The 40’ single sliding-door boxcar is a car built/assembled at the Soo Line’s North Fond du Lac shops in 1951. During that 1951 production the Soo transitioned from using it’s dollar-sign herald to this 4’ billboard lettering. At first, the “SOO” and “LINE” were positioned very close to the door. Towards the end of 1951 that lettering was moved closer to the ends of the car as in this scheme.
This scheme was the first to be done without black ends, had the “Built in Fond du Lac” and “Nailable Steel Floor” logos. Cars were being built at the same time for both the Soo Line and Wisconsin Central (division) and the two numbers reflect one from each series. Aside from the different number series, the Wisconsin Central car has a small “W.C.” in the upper left-hand corner. The Light Oxide Red color was used for most versions of the Fond du Lac built cars between 1949 and 1957.
These cars were produced as a Special Run by Micro-Trains for the 2017 Trainfest Show held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and are available only through the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society