Elvas Tower: St.Louis- San Fransisco USRA 50-TON,40-ft Double-Sheathed Boxcar #127063 - 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.

Frisco had the largest number of DS cars, 3,500 delivered from seven car builders in 1919-20. Many were Government Equipment Trust cars, unsaleable at time of construction. As delivered the cars
had the small herald and extended lettering. When re-sheathed in the 1930's the larger herald and
more condensed lettering was applied. Although many were steel sheathed, some DS cars
lasted into the 1960's.
-Data from a Westerfield HO Car Kits catalog.

Original File Name = _Frisco_USRA_.zip