Con-Cor - 1001-T - Boxcar, 40 Foot, AAR 1944 - Arcade & Attica - 533

Specific Item Information: Reference source: JMC Source Book Volume I 1972. There is a second car which carries road number 501. Trovestar #116626.

Model Information: Originally, these models were produced in Japan by Kato for Con-Cor. However, since Con-Cor owned the tooling, they later decided to move the molds to their Chicago factory and later releases of the car were produced in the United States. This tooling may have been eventually moved to China when Con-Cor moved their production to China in the 1990s. ESM has produced this model in assorted paint schemes.

Prototype History: The Association of American Railroads had been establishing design standards for freight cars since the early part of the century. Each new design standard meant higher capacity, lighter, more durable cars. The 1937 standard 40' box car featured an interior height of 10'. Just prior to America's entry into the war, there was a push for an even larger interior height for the AAR standard. The first cars that would eventually be termed 1944 AAR, were actually built in 1941 but the war delayed its declaration as the standard. The new taller cars required a new design of end. Corrugated metal ends had been used since the days when wood side cars dominated for a very good reason, shifting loads would burst through wooden ends during sudden starts and stops! These corrugated panels were stamped in two sections, split horizontally down the middle. The 1937 standard had 5 ribs on one half and 4 ribs on the other -- creating what is called a 5-4 Dreadnaught end. The slightly taller 1944 model required something a little different. The lower panel has 4 ribs while the upper panel has 3 then a space and a final rectangular rib at the top. Called a 4-3-1 (or R-3-4) Improved Dreadnaught end, this design would dominate new box car construction for years.

Road Name History: This company was established in 1917 to take over a previous line that had fallen on hard times. ARA linked Arcade with Attica, New York, a distance of 28 miles. These two towns (the latter of which is the home to the famous prison) are about 35 miles east of Buffalo. In 1957, terrible washouts caused the ARA to abandon the northern (Attica) half of the railroad. The line now ends at North Java. The town of Attica did not lose rail service since it was also served by the Erie. In 1962, Arcade & Attica began running tourist trains in addition to their freight service. During the '60s, ARA experienced a busy period for freight when Borden opened a plant making Cremora in Arcade. Sadly, the plant closed in 1970. Today, ARA operates freights 3 days per week all year, and tourist trains on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May through October.

Brand/Importer Information: Con-Cor has been in business since 1962. Many things have changed over time as originally they were a complete manufacturing operation in the USA and at one time had upwards of 45 employees. They not only designed the models,but they also built their own molds, did injection molding, painting, printing and packaging on their models.

Currently, most of their manufacturing has been moved overseas and now they import 90% of their products as totally finished goods, or in finished components. They only do some incidental manufacturing today within the USA.

Important Note: The Con-Cor product numbering can be very confusing. Please see here in the article how to properly enter Con-Cor stock numbers in the TroveStar database.