The Pullman-Standard 40-foot PS-1 boxcar was first introduced in 1947. You can learn more about the full-size cars in this WalthersMainline review from the February 2016 issue of Model Railroader magazine.
Ready Made Toys (RMT) sent us a sample of its Pullman-Standard 40-foot PS-1 boxcar with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) graphics. If CPKC isn’t your thing, 44 other road names are available. Check the website for details.
Like the RMT ore car I reviewed recently, this boxcar has new trucks. See a comparison photo in that review.
The sticker on the clamshell packaging suggests O-31 operation, but RMT’s website states O-36. I emailed owner Walther Matuch to clarify and he confirmed that O-36 is the correct designation. He also stated that the stickers have been updated to reflect this change.
I like some of the details on this car. The doors are positionable, and the car has a load inside. You can read “RMT – Ready Made Trains, Bloomsbury, NJ USA” on the cartons. The running boards are metal, secured to the roof with tiny screws. The underbody features a center sill and brake appliances; both ends have a freestanding air hose with glad hand and angle cock detail.
This car commemorates the 2024 CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour, where the No. 2816 Empress locomotive traveled from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Mexico City, Mexico, and back, with public events along the way. The official logo from that event (shown on this page) is not on this car. You can see the gray map that’s on the car in this Trains Magazine news story announcing the tour.
Unfortunately, not all of the printing is crisp. Some of the graphics on this boxcar were likely pad printed (on the roof and doors and the white strip above the sill), but the CPKC logo, gold stripe, and map were printed using a different method. You can see black underneath part of the gold stripe, and the map’s yellow stripe (highlighting No. 2816’s route) looks orange. I’m including a close up photo of the map for reference. From a distance, you likely won’t notice these details, though, especially when a train is in motion.
The scaling of this car is right on point. In 1:48 scale, a 40-foot boxcar should be 10”. This car is approximately 10⅜”, a trivial difference.
Aside from the issues with the graphics, this car has some great features, especially for the price. Check it out if you like PS-1 boxcars.
Note: If you’re interested in any of RMT’s products, contact your local hobby shop or retailer. RMT does not sell direct to the customer.
RMT Pullman-Standard 40-foot PS-1 boxcar (RMT-96455)
Features: O-36 operation, positionable doors with realistic load, die-cast metal trucks, metal running board
MSRP: $39.95
Website: readymadetoys.com
