Moran,
Thanks for the correction. Because the box cattle car was made between 1950 and 1953, I just assumed the upper section was metal.
But, if it is plastic, then all the better. It will be much easier to cut the top off.
I don't mind yellow in general, but I doubt if any open top cattle cars in the old west had the rails painted bright yellow. If you have ever raised cattle or horses (I have), then you would find that they just love to chew on and kick wooden rails. The paint would certainly not have lasted . Add in the cattle horns and dust, and you've got bad looking weather beaten rails in a hurry. (My home for 16 years was on 60 acres, 45 miles outside of Memphis. )
Mannyrock
