels	33" CI [Cast Iron?]
Center Plate	AAR Standard contour
Body Side Bearings	AAR plain
Body Side Bearing Brace	Sym. Gould
Air Brake	AB, 10" x 12" cylinder
Brake Gear	Ajax - Step "TZ"
Center Sills	AAR 12⅞ 36.21# Z
Coupler	AAR type "E" 6¼" x 8" shank Rot. Bottom Operated
Coupler Yoke	AAR (CS) vertical
Uncoupler Rigging	AAR Rotary S. Ry. Eq. Co.
Draft Gear	Miner A-22-XB
Brake Beam	AAR #3 (Davis)
Brake Beam Support	Davis
Brake Beam Hangers	Sch[aeffer?] Type B
Brake Beam Hanger Retainers	"AZEE"
Brake Shoes	AAR #2A
Brake Shoe Key	Buffalo Master
Retaining Valve	Anchor type K
Bottom Rod	Schaeffer
Bottom Rod Support	Davis
Levers	Schaeffer
Brake Lever Badge Plate	Buff[alo?]
Brake Pipe T anchor	Wright
Retaining Valve Anchor	"AZEE" type "K"
Defect Card Holder	W. Ry. Eq. Co.

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data

Description			1/1943
AAR Mechanical Designation			XM
Inside Dimensions	Length		40'-5"
	Width		9'-2"
	Height		10'-0"
Outside Dimensions	Length		41'-9"
	Width	At Eaves or top of sides or platform	9'-11"
		Extreme Width	10'-8"
	Height from Rail	To Extreme Width	4'-5"
		To Eaves or top of sides or platform	13'-5"
		To Top of Running Board	14'-6"
		To Extreme Height	14'-6"
Door - Side opening	Width		6'-0"
	Height		9'-4"
Capacity	Cu Ft. Level Full		3686
	Pounds		80,000

AAR Car Type Code

4/1967 thru 7/1972	B100
10/1972 thru 4/1976 (end of original class)	B105

ORER History

ORER Date	Original Series			Derived cars
	Car Numbers	# of Cars	Description	Car Numbers	# of Cars
1942 - 04	73000-73199	200	Box, Steel
1942 - 07	(same)
1942 - 10	(same)
1943 - 01	(same)
1943 - 04	(same)
1943 - 07	(same)
1943 - 10	(same)
1944 - 01	"	199	"
1944 - 04	(same)
1944 - 07	(same)
1944 - 10	(same)
1945 - 01	(same)
1945 - 04	"	198	"
1945 - 07	(same)
1945 - 10	(same)
1946 - 01	(same)
1946 - 04	(same)
1946 - 07	(same)
1946 - 10	(same)
1947 - 01	(same)
1947 - 04	(same)
1947 - 07	(same)
1947 - 10	(same)
1948 - 01	(same)
1948 - 04	(same)
1948 - 07	(same)
1948 - 10	(same)
1949 - 01	(same)
1949 - 04	(same)
1949 - 07	(same)
1949 - 10	(same)
1950 - 01	(same)
1950 - 04	(same)
1950 - 07	(same)
1950 - 10	(same)
1951 - 01	(same)
1951 - 04	(same)
1951 - 07	(same)
1951 - 10	(same)
1952 - 01	(same)
1952 - 04	(same)
1952 - 07	"	197	"
1952 - 10	(same)
1953 - 01	(same)
1953 - 04	(same)
1953 - 07	(same)
1953 - 10	(same)
1954 - 01	(same)
1954 - 04	(same)
1954 - 07	(same)
1954 - 10	(same)
1955 - 01	(same)
1955 - 04	(same)
1955 - 07	(same)
1955 - 10	(same)
1956 - 01	"	196	"
1956 - 04	(same)
1956 - 07	(same)
1956 - 10	(same)
1957 - 01	(same)
1957 - 04	(same)
1957 - 07	(same)
1957 - 10	(same)
1958 - 01	(same)
1958 - 04	(same)
1958 - 07	(same)
1958 - 10	(same)
1959 - 01	(same)
1959 - 04	(same)
1959 - 07	"	195	"
1959 - 10	(same)
1960 - 01	(same)
1960 - 04	(same)
1960 - 07	"	194	"
1960 - 10	"	156	"
1961 - 01	"	148	"
1961 - 04	(same)
1961 - 07	(same)
1961 - 10	(same)
1962 - 01	(same)
1962 - 04	"	142	"
1962 - 07	(same)
1962 - 10	(same)
1963 - 01	(same)
1963 - 04	"	138	"
1963 - 07	"	137	"
1963 - 10	(same)
1964 - 01	(same)
1964 - 04	(same)
1964 - 07	"	134	"	Box Steel, Note F
1964 - 10	"	106	"	67040-67067	28
1965 - 01	(same)			"
1965 - 04	"	100	"	"
1965 - 07	"	83	"	"
1965 - 10	"	81	"	"
1966 - 01	"	69	"	"
1966 - 04	"	57	"	"
1966 - 07	"	45	"	"
1966 - 10	"	39	"	"
1967 - 01	"	38	"	"	27
1967 - 04	"	34	"	"; Note changed to "C"
1967 - 07	"	29	"	"
1967 - 10	"	24	"	"
1968 - 01	"	22	"	"
1968 - 04	"	18	"	"
1968 - 07	(same)			"
1968 - 10	"	15	"	"
1969 - 01	(same)			"
1969 - 04	"	14	"	"
1969 - 07	"	12	"	"
1969 - 10	(same)			"
1970 - 01	(same)			"
1970 - 04	"	9	"	"
1970 - 07	"	8	"	"
1970 - 10	(same)			"
1971 - 01	"	7	"	"
1971 - 04	(same)			"
1971 - 07	(same)			"
1971 - 10	(same)			For some reason, the 67040 series cars are NOT listed in these ORERs. I don't know if this was just a clerical mistake, or if the cars were withdrawn from service, then, re-added.
1972 - 01	(same)
1972 - 04	(same)
1972 - 07	(same)
1972 - 10	"	3	"
1973 - 01	(same)
1973 - 04	(same)			"	12
1973 - 07	(same)			"; "Note C" removed
1973 - 11	"	2	"	"
1974 - 01	(same)			"
1974 - 04	(same)			"
1974 - 07	(same)			"
1974 - 10	(same)			"
1975 - 01	(same)			"
1975 - 04	(same)			"
1975 - 07	(same)			"
1975 - 10	(same)			"
1976 - 01	(same)			"
1976 - 04	(same)			"
1976 - 07	Not listed			"	9
1976 - 10				"	8
1977 - 01				"
1977 - 04				"
1977 - 07				"
1977 - 10				"	7
1978 - 01				"	2
1978 - 04				"
1978 - 07				"
1978 - 10				"
1979 - 01				"
1979 - 04				"
1979 - 07				"
1979 - 10				"
1980 - 01				"
1980 - 04				"	1
1980 - 07				Not listed

ORER Notes

ORER Note F (10/1964 - 1/1967)
ORER Note C (4/1967 - 7/1971)
ORER Note C (4/1973)

Cars in series 67000 to 67039 and 67040 to 67067 are equipped with 4 roof hatches for bulk grain loading

Discussion, General Notes

• Per Tim Gilbert

  B&M #73000-73199 series was part of the joint order for 600 cars with Maine Central (MEC #6100-6499). This was the first acquisition of boxcars by the B&M since 1930. All acquisitions between 1931 and 1953 of freight cars from manufacturers by the B&M (except for the well hole and depressed center flats purchased in 1942, and the gondolas purchased in 1942) were joint orders with the Maine Central. The management team running both the B&M and the MEC simultaneously got quantity discounts. The Maine Central, however, did order freight cars in orders not shared with the B&M because of their needs to supply primarily the paper and cement inductries.

• AAR 1937 All-steel design boxcar.
• I'm curious why they were ordered as 40 ton cars (rather than 50 ton cars)

Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data

Car Books (1923-06 thru 1936-10, then 1944-05 thru 1960-03)

Volume number refers original book number
Part number refers to PDF file part as posted on B&MRRHS site
Page numbers refer to pages in PDF file(s) (L/R = Left or Right side of that PDF page)

Car Number(s)	Vol	Part	Page	Date	Action	Location	New #	Notes
73065	3	1	2L	1944-12-17	Destroyed	on C&O
73088	5	2	9L	1960-02-15	Destroyed	on CRI&P
73140	4	9	5L	1959-02-19	Destroyed	on B&O
73175	3	8	6L	1952-03-21	Destroyed	on GN
73183	4	2	3R	1955-09-14	Destroyed	on NYC&StL
73407	3	7	2R	1950-10-18	Sold to			Norton Co.

Car Disposition Records

Source(s) (ID scope is for this web page only)
ID	Box	Folder	Folder name	Link Title	Approx. Start date	Approx. End date
A	2	4	Boxcars 70000	73000 series - “A”	1942	1944-1945?

All cars were listed as being built 1942-03.
The only cars having a "disposition" was this car:

Data
Car Number	Disposition Source ID	Date Built	Disposition Date	Disposition
73112	A	1942-03	1943-11	Retired

Paint Schemes

As delivered (1)

Originally, these cars were "box car red" (brown) with white lettering
Rectangular B&M herald

1955 era (2)

Most (if not all) had been repainted box car red, white lettering, with "Minuteman" herald

Later (3)

(guessing) these cars were painted "blue dip" in later years, or whatever.

References or other data

• Steam Era Freight Cars
  1937 AAR Design box cars (general)

• Martin, Greg. "B&M 1937 Boxcar Modeling" Mainline Modeler Feb 1993, pp 29-31
  Prototype photos are of other railroads' cars

• ? "Freight cars of the Fifties - 1937 and 1942 AAR Standard 40' box cars" Model Railroading Feb 1989, pp 23-30

• Wider, Patrick C. Railway Prototype Cyclopedia #35 Silverlake Images, 2020
  Covers the 1932, 1937 "AAR Standard" box cars in great detail.
  Many drawings, pictures, car parts, details, etc. Plans, Rosters.
• I don't know quite how to list these, so here goes...
  Ry-ops-industrialSIG@groups.io list
  Post by Jerry Dziedzic, Fri, 14 Aug 2020 09:28:41 PDT, "Re: For the life of me, I can't remember"
  Attached file "4-12 and 4-13, WEST, Pages 5.pdf"
  NY,S&W "Conductor's Train report" forms, one dated 13-Apr-1954. Train X... Westward, departed "PC".
  B&M 73158 [Contents = "Cement"; total weight contents = 30 tons; ?4 loaded car miles?; destination "RS"]

Photographs

Page	Car #	Photo Date yr-mo-day		Visible?				Markings									Paint Scheme	Herald	Notes
Northern New England Color Guide
p28	73000	1964-08-18	Y	X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	MM	Body weathered, new white paint.
Model Railroading Magazine Issue included in "page" column
7/1984 p?	73198	1955+		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	maroon	MM	[reportedly same as 2/1989 MRRing photo - see next line]
2/1989 p26	73198	1955+		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	maroon	MM
7/1984 p26	73198	1955+?		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	maroon	MM
TT Nut As the photo is buried in a discussion, I'll provide a direct link Link to discussion(?)
	73000	1942		X	A			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	Rect	Builder's photo
	73198	1955		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	MM	Same as Model Railroading photo
Fallen Flags and Other Railroad Photos (as of 15-Apr-2020) Scroll down to the "B" section, click on the "Boston & Maine (B&M)" link Then scroll down to find the photo. The "Page" column has the "Link" text listed
XMP 67040	67040		Y	X				BM	R	R	N	N	N	N	N	N	Blue	Intertwined	Black door, black tabs below car side, herald ALL white
XMF 67054	67054		Y	X				BM	R	R	N	N	N	N	N	N	Blue	Intertwined	Black door, black tabs below car side, herald ALL white
LO 5706	67046	1966-08	Y	p		p		BM	R	R	N						Blue	?	You can see one roof hatch
NEB&W Guide IV
p P Bos-14	73000	1942		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	maroon	Rect	Reproduction of builder's photo in 1943 Car Builder's Cyclopedia Same as Model Railroading photo
p P Bos-14	73198	ca. 1955		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	maroon	MM	(decent) reproduction (for a photocopy) Same as "TT Nut" photo
Kaminski, Edward S. The Magor Car Corporation Signature Press (2000) ISBN 1-930013-04-3 (for 1st edition)
p95	73125	1942-ish		X				BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	Rect	in-service picture, "shortly after delivery"
Protocraft Decals site Go to "Decal Line" → Boxcar Decals in 1:48 scale → B&M-3
	73125			X				BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	Rect	(same as The Magor Car Corporation photo?)
	73198			X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	MM
Wider, Patrick C.Railway Prototype Cyclopedia #35 Silverlake Images, 2020
p197	73000	1942-03		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	Rect	Builder's Photo
p197	73125	after 1942-03		X				BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	Rect
p198	73092	1959-05-05		X				BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	MM
p198	73198	1965		X	B			BM	R	R	AB	N	N	N	N	N	Maroon	MM
NERail Photo Archive or http://photos.nerail.org/ → "By Railroad" → "Boston & Maine" → Then scroll thru to find the photo "Finally".
	73131	1969-08	Y	p	B			BM	G	R	N						Maroon	?
NERail Photo Archive or http://photos.nerail.org/ → "By Railroad" → "Boston & Maine" → Then scroll thru to find the photo "where is this and what was the car used for". or try: http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=14961
	67[0?]59	before 2003-06?		X	B	X		?	?	R	N	Y?	N	N	N	N	blue? (incl. door)	intertwined BM (all white?)	roof shot showing hatches. pole block middle digit of car #

Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions

Dispositions to other railroads from Neubauer, Eric.Evans Products Company Freight Car Roster Notes

Date	Quantity	New Numbers	Description
1964-1965	28	67040-67067	Renumbered, Equipped with 4 overhead grain loading hatches
by 4/1966	10	TA&G 7031-7040	via US Railway Equipment Co lease, lot #517
?	?	EL 50500-50999 (only some from B&M)	via US Railway Equipment Co lease, lot #652, rebuilt w/ 8' door

Models

Scale	Manufacturer	Stock number	Car number	Paint scheme	Notes
HO	Accurail	#3556	73084	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	(e.g. is this an accurate model or someone decorated a generic car) Still on web site Dec, 2020.
HO	Atlas	#21-000-017	73003	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Produced in 2012
HO	Atlas	#21-000-018	73056	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Produced in 2012
HO	Red Caboose		73001, 73035, 4 others	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Produced in ?
HO	Intermountain	45761-07	73035	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45761-08	73060	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45761-09	73091	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45761-10	73114	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45761-11	73143	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45761-12	73179	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45769-01	73016	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45769-02	73042	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45769-03	73073	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45769-04	73108	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45769-05	73155	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Intermountain	45769-06	73189	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
N	Intermountain	65761-07	73035	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
N	Intermountain	65761-08	73060	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
N	Intermountain	65761-09	73091	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
N	Intermountain	65761-10	73114	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
N	Intermountain	65761-11	73143	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
N	Intermountain	65761-12	73179	Boxcar red w/ Minuteman herald	Listed on web site, Dec, 2020
HO	Bowser	(Walthers)6-42834	73065	Blue w/ medium intertwined "BM"	Unknown accuracy. Listed on Walthers web site by Dec 2020, "Expected Oct 2021"
HO	Bowser	(Walthers)6-42835	73128	Blue w/ medium intertwined "BM"	Unknown accuracy. Listed on Walthers web site by Dec 2020, "Expected Oct 2021"
HO	Bowser	(Walthers)6-42836	73159	Blue w/ medium intertwined "BM"	Unknown accuracy. Listed on Walthers web site by Dec 2020, "Expected Oct 2021"
O	Atlas Models	8578 (3 rail)	73137	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Unknown accuracy. Released Sep, 2007, listed as "sold out" on their web site as of Dec, 2020
O	Atlas Models	9578 (2 rail)	73137	Boxcar red w/ rectangular herald	Unknown accuracy. Released Sep, 2007, listed as "sold out" on their web site as of Dec, 2020

Atlas also produced "undec" O scale models from 2004-2019, all listed as sold out as of Dec, 2020.

Per B&MRRHS Modelers Notes #24 (Jan, 1992) Intermountain had an O scale model available (part # OBBM3198, car # 73198). Unknown accuracy for the B&M, some were available in MM scheme

Per B&MRRHS Modelers Notes #54 (May-Jun 1998) Intermountain had a 1937 AAR boxcar kit available. In the MN they say there is a McGinnis Blue car with intertwined BM herald released.

More modeling information can be found on James B. Van Bokkelen's web site:
B&M Roster Info
Details on this car series

Revision History

File History for THIS page

Date	Who	Description
28-Jun-2019	KG Akerboom	RFC
18-Mar-2020	KG Akerboom	Finished table of Class Card text.
28-Mar-2020	KG Akerboom	Added data from 19 more ORERs
01-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Added references
04-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Re-did references/photos section
17-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Added more web sites: B&MRRHS Flickr, Fallen Flags, NMRA Archives, Earl Tuson. Also Scott Whitney (NMRO) CDs
01-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Added data from 4 more ORER (1941, 1943, 1945, 1947)
05-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Moved ORER notes into separate section. Added more models and photo per T. Petschallies
16-Jun-2020	KG Akerboom	Added MCC lot #, fixed Class card link (this one class card is .jpg, not .png)
03-Jul-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Magor Car Corporation photo and info
19-Jul-2020	KG Akerboom	In Photos section, replaced "vertical" text with PNGs, added other columns for markings
07- thru 16-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added ORER data (History only, not dims or notes yet) for 63 more registers, courtesy of James Kinkaid
19-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added more Eric Neubauer data
07-Sep-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Protocraft Decals web site pictures
13-Sep-2020	KG Akerboom	Added RP Cyc #35 info
25-Oct-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Car Book Data
03-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Added "NE Rails" photos
17-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Standardized formatting of Classification Card(s) section
19-Nov-2020	KG Akerboom	Updated 1942 Classification Card
12-Dec-2020	KG Akerboom	Added model info
16-Dec-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Atlas O scale models
19-Dec-2020	KG Akerboom	Added JBVB web site links
30-Dec-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Modelers Notes info
01-Mar-2021	KG Akerboom	Added Builder's photo
04-Jul-2021	KG Akerboom	Reorganized Car Book and/or Car Disposition Data (Car # to 1st column, 2nd/other changes to new rows)
16-Oct-2021	KG Akerboom	Added remaining 7/1928 - 10/1947 ORERs
29-Oct-2021	KG Akerboom	Added car disposition record data
27-Nov-2021	KG Akerboom	Added photo reference