Green Book of Brass Milk Cars

Introduction

This page came about for two reasons. The first reason was my frustration with the lack of rolling stock, and in particular passenger cars (and, by definition, head end cars such as milk and express reefers), in The Brown Book of Brass Locomotives. The second reason was to have more content for the Remembering the Milk Trains section of Remembering the Rutland.

I began by cataloging my own collection. Next I added the models mentioned in the email responses of a few other collectors and modelers. Then I went through my collection of Presicion Scale Newsletters and various dealer catalogs. The latter are not as definitive as one might think. Importers sometimes announce models that are never produced. Dealers occasionally misstate a model's features (e.g. wood vs. steel construction of the prototype).

Precision Scale is a particular problem. At one point circa 1991 they announced a series of 41-foot wood round-roof and peaked-roof General American Pfaudler cars in HO scale. They were to be available singly and in sets of three. I believe that most if not all of these cars were produced, but we need verification. The PSC table lists the undecorated version of each (#16610 and 16612) and all of the others that we have confirmed as having been produced. To add to the mystery, I have listed a Whiting's car that was produced in that run but (as far as I know) was never announced. Another example of the enigma that is PSC is that circa 1992 they announced a future run of 53-foot wood GPEX cars in both single- and double-door versions (Overland had previously done the double-door version). To my knowledge none of these cars were produced, which is a shame because I am sure they would have been a successful item for PSC.

This page is an ongoing project. I am relying on you, the modelers and collectors out there, to assist me in maintaining this list as accurately as possible. Wherever you see a "?" in the tables it means that I need your help. The beauty of the internet is that corrections and updates can be implemented almost immediately, unlike a book which must wait for the next edition, should it come at all.

I decided to list the models by importer and not by railroad or owner as was done in the Brown Book. And unlike the Brown Book I refuse to list the value of a model as this is simply too subjective and likely to change. I would rather not delve into the realm of whose model is more accurate; these tables are simply a listing of what's been produced.

If it was up to me, brass express refrigerator cars would be next. Then brass passenger cars. But that will have to wait...

-Jim Dufour

Importers - HO scale
Overland Models, Inc.
Precision Scale Co.
Railworks
NJI/Custom Brass
Alco Models
Nickel Plate Products
Challenger

Importers - N scale
Precision Scale Co.
NJI/Custom Brass
Key

Importers - S scale
South Wind
River Raisin

Importers - O scale
Overland Models, Inc.
NJI/Custom Brass
The Car Works
Precision Scale Co.

Legend to Abbreviations
Notes

Overland Models, Inc.
HO scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year see Note #2	Comments
Borden's	"Butter dish" Milk Tank Car	OMI	3082	MS	1986	w/ fins. Unpainted.
Borden's	"Butter dish" Milk Tank Car	OMI	1369	MS	1986?	w/o fins. Unpainted.
B&M	4 door, wood	OMI	3063	Ajin	1986?	w/ thermo-king. Unpainted
B&M	4 door, wood	OMI	3062	Ajin	1986?	Unpainted
B&M	4 door, steel	OMI	3065	Ajin	1987	#1900-1914. Unpainted
B&M	2 door, steel	OMI	3066	Ajin	1987	#1915-1934. Unpainted
GPEX	53' wood 2 door	OMI	3061	Ajin	1986?	Unpainted
GPEX	Express type "A", wood	OMI	3160	MS	1989	Unpainted
GPEX	Express type "B", wood	OMI	3161	MS	1989	Unpainted
GPEX	Express type "C", wood	OMI	3162	MS	1989	Abbot's "A". Unpainted
GPEX	47'-7" wood	OMI	3055	Ajin	1986?	Unpainted
GPEX	40'-6" steel	OMI	3054	Ajin	1986?	Unpainted w/ lighted interior. [photo]
GPEX	40'-6", steel	OMI	3054	Ajin	1986	GPEX #1057. Unpainted w/ lighted interior
GPEX	53' wood 2 door	OMI	3061	Ajin	1986?	Unpainted
GPEX	47' steel	OMI	3055	Ajin	1986?	GPEX # 1021. Unpainted
GPEX	40' steel, straight bottom	OMI	3064	Ajin	1986?	Unpainted. [photo]
NX	Flat w/ 2 containers	OMI	3158	MS	1989	Unpainted. [photo]
MDT	Flat w/ 2 trailers	OMI	3159	MS	1989	Unpainted
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3451	Cheyenne	2000	Unpainted. CV #530-549, 1924-38 era.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3451.1	Cheyenne	2000	CV #530-549, 1924-38 era. Custom paint: silver & green scheme.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3453	Cheyenne	2000	Unpainted. CV #530-549, 1933.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3453.1	Cheyenne	2000	CV #530-549, 1933. Custom paint: silver & green scheme.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3454	Cheyenne	2000	Unpainted. CV #530-549, 1938 era.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3454.1	Cheyenne	2000	CV #530-549, 1938 era. Custom paint: green scheme w/ square herald.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3455	Cheyenne	2000	Unpainted. CV #530-552, 1947 era.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3455.1	Cheyenne	2000	Unpainted. CV #530-552, 1947 era. Custom paint: green scheme w/ square herald.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3456	Cheyenne	2000	Unpainted. CV #530-552, 1962-72 era.
CV	40' wood class BM-42-A	OMI	3456.1	Cheyenne	2000	CV #530-552, 1962-72 era. Custom paint: green w/ "wet noodle" logo.

Overland Models, Inc.
O scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year see Note #2	Comments
GPEX	Express type "C", wood	OMI	0743	MS	??	Type "A" & "B" also done?
GPEX	40'-6" steel	OMI	0074	Ajin	??	47' version done also?
MDT	Flat w/ 2 trailers	OMI	0774.1	Ajin	1993?	Factory painted MDT #1500. Undec also offered?

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Precision Scale Co.
HO scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
GPEX	40' wood	PSC	15678	FM	1991?	Painted Pfaudler
GPEX	40' wood	PSC	15680	FM	1991?	Painted HP Hoods (circular cow emblem)
GPEX	50' wood	PSC	15688	FM	1991?	Painted Pfaudler
GPEX	50' wood	PSC	15690	FM	1991?	Painted GARE-Hoods (circular cow emblem)
GPEX	50' (wood?)	PSC	15692	?	1991?	Painted Borden's
GPEX	40' steel	PSC	?	Woosung	?	Unpainted
GPEX	41' (wood?)	PSC	15780-1	Woosung	?	Painted Hood's/GPEX #995
GPEX	50' steel	PSC	15784	Woosung	?	Unpainted
GPEX	50' steel	PSC	15784-1	Woosung	1991?	Painted Hood's
GPEX	41' wood round roof	PSC	16610	FM	1992	Factory painted as Whiting's Milk #11
GPEX	41' wood round roof	PSC	16610	FM	1992	Unpainted
GPEX	41' wood peaked roof	PSC	16612	FM	1992	Unpainted
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	17222-1	FM	1996	With full fins. Painted white with black letters.
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	17222-2	FM	1996	With full fins. Painted red with yellow sheet metal letters.
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	17222-3	FM	1996	With full fins. Painted aluminum with black letters.
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	17224-2	FM	1996	With end fins. Painted red with yellow "sheet metal" letters.
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	17224-4	FM	1996	With end fins. Painted green with yellow letters.
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	17226-4	FM	1996	With no fins. Painted for Borden's Chemical Division.

Precision Scale Co.
N scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
GPEX	41' wood	PSC	67002	FM?	1998	3-pack: Painted Borden's, Fairfield Farms & Hood's
GPEX	41' wood	PSC	67003	FM?	1998	3-pack: Painted Hood's, Pfaudler & Breyer's
GPEX	41' wood	PSC	67004	FM?	1998	3-pack: Painted Borden's, Abbott's & Reid
GPEX	41' wood	PSC	67005	FM?	1998	3-pack: Painted Whiting's, Chateau Martin & United Farmers
GPEX	41' wood round roof	PSC	67006	FM?	1998	Unpainted
GPEX	41' wood peaked roof	PSC	67007	FM?	1998	Unpainted
GPEX	41' wood peaked roof	PSC	67008	FM?	1998	3-pack: Painted Fairfield Farms, Supplee-Willis-Jones & Breyer's

Precision Scale Co.
O scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	16047-1	FM	??	With full fins. Painted white with black letters. (Also available undecorated?)
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	16049-1	FM	??	With end fins. Painted red with yellow ("sheet metal"?) letters. (Also available undecorated?)
Borden's	"Butter dish" style Milk Tank Car	PSC	??	FM	??	With no fins. Painted (aluminum? for Borden's Chemical Division?). (Also available undecorated?)

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Railworks
HO scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
Borden's	"Butter Dish"	RW	R102A	Sam	1986	w/ full fins. Unpainted w/ decals.
Borden's	"Butter Dish"	RW	R102A	Sam	1986	w/ full fins. Factory painted w/decals. (qty-30 pieces)
Borden's	"Butter Dish"	RW	R102B	Sam	1986	w/ end fins. Unpainted w/ decals.
Borden's	"Butter Dish"	RW	R102C	Sam	1986	w/o fins. Unpainted w/ decals
DL&W	Wood, 42'	RW	R202	WBM	1992	Unpainted
Rutland	Wood, 42'	RW	R2021	WBM	1992	350-355 series; ex-DL&W
DL&W	Wood, 42'	RW	R-314	Boo-Rim	1998	Unpainted
Rutland	Wood, 42'	RW	R-313	Boo-Rim	1998	350-355 series; ex-DL&W. Also sold paired with combine #255
NYC	Wood	RW	R-317	Boo-Rim	1999	6400-series w/ low side vents. Unpainted
NYC	Wood	RW	R-317P	Boo-Rim	1999	6400-series w/ low side vents. Painted
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-319	Boo-Rim	1999	303-335 series w/ truss rods. Unpainted
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-319P	Boo-Rim	1999	303-335 series w/ truss rods. Painted.
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-323	Boo-Rim	1999	340-348 series w/ fishbelly. Unpainted
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-323P	Boo-Rim	1999	340-348 series w/ fishbelly. Painted
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-390	Boo-Rim	2001	#337. Unpainted.
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-390P	Boo-Rim	2001	#337. Factory painted & lettered.
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-391	Boo-Rim	2001	#338. Unpainted.
Rutland	Wood	RW	R-391P	Boo-Rim	2001	#338. Factory painted & lettered.
B&M	Wood	RW	R324	WBM	2001	1700-series, four door, ice cooling. Unpainted.
B&M	Wood	RW	R324P	WBM	2001	1700-series, four door, ice cooling. Factory painted (red) & lettered. Includes separate numbers on decal sheet & Brookside signs.
B&M	Wood	RW	R325	WBM	2001	1700-series, four door, Thermo-King cooling. Unpainted.
B&M	Wood	RW	R325P	WBM	2001	1700-series, four door, Thermo-King cooling. Factory painted (red) & lettered. Includes separate numbers on decal sheet & Brookside signs.
B&M	Wood	RW	R326	WBM	2001	1600-series, four door, ice cooling. Unpainted.
B&M	Wood	RW	R326P	WBM	2001	1600-series, four door, ice cooling. Factory painted (green) & lettered. Includes separate numbers on decal sheet.

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NJI/Custom Brass
HO scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
NYC	Wood Milk Reefer	NJI	675-S	FM	1988	Sliding Door w/ fishbelly side sills. Unpainted
NYC	Wood Milk Reefer	NJI	675-H	FM	1988	Hinged Door w/ fishbelly side sills. Unpainted

NJI/Custom Brass
N scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
NYC	Wood Milk Reefer	NJI	675-NH	FM	?	Hinged Door w/ fishbelly side sills. Unpainted

NJI/Custom Brass
O scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
NYC	Wood Milk Reefer	NJI	675-OH??	FM	?	Hinged Door w/ fishbelly side sills. 6401-6660 series. Unpainted
NYC	Wood Milk Reefer	NJI	675-OS??	FM	?	Inside Sliding Door w/ fishbelly side sills. 6401-6660 series. Unpainted

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Alco Models
HO scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
NYC	Wood Milk reefer	ALCO	X-119	Kobra	1970	Unpainted

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Nickel Plate Products
HO scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
Erie (B&M)	Steel	NPP	-	NAP	1973	Unpainted. Also sold paired with modernized coach.
NYO&W	Wood	NPP	-	NAP	1972	Unpainted
Borden's	"Butter Dish"	NPP	-	NAP	1971-72	w/ fins. Unpainted

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Challenger
HO scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
B&M	4 door, steel	OMI	2069.1	FM	1993	#1900-1914 Painted McGinnis era
B&M	2 door, steel	OMI	2070.1	FM	1993	#1915-1934 Painted McGinnis era

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Key
N scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
Borden's	"Butter Dish" "no fin" version	Key	?	?	?	undecorated
Borden's	"Butter Dish" "no fin" version	Key	?	?	?	Painted: silver/white
Borden's	"Butter Dish" "no fin" version	Key	?	?	?	Painted: green/white
Borden's	"Butter Dish" "no fin" version	Key	?	?	?	Painted: white/black

[Back to Importers List]

South Wind
S scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
NYC	Wood Milk Reefer	SW	SWM-0034	??	c. 1990	Unpainted.
Rutland	Wood Milk Reefer	SW	SWM-??	??	c. 1990	Unpainted. Rutland #340
Rutland	Wood Milk Reefer	SW	SWM-??	??	c. 1990	Unpainted. Rutland #349
Borden's	"Butterdish" Milk Tank Car	SW	SWM-??	??	c. 1992?	Unpainted. With fins
Borden's	"Butterdish" Milk Tank Car	SW	SWM-??	??	c. 1992?	Unpainted. Without fins

River Raisin
S scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
GPEX	40 ft.Pfaudler Steel Milk Car	RR	RRM-0006	Ajin	1990	Factory painted Pullman Green. Included decals for various lessee/owners.
GPEX	47 ft.Pfaudler Steel Milk Car	RR	RRM-0007	Ajin	1990	Factory painted Pullman Green. Included decals for various lessee/owners.

Additional information from Jim Kindraka of River Raisin Models:

If you go to our web site (listed below), to the Photo Gallery section, there are photos of both versions [of our Pfaudler milk cars] completely lettered. If you go to the Library section of the same web site, there is an article I wrote for one of the S scale publications on the transport of milk by rail. Thought you might enjoy it...

Best wishes

Jim Kindraka
River Raisin Models
http://www.riverraisinmodels.com/

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The Car Works
O scale

Road/Owner	Type	Importer	Model number	Builder	Year	Comments
NX	53' Flat w/ 2 containers	CW	??	Art Hobbies	1994	Series 1350-1359, with "Bell" Tanks
NX	50' Flat w/ 2 containers	CW	??	Art Hobbies	1994	Series 1470-1475, wih "Bordens" Tanks

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Legend to Abbreviations

Owners & Railroads
B&M - Boston & Maine Railroad
CV - Central Vermont Railway
DL&W - Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad
GARE - General American Refrigerator Express
GPEX - General American Pfaudler
MDT - Merchants Despatch Transportation
NX - National Tank
NYC - New York Central Railroad
NYO&W - New York Ontario & Western Railway

Importers
NPP - Nickel Plate Products
OMI - Overland Models, Inc.
PSC - Precision Scale Co.
RW - Railworks
SW- Southwind
RR - River Raisin
CW - The Car Works

Builders
Ajin - Ajin Models (Korea)
Boo-Rim - Boo-Rim (Korea)
FM - F. M. Models (Korea)
MS - M. S. Models (Korea)
NAP - unknown (Japan)
Sam - Samhongsa (Korea)
WBM - Woo Sung (Korea)
Cheyenne - Cheyenne (OMI) (China)

Notes

1. My sincere thanks to the following modelers and collectors who contributed to this effort:

Jeff Ashworth
Charlie Lehmann (Railworks)
George Micklus
Gary Raizes
Mark Rossiter
Steve Schulman

Dwight Smith
Don Spiro
Tom E. Thompson
James VanBokkelen
Dave Sandulli
Ron Morse
Jeff English

Roger Nulton
Mal Houck
Jim Kindraka (River Raisin)
Dick Dermody
Woody Mathews
Todd Roberts
Don Black

2. "AJIN models all have the month and year of production marked on the underside of each model, beginning with models produced [circa 1985]. When you look at the underside you will find the word "Ajin" and under it the date, such as 2-1987. The folks at AJIN were doing so many reruns of the same models that which production run became an important issue for them. So they decided it was time to place a date on them." [via Tom Thompson].

3. There is an additional NYO&W milk reefer in HO that did not make your list. In appearance, it is similar to the Nickel Plate version. Prototypically, it is the same car, with the single ice hatch. The model is very close to the NPP model but appears to be slightly earlier judging from the construction methods. It is Japanese and the importer (I assume) plate on the underbody is a Lima-like diamond with the word "WEBER" inside. Neither various NYO&W modelers, nor long-time brass dealers can ID it. [from Todd Roberts of Great Brass]

4. Send your corrections and additions to Remembering the Rutland.

5. Happy Collecting!

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