We are pleased to announce our plans to produce a new version of our popular 3000 Series Boxcars! Often referred to as the Economy Door Boxcar for the cost-saving approach the Denver & Rio Grande Western took with this style, this release of boxcars will be available in a variety of road numbers and paint schemes. This style of boxcar has never before been offered Ready-to Run in HOn3!

Among a total of 1700 pieces of rolling stock ordered from the St. Louis-based American Car & Foundry in 1904 were 750 boxcars that would become one of the most reliable and identifiable narrow gauge freight car classes to ply the three-foot rails of Colorado.

By 1924, over two decades of heavy service was evident as the 3000 Series fleet begged for replacement or repair. Now re-named as the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad, the company accountants found tax burden relief by rebuilding the existing boxcars over the option of placing an order for new cars. The cars were stripped of much of the wood while the hardware and trucks were re-used to construct relatively new cars. As rebuilt, the boxcars were equipped with sheet metal Murphy roofs while the side and end doors on many were upgraded with Camel hardware. Some of the cars were equipped with a relatively sparse door, hasp and door guide design compared to that of the Camel hardware equipped models. These versions have come to be known as the “economy door" boxcars. By the late 1960s, approximately 20 percent of the surviving 3000 series boxcars were identified as being of the economy door design. The term “plain door” boxcar has also been used to describe this special sub class. Today, many of these boxcars survive in limited service on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Blackstone Models D&RGW 3000 Series Boxcars Economy Version
We are pleased to offer the HOn3 adaptation of this venerable D&RGW boxcar, factory painted and ready to run. These unique versions represent the cars after the 1920’s rebuild as equipped with the economy door hardware. We returned to D&RGW standard specifications and the remaining prototypes in an effort to create a detailed and accurate boxcar that will please the discriminating modeler. Certain road numbers even feature paint shade variations representing years of sitting under the hot Colorado sun! Accurately placed and scaled hardware, underbody detailing, and fine nut and bolt applications put the Blackstone Models 3000 Series Economy Door Boxcar in an exclusive class of its own. Cap everything off with our free rolling arch bar trucks and factory installed couplers, and all you need to do is pull it out of the box and cut it into your consist!

Boxcar 3409, Prototype Photo with Economy-Style Doors and Hardware, Photo by Gerald Best, Courtesy of Robert Grandt

BLACKSTONE BAILOUT BONUS! EARLY RESERVATION 'ECONOMY' DISCOUNT!

From now until June 15th, orders placed for the newly announced Economy Door Boxcars will carry a 'Slow Economy' discount. We've rolled back prices on these cars to January 2008 prices! All non-weathered cars will sell at the retail price of 36.95, while the weathered cars will sell at $41.95. These 'economy' prices are only good until June 15th, so place your reservations now!

P.N.	Description	Advance Price
BLA-B340120	Flying Grande, Freshly Shopped, #3083	$36.95
BLA-B340120W	Flying Grande, Weathered, #3083	$41.95
BLA-B340121	Flying Grande, Freshly Shopped, #3409	$36.95
BLA-B340121W	Flying Grande, Weathered, #3409	$41.95
BLA-B340122	Flying Grande, Heavier Sun Fading, #3109	$36.95
BLA-B340122W	Flying Grande, Weathered, #3109	$41.95
BLA-B340123	Flying Grande, Lightly Sun Faded, #3240	$36.95
BLA-B340123W	Flying Grande, Weathered, #3240	$41.95
BLA-B340124	Moffat Tunnel, Lightly Sun Faded, #3495	$36.95
BLA-B340124W	Moffat Tunnel, Weathered, #3495	$41.95
BLA-B340125	Royal Gorge Route, Freshly Shopped, #3732	$36.95
BLA-B340125W	Royal Gorge Route, Weathered, #3732	$41.95

New! Special Edition Boxcar 3219 in Rio Grande Gold!

Our last Rio Grande Gold sold out in record time and our mailboxes have been flooded with requests for more!

In 1964, the D&RGW crews in Durango, Colorado were in full swing revamping the image of the Silverton Branch. A failed attempt to abandon the branch line prompted the railroad's newfound commitment to more properly exploit the growing tourist trade. New steel coaches arrived in 1963 and 1964 to accommodate a second train on the daily runs to Silverton, Colorado. The railroad also purchased property around the depot to attract new businesses that would cater to the visiting throngs of tourists and rail buffs throughout the summer. Rio Grande Land was born!

Baggage car 126 and Combine 212 had previously been used to haul general supplies for the Silverton trains. Now they were outfitted with concession equipment for the growing passenger business. It was therefore decided to utilize freight Boxcar nos. 3219 and 3468 to handle the baggage needs. To keep these cars looking comparable with the decade-old "Grande Gold" paint scheme, they were decorated in the bright livery to compliment the passenger car fleet on the daily summer runs to Silverton. We have accurately recreated economy door boxcar no. 3219's gold paint scheme with the Flying Grande herald for you - it will make a great companion to the previously-released 3468 boxcar! This is the only numbered car of this production run to only be available in a non-weathered version.
 

P.N.	Description	List Price USD
BLA-B340119	Flying Grande, Grande Gold, #3219	$36.95

New! Supply Car 03131!

Most of the outfit boxcars used on the Rio Grande narrow gauge throughout the 1900s came from the old 4000 series boxcars of the previous century. Each one was built for a unique purpose, ranging from kitchens, sleepers and diners for the working stiffs to rolling offices for foremen and supervisors. At least three 3000 Series boxcars were converted to work service. Boxcars 3057, 3131 and 3085 were converted to work cars after previously being used in revenue service. The original boxcar numbers were retained with the simple addition of a "0" at the front to distinguish the reassignment. We've recreated the 03131 as it was with the economy hardware and painted with the Flying Grande livery.

P.N.	Description	List Price USD
BLA-B340901	Flying Grande, MOW Gray, #03131	$36.95
BLA-B340901W	Flying Grande, Weathered, #03131	$41.95

 

Supply Car 03131, Photo by John Maxwell

New! By Popular Demand! Painted, Unlettered Economy Door Boxcar!

Due to popular demand, we are offering our new Economy-Style Boxcar in a Painted, but Unlettered version. For those who model something other than Denver & Rio Grande or who have a fantasy railroad, this car should fit the bill. It is only available in a non-weathered version, ready and waiting for your handi-work to make it yours.

P.N.	Description	List Price USD
BLA-B340126	Painted, Unlettered	$36.95