Evans built these insulated boxcars between 1969 and 1977, and they were a common sight on railroads throughout the United States. The car’s insulated design means it can handle temperature-sensitive cargo. Thanks to its large dimensions and double doors, it was especially popular for handling plywood and other lumber loads.

While retaining the same overall dimensions, the cars went through several variations during their production. The first cars used Pullman roof and end components, and a few used Youngstown plug doors with only two rods on each door. Around the middle of 1970 the sides and ends were changed to Stanray components: an overhanging X-panel roof and 4/4 Dreadnaught ends. At the same time Evans began applying its own Cushion-Pak underframe rather than purchasing Hydra-Cushion gear.

The injection-molded styrene Atlas model represents the later cars. Overall it captures the bulk of the prototype, and the details and lettering are first rate. Particularly nice are the separate rods and latching mechanism on the doors (shown above right). The fine-looking grab irons measure .025", not quite a scale 1 ¼". The stirrup steps are heavy, but these would be a quick and easy replacement.

The brake gear is very well done. The train line, which runs right along the floor, is cast in place, but all the other rigging is separate. Since on this car the rigging hangs quite low, it’s a very nice addition to the detailing.

The model is very close to the dimensions called out in the 1980 Car and Locomotive Cyclopedia (Simmons-Boardman), although there are some typical model discrepancies. The truck centers are a bit close 42’-5" on the model versus 43’-1 7/8". Length over the coupler pulling faces is very close at 60’-0", though the length over the striker plates is a foot short.

Height and width match the prototype dimensions within a fraction of an inch. The prototype’s inside length is 52’-5", and measuring over the shortest point on the ends of the model gives a measurement of 52’-3", so the car is at least a few inches short.

This Atlas O model may be a first in our experience: It weighs more than the National Model Railroad Association’s recommended weight. In O scale the NMRA recommends a base weight of five ounces plus one ounce for every inch of car length. The Evans boxcar is about 13" long, for a recommended weight of 18 ounces. Thanks to its diecast metal underframe it tips the scales at a whopping 23 ounces. I doubt this is enough to seriously affect performance, but if you other cars weigh less than the NMRA standard, you may want to keep these near the head end of the train.

The trucks are nicely done with working springs – at least they’ll work once you remove the trucks and unscrew the rigid bolster on the truck that’s part of the three-rail draft gear. The truck bolster will then be free to float on the springs. A drawback of most sprung trucks is that the springs are either too strong or look too skinny. That’s not the case here, as the spring tension is low enough for the trucks to equalize, yet the springs look reasonably heavy. All the axles were in gauge and the flanges within NMRA standards. The wheel width is .175", just over the NMRA standard of .172".