Elvas Tower: CB&Q USRA 50-TON,40-ft Double-Sheathed Boxcar #120874 - Elvas Tower

The United States Railway Administration took over the railroads in December 1917 in an
attempt to ease the freight car shortage. As part of the program it designed standard cars,
had them built and assigned them to the various railroads. 24,500 double sheathed cars
were built beginning in late 1918 and assigned to 25 roads. Too late to aid in the war effort,
the design set a standard for the following decade. The USRA design was the last double-sheathed design to be built in large numbers. Requiring more maintanance than single-sheathed or steel cars, they were rebuilt or scrapped earlier than the more modern designs. By 1940, AT&SF, ACL, C&NW, DT&I, EJ&E, SL-SF, GTW, RI, and Wabash had steel sheathed some or all of their DS cars. Other roads never rebuilt them except for modern appliances, running them through the 1950's. MP and NYC are examples of the latter.

Chicago Burlington & Quincy recieved 500 cars from American Car & Foundry in December of 1918, series 120500-120999. Original lettering was sparse, having no logos or slogans. The Burlington Route herald was added in the 1920's, and the "Everywhere West" slogan added in the 1930's. The CB&Q never steel-sheathed their DS fleet. They were used throughout WWII, then quickly retired. 476 cars were on the equipment register in 1946; 239 in 1949; and none by October of 1953.
-Data from a Westerfield HO Car Kits catalog.

Original File Name = CBQ_USRA_box_120874.zip