How about some baggage? This unique, stream-styled B&O baggage car was the only member of its class, B-8aa number 627. it was intended for use with the late 1940's National and Capitol Limiteds. B&O found many other uses for it as well.
This is the interior of a Class B-8, fresh from the ACF Shops at St. Charles MO in the mid-1920's. Those wooden straps on the floor kept baggage and other packages off the floor. Rain and wet items could get in during station stops, also snow melting off those items would puddle on the floor of the steam heated baggage cars. Steam heat radiators are along the walls, behind what looks like rugs hanging there.
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This is the interior of the model I built of B&O 627. Golden tan walls and ceiling, but I failed to paint the floor Tuscan red, per prototype! The side wall radiators were modeled with pieces of worn-out handkerchief glued to a frame. Someday, maybe I'll get back to that floor . . . . . . .
The finished model was built with Walthers ends, ventilators, trucks and underbody parts. The sides were scratch made with aluminum flashing, with accurate rivet and weld repair seams embossed on them. It helped to have left and right side photos of the prototype for that! The eight side doors can be opened, sliding into pockets in the car walls like the prototype. It's one of those things you do just once . . . .
S. Islander
